We were here a few weeks ago on a wet and windy evening. I thought it would be nice to explore a little more in the daylight when the bluebells were out. They weren’t - but it was light and indeed sunny although the east wind was still cold. A select few of us started from Dartmeet car park following the beautiful East Dart along till it met the Walla Brook, turning right we went gently up hill till we found the lovely little clapper bridge covered in mosses to cross over and walk back down the other side. A latecomer hailed us from across the Brook so we stopped for coffee to wait and contemplate the stepping stones.
In fact they were nice and dry and high above the water so an expertly executed crossing was made by one and all.
Soon we arrived at Brimpts to have a closer look at the Tin Mines Trail promised by the DTRG (the Dartmoor Tin-working Research Group) booklet. Sadly Darts Farm no longer has a tea room and the DTRG display room was a store for motor bikes. But we found the gully with the metal waterwheel and continued on up through the woods to the open workings. Following the path that was the route of the flat rods to the well preserved wheel pit. The water to drive it was brought via the leat five miles across the Moor from the Cherry Brook. It must have been a busy noisy place in its day.
We headed out on to the open Moor to find the Outer Huccaby Ring. It took a bit of imagination and was more of a square than a ring but definitely a thing. Lovely to see a very smart young Buck with his harem of Hinds delicately bouncing over the gorse.
Retracing our steps we found a sheltered spot for lunch on the larger than expected Huccaby Tor with good clear views over to Princetown. A place to take a deep breath and appreciate “our” Moors.
The smaller Huccaby ring took even more imagination but we definitely went through it to reach the gate onto the road and on down towards Hexworthy to pick up the footpath and ancient road back to Dartmeet.
I always like to offer my guests refreshment, and drinks and ice cream from the Little Shack were enjoyed by the river while watching the birds flitting about in the trees.
A very pleasant day out.
Stella