Ryder's Hill

As the highest point of Dartmoor’s southern moor, this broad, peat-clad dome offers a sense of immense isolation. Reaching the summit trig pillar requires navigating the notoriously boggy terrain of the Forest of Dartmoor, but the reward is a vast, unobstructed perspective across the southern plateau towards the distant English Channel.

• •Standing as the highest point of the southern moor, the summit is marked by both a triangulation pillar and Petre’s Bound Stone, an ancient marker for the Forest of Dartmoor mentioned in documents dating back to the 16th century.
• •The hill marks the historical convergence of three parish boundaries—Holne, Lydford, and Dean Prior—making it a vital navigation point for those 'beating the bounds' in centuries past.
• •From the summit, the view south reaches the coastal waters of South Devon, while to the north-west, the 'Dartmoor Snowdon' and the isolated industrial ruins of the Red Lake china clay works are clearly visible.
• •The surrounding plateau serves as a significant watershed, with the summit acting as the source for several watercourses including the River Mardle and the River Swincombe.
• •While it technically qualifies as a Hump and a Tump, most local walkers would more accurately classify the approach as a rigorous test of one's waterproof gaiters.