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Up the Erme Valley

The upper Erme valley is one of the most isolated parts of the southern moor. It is also one of the most beautiful. To walk beside the Erme on a sunny day is a privilege - not least because it is so quiet and clearly the place where a range of wildlife is established. There's lots to see - like the remains of Erme Pound, the longest stone row in the world, blowing houses in the Yealm valley and the workings of the medieval tin pits at Erme Head. This is a walk of contrasts - the sheltered valleys versus the exposed moorland plateau, the Erme valley versus the Yealm valley, the old stone row and the remains of the tin industry.
Park at New Waste (SX 624611). Take the path that leads north to Watercombe Gate and carry northwards following the contours of the hillside. At the crest of the ridge you'll see Stall Moor straight ahead. Walk NE, over the Bledge brook and make for the Dancers' circle. From here you can follow the long stone row until you get to the narrows of The Meadows. Now walk beside the Erme as it turns and head westwards upstream towards the head at Erme Pits. After a rest, head due south up onto the plateau of Langcombe Hill and walk over the wet ground until the Yealm valley appears. Walk down the Yealm, past the waterfall at Yealm steps and carry on south until you get back to New Waste.
This is a good 9+ mile walk with little wet ground apart from the high ground of Langcombe Hill. If mist descends then it would be easy to get disorientated. Langcombe Hill is an isolated place which may be tricky to navigate over in poor conditions.
No military areas to worry about.
 
The footpath (SX 625612) leading north towards Watercombe Gate from New Waste.
The lane that leads to Coombe Hill.
The SW view towards Cornwood from the side of Coombe Hill.
Another view from Coombe Hill. This one is looking towards Plymouth. You can see Plymouth Sound in the distance.
In a short distance our view has turned from the edges of the moor into the grassy hills of Stall moor.
The Bledge brook just before it joins the Erme in the valley below.
Approaching the Dancers' stone circle (SX 635644) from the south. The story goes that 26 girls came up here one Sunday to dance and party. For their sins they were turned into stone in case others were tempted to do the same. From the other side of the ring starts a long stone row that stretches over 2 miles and ends up at a cairn on Green Hill. The purpose of this row is quite unclear.
The south view down the Erme valley from the Dancers' stone circle. Staldon Hill on the right and Sharp Tor on the left.
Rollo approaches a group of walkers at the Dancers'. He hopes that they have some food for him.
Near the start of the longest stone row in the world - SX 635645. Over 2 miles long it ends at a cairn on Green Hill. 
One of the knarled stones of the long stone row. Did it look like this when it was erected all those thousands of years ago?
The south view from the cairn at SX 635650.
Remains of a blowing house near Erme Plains and Green Lake Foot. The stream of Hook Lake lies over the other side.
Erme Pound - SX 638656. This Bronze age circle has been used as an animal pound for a long time. There are 2 huts built outside the pound that acted as shelters for the herders. One of them has substantial seating inside.
The Meadows (SX 637657) with the Erme meandering through. In the mid distance on the right is where Red Lake stream joins the Erme, on the left is Stingers Hill beyond which the path of the Erme continues upstream.
Red Lake where it descends to meet the Erme.
The view of the upper Erme valley. In the mid distance lie the characteristic mounds of Erme Pits.
The Erme below Stinger's Hill.
Hortonsford Brook.
A ford pool of the Erme near where Dry Lake meets the Erme - SX 633663.
The Erme with Wollake Hill straight ahead. Slightly to the right is the valley of Blacklane Brook.
Walking beside the Erme.
The edge of Erme Pits. These are the remains of medieval (and later) tin workings. There are heaps of stones and large gulleys that pass between large mounds of granite. At one time this must have been an industrial eyesore, but time has weathered the rocks and the Pits now support a good population of rabbits. No doubt the old tinners would have appreciated this!
One of the mounds of Erme Pits (SX 623669).
The upper Erme valley from Erme Pits.
The edge of Langcombe Hill (SX 620665) as we walk up from Erme Head. In a short distance we have travelled from the calm isolation of the Erme valley onto the austere plateau.
Another north view from Langcombe Hill looking over towards Princetown way. This is a pretty bleak and isolated place.
A bit of water on Langcombe Hill. The photo was taken after a dry couple of weeks - in the winter this place would be very wet underfoot.
Walking across the soggy grassy plateau of Langcombe Hill. It's a lovely May afternoon, but in misty weather this would be an isolated and a slightly strange place to be.
This is where the plateau begins to dip down into the upper Yealm valley. The wet ground of Yealm Head lies to the right (out of view).
The upper Yealm valley.
The south view from Yealm Steps - SX 617636. On the left in the mid distance is the west slope of Combe Hill. The start of Dendle's Wood is in the centre.
Another view from Yealm Steps.
A tin mould stone with two moulds from the blowing house on the left bank of the Yealm just below the Steps. In 1879 the only surviving tin ingot from Dartmoor was discovered and it has been traced to this mouldstone. The undersized ingot was probably an illegal one that was smuggled out.
The pellucid water of the Yealm.
Heading SE at SX 621625. Straight ahead lie the trees of Harrowthorn plantation.
A line of trees near Watercombe. New Waste car park is nearby.
 


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