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Exposed moorland; navigation skills needed

Yes Tor

619m Elevation
24m Prominence
England Country
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Overview

Yes Tor is Dartmoor’s second-highest summit, a granite tor reaching 618.6 m above Okehampton. A trig point marks its rocky top; the higher High Willhays lies to the south. Walks from Meldon Reservoir and Okehampton cross exposed moorland within the Okehampton military training area, so current firing notices and on-site restrictions must be checked.

Yes Tor

Yes Tor is Dartmoor's second-highest summit, a granite tor above Okehampton. The catalogue height is 618.6 metres, usually rounded to 619 metres. Its trig point stands on the rocky summit. High Willhays, the separate higher summit to the south, reaches 622 metres.

Walking approaches

Meldon Reservoir offers an approach combining the West Okement valley, Black Tor, High Willhays and Yes Tor. Cross the dam and use the southern-shore path towards the upper-reservoir footbridge, then stay east of the river. After the two high summits, return by the track east of Longstone Hill to Meldon car park. The published northern-shore concessionary path is reported blocked; do not use it as a shortcut.

Another circuit starts by Okehampton Camp and visits Anthony Stile, Black Down, Red-a-ven Brook, Yes Tor, High Willhays and West Mill Tor before returning to its start. It is a published 9.5 km outing, separate from the longer station walk.

For a rail-based day, the Okehampton station guide leads over the A30 footbridge and through Moorgate to Rowtor, then around West Mill Tor to High Willhays and Yes Tor. Return on the approach tracks to the station. The guide gives 4½–6 hours, depending on ability; allow for conditions and the return train.

Range access and terrain

Yes Tor lies in the Okehampton military training area. Check the current MOD Dartmoor firing notice before setting out and again close to the walk. Follow signs and closures. Never enter a range displaying red flags by day or red lamps at night. The absence of a visible flag is not a substitute for checking the notice and access restrictions.

Leave military debris and unfamiliar metal objects untouched. Note their location and report them to the Training Safety Officer on 01837 657210 or the police.

The high moor has granite clitter, wet ground and exposed slopes. Cloud can obscure paths and landmarks, and weather changes quickly. Carry a map, compass, suitable footwear and waterproofs. At Meldon, stay on paths and away from exposed reservoir mud.

Landscape and facilities

The tor is part of the Dartmoor granite intrusion: rock that cooled underground, rather than volcanic lava. Views include High Willhays, West Mill Tor and the surrounding moor, with North Devon and Cornwall visible in clear conditions.

Meldon Reservoir has parking and toilets. Okehampton station has a café and toilets, with shops and other services in the town. Bring food and water for the exposed hill walk.

Explore routes near Yes Tor

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Castle Drogo and Fingle Bridge: Teign Gorge woodland circuit

7.1 km ~2h 30m Moderate

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Moretonhampstead to Lustleigh: Wray Valley woodland railway trail

13.7 km ~4h Moderate

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Cookworthy Woods Level 2 walk

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Cookworthy Woods Level 3 walk

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Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

Meldon Reservoir, High Willhays and Yes Tor circuit

From Meldon Reservoir car park, cross the dam and take the southern-shore path to the upper-reservoir footbridge. Stay on the east bank of the West Okement, climb to Black Tor and High Willhays, then head north to Yes Tor. Descend towards the track east of Longstone Hill and return to the same car park. This uses the published southern-shore alternative to the blocked northern path. Check Okehampton firing notices before entering the range.

Rough, exposed moorland; navigation needed

Yes Tor and High Willhays from Okehampton Camp

A circuit from the Okehampton Camp road via Anthony Stile, Black Down and Red-a-ven Brook to Yes Tor, continuing to High Willhays and returning via West Mill Tor to the same start. go4awalk publishes this as 9.5 km, with a 3½-hour walking estimate before extra stops or delays. Use permitted paths outside the camp and obey range closures; rocky moorland and mist can make navigation demanding.

9.5 km Moderate moorland circuit; navigation needed

High Willhays and Yes Tor from Okehampton station

From Okehampton station, use the A30 footbridge, Klondyke Corner and Moorgate to reach Rowtor. Follow the published tracks around West Mill Tor to High Willhays, then Yes Tor. Return by the outward tracks and A30 footbridge to the same station. The rail partnership guide suggests 4½–6 hours, depending on ability. Check range firing notices; do not substitute the rough direct descent to West Mill Tor.

Long, exposed moorland walk; stream crossing
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Nuttall Subsimm

Elevation

619m

2,030 ft

Prominence

24m

Coordinates

50.6936, -4.0106

SX580901

OS Map

191

Explorer: OL28N 113

At the Summit

Trig point on a granite rock tor. Approaching from the west, a cairn appears before the actual trig-point summit. High Willhays is a separate, higher summit to the south.

Terrain & Geology

Granite tors and clitter rocky paths grassy moorland military tracks boggy ground and brook crossings on some approaches

Yes Tor belongs to the Dartmoor granite intrusion. Granite is an intrusive igneous rock that cooled underground; it is not volcanic lava. The Dartmoor granite is mostly coarse-grained, with quartz, feldspar and mica among its minerals.

Views & Scenery

Views across the north moor include High Willhays and West Mill Tor, with North Devon and Cornwall beyond in clear weather.

History & Heritage

Historical Significance

Military training on Dartmoor dates from the early nineteenth century. Military tracks and observation structures remain features of the landscape around Yes Tor.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Meldon Reservoir’s signed car park beside the dam is an established starting point, with toilets. Okehampton Camp approaches use permitted roads and paths outside the camp; use only signed parking and keep military access clear. Check current access signs and the firing programme before travelling.

Public Transport

Use Okehampton station on the Dartmoor Line from Exeter. The published station-to-Yes Tor/High Willhays walk is a substantial moorland day, with a 4½–6-hour guide estimate. Check current train times and allow for the return walk. Okehampton Interchange is a different station east of town.

Nearby Facilities

Parking and toilets at Meldon Reservoir; a café and toilets at Okehampton station, with shops and other services in Okehampton. There are no visitor facilities on Yes Tor. Carry food and water for the hill walk.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • Yes Tor is in the Okehampton military training area. Check the current MOD firing notice and on-site restrictions; never enter a range when red flags or red lamps are displayed. Do not rely on the absence of a visible flag.
  • Never touch military debris or unfamiliar metal objects. Note the location and report it to the Training Safety Officer on 01837 657210 or the police.
  • Exposed moorland, rapid weather changes and poor visibility can make navigation difficult.
  • Uneven granite clitter and summit rocks require care; bogs and brook crossings can obstruct routes.
  • Keep to paths near Meldon Reservoir and avoid exposed soft mud at its margins.

Seasonal Hazards

Rain can make boggy ground and brook crossings harder to negotiate. Winter cold, wind, ice and short daylight add to the exposure of the summit and open moor; choose the route and turnaround time for the conditions.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Yes Tor?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Yes Tor through the maps

Are there other walkers around Yes Tor?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Yes Tor search or of course create your own walk for Yes Tor

Can I organise a walk to Yes Tor?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to Yes Tor.

How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up Yes Tor?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to Yes Tor here

The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

We always strive to keep the information on Walkmates as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know through the contact form and we'll aim to correct it as quickly as possible

Location

Yes Tor location map

Grid reference: SX580901

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