Walk

Leats, tramway and moor’s edge

Drake’s Leat above Clearbrook

This walk is largely on the section of moorland traversed by the Tavistock road, keeping around 200m above sea level. It is a largely fl at walk of about 6 miles. You may choose to start at either the Dartmoor Diner in the South or Yelverton in the North. Choose which half to do fi rst; I describe it from Yelverton along Drakes Leat. There is it from Yelverton along Drakes Leat. There is plenty of parking and easy bus access. plenty of parking and easy bus access.

Start on the obvious path parallel to the road on the East side. Go through a neat pair of gates, continuing on the tarmac. The fi rst bits of leat you note are from the Devonport Leat, soon going along entirely on your right. This was built in the 1790s as the town of ‘Plymouth Dock’ expanded and needed more water than Drake’s Leat could supply. The tarmac track is on the line of the Princetown Tramway. This was constructed to a 4’ 6” gauge in the 1820s, just less than modern standard gauge. It carried granite down to Sutton Harbour and goods up to Princetown. Soon you will note Drake’s Leat below you on the left. This was built in the 1590s, but is in much better repair than the Devonport Leat since it was fully reinstated at the beginning of WWII, in case Burrator Dam was bombed. Do note a cylindrical granite post after about half a mile. The number 13 is incised on top, recording that this point on the tramway was thirteen miles

Thirteen-mile post

Tramway granite sleepers

from Sutton Harbour. You pass two more sets of gates, with the section between them showing the granite sleepers of the tramway. Immediately after the second set, take a short uphill diversion to fi nd the Devonport Leat emerging from a tunnel. Back on the cycle track, the tramway is on your immediate right. Another granite post has 12 incised on top. The building on your right was a stable for horses at the half way point of the tramway. Steam was never used, always horse power. The track tends downhill gently all the way, helpful as the load that way was granite. You now follow Drakes Leat for a mile, until it can no longer be followed. Note the driveway to the new Mayfl ower Water Treatment Plant. You turn at right angles to cross a short stretch of open moor, arriving opposite the Dartmoor Diner. On the other side, angle gently towards the wood, passing an unobtrusive earthwork on the top of the rise. This was put there by Royalists during the siege of Crazywell Pool Plymouth in the 1640s. Descending along the side of the wood, you will soon go over a bridge to cross the Devonport Leat as it leaves the moor and disappears into the wood. Angle away from the wood to head for the hotel and pick up the track on the edge of the moor, then take the lane leading West past Yeoland Farm. Shortly past this, take the footpath on your right, to cut across to another lane. Turn right, and then left into the track leading across to Axtown. Note that here you are most defi nitely off the open moor, with fi elds in front and a grassy valley that leads eventually down to the Tavy. Take the lane on the right back up to open moor, the large fl at area that was Harrowbeer Aerodrome during WWII. Head straight across the road onto the Moor, and back to Yelverton. n

Ron Smith

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Walks such as this, walks in the middle of Dartmoor, walks in the valleys and walks on the coast – all are led by keen and knowledgeable volunteers, various lengths, various days of the week. Google Plymouth Ramblers or, for walks using public transport, contact the Dartmoor Rambling Club via Ron Smith ronaldfwsmith@gmail.com / 07780913546