Whiteworks - Great Gnats Head - Eylesbarrow - Whiteworks

Dave Pawley

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Whiteworks - Duckspool - Crossing's Memorial - Great Gnats Head - Eylesbarrow - Nun's Cross Farm - Whiteworks

This walk is from Whiteworks, two miles from Princetown, to Duckspool in the heart of Southern Dartmoor and on to Crossings' Memorial Stone and famous letterbox. The return takes you across the upper reaches of the River Plym, passing several old mine workings before looping back to Nuns' Cross Farm and the Devonport Leat.

The initial section of the walk skirts the edge of the very treacherous Fox Tor Mire, which was the mire which stimulated Conan Doyle to write the Hound of the Baskervilles and the infamous Grimspound Mire. Don't worry - you skirt it and don't venture across it.

This walk should not be attempted if there is any likelihood of fog, since it takes you across some very featureless areas of the moor in places.

The land is tussocky in places and marshy in others. As so typical of Dartmoor walking, during the part of the walk from the leat to Plym Steps there is no real path and it is a case of following the bearings and the landmarks, such as they are.

England - South West England - Devon - Dartmoor

Features

Great Views, Wildlife

4/23/2012 - Marie Arymar

We followed this walk yesterday in the pouring rain (but with good visibility) and absolutely loved it. One of the best walks I have been on for a long time; the remoteness, the lack of people, the amazing scenery and the history were fabulous. I am trying to find out more about the stone pillars and collapsed barrow just after the Plym Steps, but without success so far.