Hennock – Trails, Reservoirs and History in Dartmoor National Park

Hennock lies on the southern side of the Teign Valley at around 600 feet above sea level and within Dartmoor National Park. The village is laid out as a strip approximately one kilometre long along the contour line; almost every house offers a view across the valley below. For your trip planning, this creates a distinctive combination of village character, landscape and varied trails.

Landscape Between High-Level Trails and Reservoirs

Kennick Reservoir and Tottiford Reservoir are nearby. Tottiford Reservoir and Trenchford Reservoir are also connected by paths away from surfaced roads, footbridges and a network of walking trails. Both reservoirs are open to the public for walking around them; there are also car parks, picnic areas and numerous woodland paths. If you would like to combine nature experiences with a flexible break, these waterside and woodland landscapes can become an important focus of your days in Hennock.

The walking experiences include the Blue Bell Walk, the walk through Shaptor Woods, Easy Lane and Beacon Lane. The Blue Bell Walk begins in the centre of Hennock at the Village Hall and leads via Bell Lane and Beadon Lane to Beadon Bottom. The walk through Shaptor Woods starts at Five Lanes, follows Little John's Walk and an entrance into Shaptor Woods, and returns to Five Lanes by following the waymarkers. Easy Lane is an old hollow way with diverse plant life. From Five Lanes, Beacon Lane also leads to a signal-fire site approximately 815 feet above sea level above Hennock.

Church and Village History

The Church of St Mary is a 15th-century parish church that was restored in 1875. Its notable features include a late Romanesque limestone font, a Perpendicular-period rood screen and surviving medieval stained glass. Anyone interested in ecclesiastical art and regional architectural history will find specific details here that can be planned as a cultural counterpoint to a day of walking.

Another defining part of the village's history belongs to Hennock Village Hall. The Grade II listed building was probably originally built as a barn in the 13th century and was used by the White Canons of Torre Abbey to store tithes. After the First World War, it was acquired by returning local soldiers and converted into a community hall. The history of Great Rock Mine also reveals the industrial side of the area: it was the last working mine in the Hennock area and supplied micaceous haematite as an ingredient in rustproof paint.

Which Starting Point Suits Your Trip?

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Hennock, it is worth organising your preferred activities for each day first. The Blue Bell Walk starts directly in the village centre, while the trails at Five Lanes and the walking opportunities around the reservoirs offer different landscape impressions. For a trip with several interests, you can combine cultural history, woodland paths and walks around the reservoirs. If you are travelling with children, this kind of selection helps you include active sections and shorter stays at picnic areas in your daily plans, without assuming a specific trail duration or difficulty.

Other Places Nearby

For further orientation, you can also explore Talaton, Chapelton, Clyst Saint Mary, Slapton, Whimple, Marldon, Little Torrington and Holne. You can consider these places as additional travel options.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.