Above and beyond at Cadover Bridge
The view from Hen Tor across the china clay works to the sea
You have probably taken your children to Cadover Bridge in summer to paddle and picnic. Why not park half a mile further on and walk on up to inspect a Bronze Age settlement; late medieval pillow mounds built as rabbit warrens to feed tinners; the interesting stones left by 19th century quarry men, and a leat still actively carrying water for the clay pits at Lee Moor?
D
artmoor is emptier now than it ever was in the old days. I must hire a Tardis from the BBC one day to go back and see exactly what was going on then. Immediately on the Plymouth side of Cadover Bridge, a tarmac road leads off paralleling the river. When it veers off up the hill, take the very bumpy track on the left, and park after 200 meters in the last small parking area by the river on the left. GR 563644. Walk on up the track, swinging widely round Trowlesworthy Warren Farm to avoid the muddy area. The long mounds you pass are pillow mounds. Beyond the farm, take the track leading uphill. Soon you will cross the leat. 46
Now keep 100m or so above the leat to find numerous traces of Bronze Age settlements. From these you must head up hill again to Lesser Trowlesworthy Tor and directly on towards Greater Trowlesworthy Tor. What a fantastic view in all directions! North you see the claypits and beyond them Plymouth Sound gleams in the sunshine if you are lucky. Between the two tors note the partially prepared pieces of reddish granite. The big round slice was supposedly to have been the base of a flagpole in Devonport. This alone may satisfy you. If you feel emboldened and it is a lovely day, do go on to Hen Tor and the hidden gem of Shavercombe Waterfall. This is crossmoor with few if any signs of actual paths. I have done the route several times with various happy groups, always finding a different set of tussocks and bogs to negotiate! I suppose I must recommend staying a little below the direct line to Hen Tor looking to find a path going diagonally up right to swing behind the Tor. The view from the top is stunning, across swathes of Moor past Ditsworthy Warren Farm on the other side of the Plym. Stephen Spielberg used this farm as a major location in his film War Horse.
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