For once it is dry and no slippery slate but care still needed. Soon we reach the leat path and follow it through Creason Wood . Brimstones flutter lazily in the sun and primroses fight for space with mosses in rocky clefts. Fish flee away in the leat or are they just having races?
On toward Hill Bridge and an agreeable place for an early coffee stop. Chocolate Krispie Easter "nests" for all consumed eagerly. Here the Tavy was once crossed by a clapper bridge but river speeds and levels are ferocious here after heavy rain. The present bridge replaces previous structures with addition of the weir and channels for fish and HEP.
Crossing the bridge we can see the remains of the wheel pit for Hill Bridge Mine and we also look up the road for the County Stone denoting responsibility of Devon for maintenance. It being dry we take the footpath across the fields rather than Wapsworthy route. Staying on the road we reach the bridle path and turn left towards Brousentor Farm once inhabited by Reg Fuge of Fuge's Post "fame". Brousentor itself is close to a little track N.W. of Baggator before the conifers. Opposite the farm to north of track to Baggator , Dartefact hunters are keen to see ancient stone steps in the wall. To where? A fence on top prevents further access.
We then follow the permissive footpath to remain on the eastern side of the Tavy until we reach the newly restored timber bridge at Standon Steps. Here A.K. reveals an historical photo of the bridge and the clue to it's original builders, prisoners from the POW camp at Bridestowe. We clamber below to see the 1946 plaque somewhat weathered now. The little girl in the photo is unknown but is likely to have lived nearby at Willsworthy and is probably from the Roskilly or Abel family. She would be about 80 now maybe.
We take the track west towards Willsworthy, past the bridge and Lichway , the horses are enjoying being out in the fields and we stay on the road towards Zoar to choose a picnic spot out of the breeze. Is the chapel yet another Dartefact? I think so.
So much of interest in such a small area and we have only touched the surface. We will return to do this for real one day but in the meantime enjoy the rich pickings and photos of our route and sightings from sites such as Dartmoorcam.co.uk Dec 2013 and Aug 2010, Johnnie's Meanderings Jan 2014 Dartefacts, Woodland Trust, Legendary Dartmoor re County Stones and Bridges
Dartmoor walks..www.richkni.co.uk, torsofdartmoors.co.uk, treksandtors, Standon Farm pdf format Tom Greeves, or Google Images for quick visual refs as well as your favourite Dartmoor books including Dartmoor 365.
Finglewoods.org.uk for POW info and also look up Bridestowe Prisoner of war camp .
Happy virtual walking !!
Anne