It was good to see no fly tipping at Blackaton Cross for a change. Heading off past Big Pond as usual, now fenced off (they really don’t want people swimming in it do they). Following the leat north round a small overgrown pond complete with ravens nests past a rather nice stone circle and row. Up to Great Trowlesworthy Tor and then across to Little Trowlesworthy where the amount of work put into dressing large pieces of granite is amazing considering they were never used. Now down to Spanish Lake (I love that name - it isn’t a lake and it isn’t Spanish) to follow the leat in the Plym Valley. One of our knowledgeable members said this was the most populated area in Europe at one point in the past and there are certainly a huge number of antiquities about. A brief stop for a coffee in one of the farmsteads near Hentor Brook, then a bit of a tough section across Hentor Meadow to find another Farmstead with a lovely granite trough and what appears to be a cist complete with capstone in place and small cairn on top. (see Phil’s photos on Whatsapp) Hen Tor next for a regroup then back across Lee Moor passing a settlement of many hut circles. Crossing Spanish Lake again to find some rather humpty tumpty squishy squashy ground with no tracks until we reached the clay works and the track back past Big Pond. A little late back to the Royal Oak where we were given a warm welcome and some truly gargantuan meals - the only thing to do was go home for a snooze.
Mike