Location Of Walk:

Shaugh Prior

How To Get There:

A386 from Plymouth. Turn right at Bickliegh Cross and follow the signs for Shaugh. Park at Shaugh Bridge.

Parking:

Two car parks, one before the Bridge and one beyond the Bridge.

Type Of Walk:

 Rough paths and moorland, small stretch of road.

Distance / Time: app

3miles.

Facilities:

 There are no facilities (possibly ice cream van at Cadover  or Shaugh).

 The Walk:

From the car park climb the steps up to the next level and follow the track, the road to Shaugh Prior is on your right. Climb the stile and continue on up through the woods (quite a steep path). Keeping the field on your right follow the well worn path, passing through rocks and remains of old buildings. You will soon spot the old pipes in the track, they were used to carry the china clay in suspension  form to the drying works at the beginning of this walk, next you will see a lane and some modern stables, the lane goes back to the Shaugh road. Continue to follow the track left through the woods, the river Plym is far below on your left. As you leave the woods the valley opens up and you will be able to see the Dewer Stone rocks used by climbers all the year round, walk on to the N.T. sign and climb the stile and continue through the woods. You can hear the river below on your left. There are places where you can climb down to the river, sometimes there are canoeists riding the white water. Soon you will reach a huge iron pipe and the next N.T. sign, cross a small footbridge and a stile, now walk up a steep green bank and climb the ladder.  Walk on through the woods until you reach the last stile on this walk. You have now reached Cadover. Walk on and cross the bridge, take care the traffic can be a problem here Ignore the lane on your left and walk up the road a short distance and then go left onto the moor and cross a small stream, skirting the boggy area, head for the granite cross. Keeping the clump of trees and the cottage to your right, walk on up the hill. With the wall to your left and  well spaced gorse to your right, head on to the ridge. Away to your right you will soon see Sheepstor and the mast at North Hessary and also a glimpse of Princetown. Continue on up the hill, passing a large rock on your left, cross the boundary wall and keeping it on your left walk on. Soon you will see Staddon Heights  and Penlee Point in Cornwall this is a real panoramic view. You will also see a lone marker stone inscribed with an L (Lopes). Walk on to the summit of the Dewerstone and enjoy the view. Pass through the hut circles and  stonewalls, these once protected the fort on the summit during the stone age. Look on the rocks for a few inscriptions the most notable is to N T Carrington –Obit Septembris  MDCCCXXX, he published  a lengthy poem about Dartmoor and one about Plymouth. Now leave the summit  and with your back to the view go left around the rocks and walk down to the wall and the trees, cross the broken wall and follow the steep track which gradually bears right, where it begins to level out, you will see on your left a huge pile of rocks built into a promontory, this was once intended for a bridge across the valley. Follow the path on your right, you will see various small quarries, watch out for the fallen tree, there are also several large cut stones. When you reach the sharp left hand bend you will see the remains of the cable drum house. This was used to pull the trucks up the incline, as one came up the other went down the track, you can still see the track bed stones that held the track. Take care walking down the hill, it is very eroded, at the junction walk right and on to the Scout centre, this was once a blacksmith’s shop, go left and with the river Meavy below right, walk on down to the footbridge over the Plym, cross it and see where the Meavy enters the Plym and they become one river for the journey to the sea. You are now back at the car park, hope you enjoyed the walk. 

 Author

Walking Granny

Email

walkinggranny@walkingdartmoor.co.uk

Date

09/07/2000