The Hurlers & Cheesewring
Distance: 8 miles (12.9km)
Ascent: 397 metres
Start/finish: The Hurlers car park, PL14 5LE
**ROUTE UPDATE, Wild Running 2nd edition 2019 – 2023: Due to a right of way issue, the following directions and gpx download have been amended from the quarry at the 1.1 mile point to avoid both Siblyback Farm and Wardbrook Farm. Please follow the updated route. The route is now 8 miles long.**
Take the track north-west past the Hurlers stone circles, turning L at a three-way fork at 0.6 miles/1km and reaching an old flooded quarry where the track ends (1.1 miles/1.8km). **AMENDED ROUTE** Follow vague footpaths around to the R of the lake and then head north, picking your way across Craddock Moor and staying L of Withybrook Marsh. Aim for the corner of the field system at SX247729. Run along the edge of the open moor following the field boundary on the L with Withey Brook on the R. Follow paths along the brook, crossing when it feels safe to do so; if the brook is high then it’s easiest at the old railway at SX242741. Continue north along Withey Brook until you are roughly east of Kilmar Tor and a bit south of the corner of Smallacombe Plantation. (2.6 miles/4.2km) Turn R and follow small paths towards and up onto the Kilmar Tor ridge. Scramble all the way along the ridge, past the trig point and down on the eastern end. Turn R here and make your way south to the rocky outcrop of Bearah Tor (4 miles/6.5km). Drop off the other side of Bearah Tor and run south, trending slightly L across Langstone Downs to the rocky outcrop of Sharp Tor. Climb to the summit and then follow moorland paths west, staying north of the fields and climbing to the cairns at the 379-metre high point. Head south-west from here, crossing a track and reaching the edge of some fields. Turn L and follow the field boundary east to a path south of Wardbrook Farm, Sharptor (6.3 miles/10.1km). Turn R onto a path to the trig point summit of Kilmar Tor. Drop down to the south and onto the path of the old railway around Langstone Downs. Follow this then turn right before entering the field systems at SX249736 (about 8 miles/12.8km) and follow the open moorland around to the left until south of Wardbrook Farm. Turn R to the summit of the Cheesewring (9 miles/14.5km). Drop down to the L and go along the main path through the quarry and back to Minions, passing the old mine workings. Turn R onto the road to return to the start.