Cadover Bridge and Dewerstone Rock circular walk
Starting at Cadover Bridge, this circular route over open moorland and through ancient oak-wooded valleys is strenuous in parts – but well worth it for the views from the top of the folklore-shrouded Dewerstone.
Near to
Cadover BridgeStart point
Cadover Bridge car park, grid ref SX554645Trail information
*Public footpaths, woodland and moorland with steep and uneven parts. For more details, see Terrain section.
**Rocky sections, steep climbs, steps, gates and stiles. For further details, see Access section.
***Please keep dogs under close control around livestock, and on a lead from 1 April to 31 July. For further details, see Facilties section.
Total stages: 9
Total stages: 9
Start point
Cadover Bridge car park, grid ref SX554645
Stage 1
From the car park, head away from Cadover Bridge with the river on your right. Go through a gate into a willow plantation. The path here is rocky and muddy in places. Look out for some lovely picnic spots alongside the river.
Stage 2
Two gates in quick succession lead to a footbridge and into the oak woodland of North Wood. Follow the path with the large pipe set in the ground.
Stage 3
Leave North Wood over a stile and follow the path onto West Down. The River Plym is now far below you on the right. Looking ahead to the other side of the valley, you can see the crags of Dewerstone Rock. The path leads through mixed silver birch and oak and splits into a fork just after a ruined building. Take the right-hand fork slightly downhill to a small track and through a gate.
Stage 4
Inside the wire fence, turn right and follow the footpath sign to Shaugh Bridge. Staying within the woods, the path twists downhill, with the river below you on the right. Follow the path over a stile – this part can be slippery at times. Pass the china clayworks settling tanks on your right and continue until the path ends at a road.
Stage 5
Turn right at the road and take the steps down into Shaugh Bridge car park. Turn right and walk through the car park towards the river.
Stage 6
Using the wooden footbridge, cross the river into Goodameavy. Follow the path right. You're now at the start of a long uphill climb where the path turns into a rocky track that winds steeply above the river. Continue following this track straight ahead until you come to a sharp bend to the left. Go around the bend and then almost immediately take a turning to the right. Follow the track until you can see the top of Dewerstone Rock through the trees on the right.
A climber tackling the Dewerstone in the Plym Valley, Devon | © National Trust Images/John Millar Stage 7
The path now becomes a rocky scramble left and uphill, leaving the woods and emerging onto open moorland.
Stage 8
From the top of the rock, head north-east and follow the broad grassy path along the ridge. Pass Oxen Tor and go over Wigford Down, with Cadworthy Wood and the Plym Valley on the right. Continue straight on to the boundary wall of the wood and follow the wall around the fields of Lower Cadworthy.
Stage 9
Eventually, the wall veers to the right and you go downhill past Cadover Cross with views of the china clayworks beyond. Head towards the bridge, cross the road and you're back where you started.
End point
Cadover Bridge car park, grid ref SX554645
Trail map
Cadover Bridge and the Dewerstone walking trail | © National Trust
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