Bleak House

Bleak House was built to house the site manager of the Rattlebrook Peat Works. As the name implies this is a miserable place in bad weather. On a sunny day it is delightful. It lies on the side of Amicombe Hill with the remains of the peat works and other older tin works nearby. The Rattlebrook peat works tried to make a go of things in the early 1900's but finally packed up in 1930. It was an ambitious venture with serious money spent since a railway was constructed from Bridestowe Station all the way up the moor to the peat workings. But as the saying goes "scratch Dartmoor and it will break your back". The business failed.

Park at the car park (SX 526853) just up the track from the Dartmoor Inn on the Okehampton - Tavistock road. Walk over Lydford High Down, cross the Lyd at the ford and then head SE until you get to the Doetor Brook. Follow the brook as it takes you past plenty of old tin workings towards Dick's Well. The easterly path will take you to Bleak House. Then head north along the Rattlebrook until you find the old railway track. Follow it down as it takes you past Great Links Tor until you get the the Lyd stream. Then follow the Lyd as it passes beside the impressive whaleback of Great Nodden until you get back to the ford.  

This is a good 6 mile walk. It isn't particularly wet or boggy and the railway track is easy to walk. Allow about 4 hours at a reasonable pace. In clear weather the views are really good - especially over Cornwall. 

Some of the walk lies within the army firing range.

	Heading along Lydford High Down with Arms Tor and Brat Tor on the horizon.
	Nearing the Lyd ford with Arms Tor behind.
	Westerly view over High Down from Doetor Brook at SX 545852.
	The easterly view from SX 545852. Rattlebrook Hill and Chat Tor lie on the horizon.
	Substantial tin ruins at Wheal Frederick - SX 545854.
	The remains of the waterwheel channel at Wheal Frederick.
	Wheal Frederick with Sharp Tor and Hare Tor in the background.
	The view from SX 549858. Brat Tor with Widgery's Cross is in the distance while in the middle ground lie part of the extensive tin workings of Doetor.
	The reservoir near Dick's Well. This would have been used to control the water flow to the tin workings lower down the valley ie. Wheal Frederick.
	The boundary stone near to Dick's Well - SX 551861. It marks the division between Bridestowe and Sourton parishes. BS is inscribed on the stone.
	A pack horse track that leads down the Doetor valley.
	The Rattlebrook as it rattles on southward towards Tavy Cleave.
	The ruins of Bleak House.
	Bleak House.
	The southerly view from SX 561864. Fur Tor lies in the distance. Green Tor is on the right. This picture shows why Green Tor gets it's name.
	Green Tor - a closer view.
	The fallen chimney at Bleak House
	Looking back at Bleak House from SX 559865. On the left lies part of Green Tor while in the distance you can see Fur Tor.
	The track of the Rattlebrook railway as it approaches the old peat works of Amicombe Hill.
	Another picture of the old railway track.
	Great Links Tor.
	Looking back at Great Links Tor from the old tramway.
	The westerly view from SX 548882. The stream is the upper Lyd, while the smooth whaleback hill is Great Nodden. In the distance lies Cornwall.
	Following the Lyd stream towards Great Nodden.
	Great Nodden from SX 540870.