Dartmoor & Exmoor
Hayne Down
397M
1302FT
About Hayne Down
Rising above the village of Manaton, this eastern Dartmoor hill is best known for the striking granite stack of Bowerman’s Nose. It offers a short, rewarding climb through gorse and heather, providing clear views across the valley towards the distinctive profiles of Honeybag and Chinkwell Tors.
Key Statistics
Rank
56th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Dartmoor
Prominence
?
43
Nearest Town
Water
Geology
You are walking on hard granite, part of a massive pool of molten rock called the Dartmoor Intrusion that cooled and hardened deep beneath the surface.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SX744801
Latitude
50.6071°N
Longitude
3.7764°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Hayne' likely derives from the Old English word 'hege', meaning a hedge or enclosure, which suggests the lower slopes were historically part of a managed boundary system.
- •The hill’s most celebrated feature is Bowerman’s Nose, a 21-foot high stack of weathered granite basins that resembles a human figure; local folklore claims it is a petrified hunter who accidentally ran through a witches' coven.
- •From the summit ridge, walkers can look directly south into the deep basin of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, with the long, high ridge of Hameldown dominating the western horizon.
- •The summit offers a superb vantage point for observing the 'Manaton Tors' to the east, specifically the sharp outlines of Honeybag Tor, Chinkwell Tor, and Bell Tor.
- •Despite the fame of Bowerman’s Nose, the rest of the hill is notably lacking in other facial features, so those hoping to find Bowerman’s Elbow or Bowerman’s Chin will be disappointed.