Royal Hill

Royal Hill (SX 618726) is the highest point of an enclosure that was built in the late 18th century by Thomas Tyrwhitt who was responsible for setting up the original Dartmoor prison. Tyrwhitt was apparently a rather likeable landowner and MP who dedicated his Tor Royal estate to his patron the Prince of Wales - hence the name Royal Hill. Royal Hill has a number of Bronze age tombs (or cists) scattered over the hillside and there are some splendid views over part of the southern and northern moors. In sunny weather this is a delightful place to visit.

Park near Gobbet Plain (SX 647728) on the road from Hexworthy to Sherberton. Walk down the west road down to Gobbets plain and take the left track that leads to the Swincombe valley past the tin mine remains. About 400 yds along there is a bridge over the Swincombe river that leads past the remains of the Swincombe Farms. Alternatively, you can carry on along the track until you get to the reservoir - but you'll have to retrace your steps back to the bridge. Go past the Swincombe Farms and you'll soon get onto more open ground with a clear track that leads towards Princetown. Walk for about a mile, passing Cholake Head and you'll get to the remains of an old Bronze Age cist - the Crock of Gold. Head SE to the rocks of Royal Hill and after admiring the views carry on SE and then S towards the Swincombe valley. There are other cists dotted around the sheltered hillside. You can then head back to the Swincombe Farms and thence to Gobbet Plain.

This is a straightforward walk of just over 5 miles with just a little wet ground near John Bishop's House. No military areas.

	The road at Gobbet Plain (SX 647728). There's room for about 8 cars on the right (out of sight in the photo). Royal Hill is on the horizon to the west.
	One of the tin mine adits that leads down to Gobbet Plain.
	Gobbet Plain - the site of two tin mills. The most obvious remains are those of a tin mine that was active in the 19th century. Many adits, openworks and shafts were built. There are also less obvious relics from a medieval "blowing house". The road on the right leads to Sherberton Farm. We take the left track which leads to the Swincombe valley and allows us to look more closely at the tin mines.
	Remains of a buddle from the 19th century tinworks.
	More remains from the 19th century tinworks.
	A view of the medieval tin mill with the site of the 19th century tin mill behind.
	A view over the whole Gobbet tin site - 645728. The photo is taken from the remains of the leat that used to power the old crazing mill, stamps and furnace. On the right is the Swincombe valley track.
	One of two millstones used to grind tin ore. This was the lower one and was used in a "crazing mill". Gravel would have been ground into sand before it was ready for smelting.
	A mouldstone that was used to create tin ingots. There are 2 smaller moulds incised to the left of the main mould.
	Two mortarstones and another millstone. This was the upper mill and you may see four smaller holes that were used to position the drive mechanism that rotated this stone. This was probably a set of cranks driven by animal power.
	The track that goes up the Swincombe valley to the reservoir.
	The Swincombe valley reservoir. The track stops here so we retrace our steps and cross the river by the wooden bridge.
	The bridge over the Swincombe. This used to be known as the Fairy Bridge. To the right there is the original ford. The bridge was originally built in 1892 to help the miners who worked at nearby Hooten Wheals.
	Looking towards John Bishop's house from the bridge. As you see there is some wet ground between us. Maybe that was one reason why the well built house was abandoned.
	John Bishop's house - SX 640726. Originally built in 1821, it was used by a robust and hard working Dartmoor settler who died in 1892. This house has only become dilapidated quite recently. In 1968 it still had a roof.
	Another picture of John Bishop's house. It is also known as Lower Swincombe Farm or Swincombe Ford Cottage.
	An impressive gatepost of Upper Swincombe Farm. This post marked the eastern boundary of Tyrwhitt's Tor Royal estate. The buildings were once used as a fishing retreat.
	The ruins of Higher Swincombe Farmhouse.
	The track that leads through the enclosures of Upper Swincombe Farm. This track would have been part of the medieval Ashburton-Tavistock packhorse track which used to be the main route between these two towns. Today, this track has a rather Hardyesque feel to it and it is easy to imagine people and horses travelling along it.
	The signpost at SX 630728.
	The rather bland contours of Royal Hill from the NE.
	Looking west along the track towards Princetown - SX 620729. Cholake head is on the left hand side. This track has been known as "Conchies Road" because it was maintained by conscientious objectors in WW1.
	Looking east from SX 620729. Down Ridge is on the horizon.
	The Crock of Gold cist at SX 615731. The dislodged cover stone lies behind and the whole cist is contained within a small stone circle.
	Another view of the Crock of Gold cist. In the background is the countryside around Two Bridges while on the distant horizon are the Beardown Tors.
	The summit of Royal Hill at SX 618726. There are very good north facing views from here.
	The SE view from Royal Hill looking over towards Ter Hill. You can clearly see the Mount Misery newtake wall that rises up the side of Ter Hill.
	A cist at SX 621724
	Another good example of a cist enclosed within a stone circle at SX 620721. These stones would have helped to retain the round barrow of earth that was originally piled up over this burial chamber.
	The Swincombe valley from Joan Ford's newtake wall at SX 632722.
	A view over the modest Swincombe reservoir. Ter Hill is on the left horizon. The water is piped down the valley to Gobbet's Plain and then transferred via an old adit tunnel to Venford reservoir.
	A NE view over the Swincombe valley from SX 632723. On the right hillside there are traces of Bronze age homesteads and reaves.
	The remains of Dolly Treble's house (SX 641726). This was an modest homestead of around 1850. The two upright stones are part of the substantial fireplace.