Broad Marsh

Broad Marsh lies beside the upper East Dart in a remote part of Dartmoor.  All around the marsh there are remains of medieval tin working and the marsh may be caused by the silting up of parts of the East Dart by this tinning activity. Certainly, Sandy Hole Pass is the results of tinners work. Although parts of Broad marsh are very wet and boggy it is an area that is easily walked around and it provides an ideal start to exploring the upper reaches of the East Dart.

Start at the Postbridge car park SX 646788, but walk up the B3212, cross over the bridge (the new one!) and take the first left. This takes you into a muddy field from where you can head on up the East Dart valley by skirting around Hartyland. Walk up to Hartland Tor and then head north for about 1.5 miles along the ridge until you get to the Lade Stream. Then head north west up the slopes of Sittaford Tor. After admiring the views from this vantage point then head south westish for Statts House (there's a path but a compass bearing might be needed). From Statts House you will need a compass bearing to take you to Kit Rocks beside the East Dart. Depending on time you can head off up the valley but you'll need to return to Kit Rocks to head off downstream to get to Broad Marsh. You can walk around the marsh through the grasslands on the northern side which takes you to Sandy Hole Pass and then easily down to the East Dart waterfall, Broad Down and back to Postbridge.

This is a 9 to 10 mile walk. It just skirts the edge of the army range so you can do it at any time. However, part of the walk is in a pretty isolated part of Dartmoor that is some miles from the road. The ground is fairly straightforward apart from some roughness near Statts House. A map and compass is essential for this walk.

	The photogenic clapper bridge at Postbridge - SX 646788.
	The East Dart just above Postbridge.
	The south side of Hartland Tor.
	The view from Hartland Tor - SX 642799.
	The ridge north of Hartland Tor. On the left is the east Dart valley. Straight ahead is Sittaford tor. This is good walking ground.
	Looking from the ridge (SX 641805) back towards Hartland Tor.
	The view over the East Dart valley from SX 641812.
	The SW view down Lade Hill stream - taken from SX 640816.
	The south side of Sittaford Tor - SX 633831. This high tor (538m) has a commanding position with great views over the Dartmoor landscape but the tor itself is quite low key and lacks any real presence.
	The south view from Sittaford Tor looking down towards Postbridge.
	Dartmoor ponies grazing at Sittaford Tor - a "classic" depiction of Dartmoor.
	The fireplace of Statts House at SX 621825. Stats House was a simple shelter for 19th century peat cutters on the top of Winney's Down.
	Another view of Statts House.
	One of the Winney Down tribituaries that run down into Broad Marsh.
	Looking down the East Dart valley not far from Kit Rocks.
	The remains of a tinner's hut beside the East Dart - SX 611829. This is a short walk from Kit Rocks. The view faces upstream and from here on the landscape gets more and more remote. Black Hill on the skyline.
	Another view of the tinner's hut.
	Looking up the East Dart with Black Hill in the background. There's a good mile and a half distance between here and East Dart head.
	A view of Kit Rocks from beside the East Dart. Kit Rocks is one of the few exposed rock surfaces in this part of the moor.
	The quite well preserved Cut Lane Tinner's Hut - SX 611825. This is now situated in wet ground in a very isolated part of Dartmoor.
	Another view of the tinner's hut with the slopes of Cut Hill behind..
	The start of a leat at Kit Falls. This leat soon vanishes into Broad Marsh.
	A view over Broad Marsh from the rocks on the north side of the marsh - SX 614820.
	The grasslands of Broad Marsh looking towrds the North side of Sandy Hole Pass
	Walking through the grasslands beside Broad Marsh.
	The edge of the wet ground of Broad Marsh.
	The NE view from the banks of the East Dart at SX 619818. There's a lot of marshy ground around here and it's difficult to follow the streambed much further. Cut Hill is on the horizon.
	The marshy ground where Broada Marsh stream meets the East Dart. Flat Tor is barely perceptible on the skyline in the middle of the picture.
	Looking back at Broad Marsh on the hillside above Sandy Hole Pass.
	The East Dart as it exits Sandy Hole Pass.
	Sandy Hole Pass.
	A tinner's hut amongst the streamworks alongside the East Dart - SX 624812. The walls are well banked up and the doorpost is still extant.
	Another view of the tinner's hut.
	The start of the Vitifer mine leat which is taken off from the East Dart.
	The East Dart just before the waterfall.
	The East Dart tumbling down the valley just after the waterfall. Broad Down is on the horizon straightahead.
	The view towards Archerton Bog from the slopes of Broadun. Higher White Tor is on the horizon.