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Holne Gutter

Holne Gutter may sound like a slightly strange thing to find on Dartmoor. But there's lots of water on Dartmoor and that means that a gutter is a good way of channelling the water off the moor. A Dartmoor gutter really means leat - or water channel. Technically, gutter is more about domestic water supply whereas leat implies more of an industrial use. Holne gutter delivers water to a couple of farms and to a number of homesteads in the village of Holne. The gutter was arranged in 1685 by Thomas Beard of Holne and was used to feed water into the North Stoke tenement. The gutter used a leat that already ran from Skir Hill to an old tin mine (Seven Stone Hill - which has now disappeared). By 1809 there were complaints by the Holne villagers that the water was being spoilt by tinning activities on Holne Moor. Contamination continued until the mid 19th century when it was decided to relocate the takeoff source of the gutter to the Ringleshuttes stream. Doubtless, there must have been times when the tinners would have diverted the gutter water to help the mine operations to the detriment of the villagers. At present the Holne commoners manage the leat and DNPA assist in bridge maintenance. The West Stoke channel is managed by the farm.
Park at the western Venford reservoir car park (SX 685712), and walk up the road in a westerly direction. After 50 yards or so you'll meet up with Hamlyn's Leat. Follow the dry, relict channel in a southerly direction. This will take you around the western side of the reservoir. At the SW side of the reservoir the leat enters into an enclosure. Just head SW up the hillside, cross the Ringleshutes stream, cross over Wheal Emma Leat and work your way up the stream bed. Once the ground begins to level off you easily find the take off of the gutter. Then simply follow the gutter path as the water flows downstream and enjoy the fine views over the reservoir and northern Dartmoor. On the northern tip of Holne Lee there's a water take off down to West Stoke Farm. Carry along the main gutter until you get to where the gutter flows into a tunnel that leads into private property. Retrace your steps until you get back to the West Stoke takeoff and walk down the hill, cross the road and follow the takeoff until it leads into private farmland. Then simply walk down the hill to the reservoir and thence to the car park.
This is a straightforward walk and more pleasant than maybe expected. In good weather there are lovely views. Easy to get to, difficult to get lost (even in thick mist you have the gutter path and a main road nearby) and apart from one area of wet ground the walking conditions are pretty benign. Probably best to avoid doing this walk in summer when the bracken is high. Allow 3+ hrs at an average pace. No military areas nearby.

 

The western Venford reservoir car park SX 685712. Pretty empty at this time of the morning but it will fill up over the day.
The relict track of Hamlyn's Leat at SX 682710. Relict becuase when the reservoir was built then the flow of Hamlyn's leat was redirected through an underground tunnel. This meant that the Hamlyn's leat track around the reservoir was redundant - or relict.
The southern enclosure around Venford reservoir at SX 681707
This is where the relict Hamlyn's leat enters the southern part of the Venford enclosure. SX 681706
The Ringleshutes stream as it flows down to join the Venford reservoir. We're heading up towards the pair of bushes on the horizon. Behind that is the takeoff for the Holne gutter. SW view from SX 681705
This is where the Holne gutter begins - the take off from the Ringleshutes stream. Firmly supported by wooden planks. SX 679702
A flooded part of the gutter. Partly this is because the gutter's width gets narrower at this point and so the water spills out over the post medieval bank that accompanies the leat in this section. SX 680703.
This is where the gutter and the Ringleshutes path get close to each other. North facing view over Venford reservoir in the distance. SX 684701
A leat bridge at SX 687703
The water take off from the gutter to West Stoke Farm. In 1880 a bull's eye stone (1.5 inch diameter) was placed in this take off so as to regulate the water flow. By 1897 a cast iron guard was installed to protect the hole and to prevent blockage. SX 689703.
The Ringleshutes path over the leat at SX 689701
This is near Ford where a moorland track crosses over the Holne gutter. SX 691699.
Ford is where the Holne gutter and Wheal Emma leat meet. Owing to the flat terrain there was no aqueduct so control of the water flow was made by moving stones and wooden planks (you can see one in the photo). Of course, today Wheal Emma is dry so no such control is needed anymore. SX 691699.
These 2 holed stones at SX 693699 are probably here to reduce or restrict the water flow. There is on overflow to the SW that joins up with the Hamlyn's leat just below. The trees on the skyline are enclosing the area of Stoke Shallows - which is where the gutter is heading.
A closer look at the 2 holed stones at SX 693699.
Launder is where the Hamlyn's Leat crosses the Holne gutter - SX 695698. There's a large sluice here which for one day in a year would have been turned so that all the water from Hamlyn's would flow into the gutter which would then be used to drive a waterwheel at Holne Court for handling threshing machines. This no longer applies but the Holne commoners still take a very active role in managing the gutter.
A view of the Holne gutter just before it exits the moorland at Stoke Shallows.
The gutter enters the grounds of Stoke Shallows (or the Shanty) via a brick built tunnel arch. Why is the arch so low? Maybe to discourage animal entry or else to regulate the flow of water. The channel seems to be a little silted up and a pool has formed outside the tunnel. SX 696697
The West Stoke takeoff goes hurtling down the side of Raddick's Hill. SX 689704
This is where the West Stoke takeoff is aqueducted over Hamlyn's Leat. The aqueduct is raised up to 1.5m above the ground and is protected from livestock damage by fencing. SX 690707
Hamlyn's leat emerges below the West Stoke takeoff aqueduct. SX 690708
The exit from the West Stoke takeoff aqueduct. SX 690710
A view of the gutter after it has exited the moor and is now charging across farmland before descending down into Holne village. SX 701695
The gutter in Holne village. The pub is on the left. SX 706695
 


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