Dartmoor & Exmoor
Ryder's Hill
515M
1690FT
About 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.
Key Statistics
Rank
19th Highest in Region
Parent Range
England
Prominence
?
109m
Nearest Town
West Devon
Geology
You are walking on a solid granite foundation. It formed when a massive pool of molten rock cooled and hardened deep beneath the Dartmoor landscape.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SX659690
Latitude
50.5054°N
Longitude
3.8924°W
Did You Know?
- •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.