3 minute read
Outdoors
Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers
A gentle 4½ mile stroll for winter days on Roborough Down. Dartmoor walks don’t come flatter than this!
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Park in one of the aircraft dispersal bays (sometimes called bomb bays) on the old Harrowbeer WWII airfield at Yelverton. (SX516673). There is a prominent rocky outcrop (Roborough Rock) at the southern end of the airfield road, adjacent to the A386. This walk has far-reaching views across the down and returns along the route of the old horse-drawn Dartmoor Railway, with both the Plymouth and Devonport leats for company. 1. Pass to the left of Roborough Rock and cross a road by the fountain that commemorates the jubilees of both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. Bear right on a grassy path away from the noisy A386. There are several paths through gorse, but keep as straight as possible to emerge on the edge of the golf course with wide views to the left. Go right by a small ‘golf course caution’ sign to reach the golf club car park. 2. Go left past the club house and down the lane. In the woodland on the left are the remains of old tin mine workings. Pass a turning signed to Yeoland and shortly after go right on a tarmac track. Bear left immediately onto a wide grassy path across the down. Go left where the path forks. Cross a minor lane and continue, bearing slightly right. Views open up on the right towards the Cornish hills. When the path divides again, bear right passing two concrete water troughs to reach a lane. 3. Turn left up the lane to the busy A386. Cross with great care using the traffic island and go through the gate in the wooden fence. Go immediately right and
after 50m go left on a path through the gorse. Go left again at a junction onto a wider path and follow this, ignoring any side paths, to reach the edge of the golf course. Notice the channel of the Devonport leat here. 4. Bear right and walk alongside the edge of the golf course towards a green. If this is busy, it is possible to bear right onto a road for a short distance to keep out of the way of golfers. Go left onto Drake’s Trail, a multi-use path on the trackbed of an old horse-drawn tramway. An old stables building is on the left and now the Plymouth leat is on the right. 5. Go through a gate and the granite setts on which the rails of the tramway were fixed are clearly visible. Continue for 1½ miles with views across the valley to Sheeps Tor and beyond. After a while the two leats almost converge with the tramway in the middle. 6. Go left over a stone bridge (notice a small section of rail here) to reach the A386 for the second time. Cross again with care, using a traffic island as before. Go left along the verge, turn right over the cattle grid and right again by the fountain that we passed at the start of the walk.
Tavistock Ramblers walk on most Saturdays and Sundays and many Wednesdays. There is usually a mix of short walks and longer all day hikes. Go to the website www.tavistockramblers. org.uk to see the latest programme of Covid compliant walks on offer. You are welcome to join us.
STEVE MOORE
PROJECT MANAGEMENTLtd
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