Venford Reservoir and Bench Tor Walk

Although the Venford Reservoir and Bench Tor Walk is a fairly quick excursion, it does feature two steep sections of trail and a variety of different terrain types. Make sure to wear good walking footwear and take your time through any physically difficult bits in order to safely traverse the trail. While this route doesn’t get overly busy, the car park is quite small, so you may want to arrive early in order to secure a space.

Setting out from the car park, make your way east along the road to traverse the dam wall of Venford Reservoir, enjoying the beautiful views stretching across the water to the south before climbing up the hillside to the northeast. Reaching the top of the hill, you will traverse the rocky summit of Bench Tor and enjoy some nice views of the surrounding woodland and moor landscapes. Continue following the trail to the north as it enters into the dense cover of the forest and exposes you to the serene woodland atmosphere of White Wood. After coming to the northernmost point of the route, the trail will turn to the south and pass through the gorge, following alongside the waters of Venford Brook until you come to the starting point of your walk at the car park.