Chasing the Light: 5 Secret Southeast Dartmoor Golden Hour Spots (Without the Crowds)
While the crowds and tour buses fight for parking spaces at Haytor and Hound Tor, a quieter, far more dramatic side of Dartmoor is waiting just a few miles away.
The southeastern area of the moor is where rugged granite peaks suddenly plunge into deep, ancient river gorges and lush, hidden valleys, creating a playground of light, shadow, and texture that is absolute gold for landscape photographers.
If you are tired of capturing the exact same sunset shots as everyone else on Instagram, grab your kit bag.
From dramatic cliff-edge ridges to forgotten historical monuments, the team at Thorn Valley Studios has uncovered five lesser-known, highly photogenic golden hour spots in Southeast Dartmoor, complete with the parking hacks you need to catch the perfect light.
1. Hookney Tor & Grimspound: The Ancient Enclosure Sunset
While everyone heads to Haytor, Hookney Tor sits just above the bronze-age ruins of Grimspound and offers a vastly superior vantage point for capturing both deep history and sweeping moorland vistas without the crowds.
Why it’s great for Golden Hour: Positioned along the ridge of the Two Moors Way, Hookney Tor overlooks the dramatic bowl containing the ancient stone walls of Grimspound. Facing west, the setting sun casts long, low-angled shadows across the valley floor, accentuating the rugged texture of the stone circles and framing the distant expanse of Hameldown Ridge in brilliant golden light.
The Walk: A scenic 10-to-15-minute uphill walk along a well-defined section of the Two Moors Way path from the parking area.
Car Park Location: Bennett's Cross Car Park or the roadside parking cutouts near Natsworthy / Grimspound on Google Maps.
Tip: Space along the narrow lane directly below Hookney Tor is extremely limited. Parking at Bennett's Cross on the main B3212 gives you a clear, easy-to-follow approach path while keeping your vehicle safely off the narrow access roads.
2. Powdermills & Cherrybrook Valley: The Industrial Heritage Canvas
Tucked away just south of Postbridge, Powdermills offers a captivating mix of history and nature, where the granite ruins of a 19th-century gunpowder factory sit nestled along the quiet banks of the Cherrybrook.
Why it’s great for Golden Hour: As the late afternoon light filters through the valley, the towering granite chimney and scattered stone ruins catch the warm, low-angled rays. The setting sun casts long, dramatic shadows through the moss-covered masonry and surrounding birch trees, while the reflective waters of the Cherrybrook and nearby leats create beautiful opportunities for framing textures and historic architecture under a glowing sky.
The Walk: A flat, easy 5-to-10-minute walk along a gravel track leading directly from the parking area to the chimney and ruined mill buildings.
Car Park Location: Powdermills Pottery / B3212 Roadside Cutout on Google Maps.
Tip: Park at the dedicated cutout area along the B3212 near the turnoff for Powdermills Pottery. Be respectful of the working pottery business and private residential areas, sticking to the obvious paths leading around the historic ruin sites.
3. Combestone Tor: The Low-Effort, High-Reward Sunset
If you want deep moorland isolation without a gruelling trek back in the pitch black, Combestone Tor is an absolute gem tucked away near the village of Holne.
Why it’s great for Golden Hour: Combestone is a beautifully weathered, flat-topped tor that acts as a perfect natural platform. Facing west, it looks straight across the rolling, untamed expanse of the South Moor and the winding valley of the River Dart. The granite joints form beautiful natural frames for the setting sun.
The Walk: Less than 2 minutes. It is level, flat, and ideal if you are carrying heavy tripod setups or tracking gears.
Car Park Location: Combestone Tor Parking Area on Google Maps
Tip: This is a small, free roadside parking cutout. The tor itself sits practically right next to the tarmac, making it an incredibly easy walk if you are hauling heavy camera setups.
4. Buckland Beacon & The Ten Commandments Stones
Overlooking the town of Ashburton on the very edge of the southeastern boundary sits Buckland Beacon. Aside from the panoramic views, the real draw here is a fascinating piece of cultural history: two massive granite slabs carved with the Ten Commandments in 1928.
Why it’s great for Golden Hour: The stones face out across the sweeping valleys toward South Brent. When the low sun hits the carved faces of the granite slabs, the shadows define the hand-cut lettering beautifully. Combined with the expansive views of the rolling South Devon countryside catching the final rays, it creates a deeply atmospheric image.
The Walk: A moderate, scenic 20-minute walk through gorse and heather along the ridge line.
Car Park Location: Cold East Cross Car Park on Google Maps
Tip: Because Buckland Beacon shares the same ridgeline as Rippon Tor, you'll use the exact same Cold East Cross parking hub. Instead of taking the path heading north up towards Rippon Tor, head south-southwest along the open grassy tracks across Welstor Common to reach the beacon.
5. Yar Tor Car Park: The Sharp Tor & Dartmeet Panorama
Perched high on the crest of Yartor Down, the Yar Tor parking area offers one of the most dramatic elevated viewpoints in Southeast Dartmoor.
Looking straight across to the sharp granite spire of Sharp Tor with the historic confluence of Dartmeet nestled in the valley far below.
Why it’s great for Golden Hour: Positioned on the high western ridge, this spot lets you capture the low, warm evening light as it sweeps across the valley floor. The setting sun illuminates the steep, heather-clad slopes leading down to Dartmeet, where the East and West Dart rivers meet under ancient stone bridges, while casting long shadows that accentuate the rugged silhouette of Sharp Tor standing guard on the opposite ridge.
The Walk: Virtually effortless. You can shoot sweeping valley vistas within seconds of stepping out of your vehicle, or take a gentle 2-to-5-minute stroll along the level turf paths on the rim for an unobstructed frame down into the gorge.
Car Park Location: Yar Tor Car Park (also known locally as Yartor Down Car Park) on Google Maps.
Thorn Valley Studios Pro-Tip for the Southeast Moor:
The southeastern valleys are notoriously steep. When the sun dips below the high ridges, the valley floors plunge into darkness up to 30 minutes before official sunset time. If you are shooting the rivers or the woods, make sure to get there early to catch the true golden rays before the ridges block them out!
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