Shell Top

Shell Top is a conspicuous landmark of the SW part of Dartmoor. It lies above Plymouth and can easily be seen from Plymouth Sound and the channel beyond. Shell probably derives from the earlier name of Shiel or Shill. Shell Top is reasonably easy to get to and along the way you can pass by Penn Beacon which gives a birds eye view over the china clay pits of Lee Moor and Plymouth beyond. From Shell Top the wastes of the southern moor are very accessible.

Park beside the lane (SX 607613) that leads to East Rook Gate (note that there's only room for a couple of vehicles here). Walk up the lane to the Gate, turn right and proceed to the Ford valley from where the way up to Highhouse Corner is obvious. At the corner turn left and follow the line of the reave that will take you to Penn Beacon. Admire the views and then walk north to Shell Top. Then NE along the plateau to Shavercombe Head - the ground is a bit rougher but not bad. However, it gets wetter from here down to the Yealm Valley. Yealm head drains a large area so it's a surprise when the unseen valley suddenly appears. Contour down the Yealm valley to the waterfall at Yealm Steps. We returned back via Dendle's waste and Wood, but you may prefer to return via Highhouse waste.

Allow 4 hours or more for this 7 miles walk. It isn't a difficult walk, but as the photos show we did it on a beautiful sunny day. There's some wet ground around Shavercombe Point, and there's some private ground around Dendle's Wood which isn't always open for access. No army training grounds around.

	The lane below East Rook Gate - SX 607613. Limited parking.
	The Ford brook valley.
	Ford Brook at SX 606625.
	Looking down the valley of Ford Brook from Highhouse corner - SX 605629. On the left is the enclosed land of Highhouse waste.
	The easterly view from the Penn moor settlement at SX 603629. The Bronze Age settlement contains the remains of several large hut circles, an enclosing pound and reaves.
	View over the Cholwich Town china clay works from Penn Beacon.
	The cairn of Penn Beacon - SX 599629. There are superb views from here over Plymouth, part of the South Ham countryside and the china clay works. There's a small shelter beside the cairn that shelters from the prevailing SW winds.
	The triangulation point at Penn Beacon (427 metres).
	Following the reave that connects Penn Beacon with Shell Top.
	Looking south from near Shell Top towards Pen Head. You can clearly see the line of the reeve that runs between these two landmarks.
	The modest tor of Shell Top - SX 598638.
	Looking west from Shell Top with the Trowlesworthy tors on the plain below.
	Shell Top with Penn Beacon in the distance.
	The triangulation point at Shavercombe Head (SX 602645) - 493 metres. This is one of the highest points on South Dartmoor and there are excellent views from here.
	Looking E over the plateau of Penn Moor from Shavercombe Head. Straightahead lies Quickbeam Hill The Redlake spoil tip is hardly visible in this landscape, and the Yealm valley certainly isn't.
	Yealm Head from SX 614647. The Yealm suddenly emerges from the flat top of Penn Moor, and soon becomes a steep well drained valley.
	Another picture of Yealm Head.
	Looking down the upper Yealm valley. You can see the extensive remains of the tin streaming and digging that took place here.
	The ruins of the blowing house (SX 617638) just north of Yealm Steps. The picture looks north along the upper Yealm valley
	A mouldstone found inside the blowing house. This would have produced a heavy ingot of tin - 170 lbs.
	The downstream view from Yealm Steps waterfall.
	Looking east over Ranny Brook from SX 616634. Way over on the right horizon lies Three Barrows with Leftlake on the centre left horizon.
	Looking south down the trackway through Dendle's Waste at SX 615629. There's been a lot of tree logging here.
	Part of Dendle's Wood - SX 615620. This wood is a Dartmoor delight of trees, water, moss and lichen. There are many glens filled with the sound of rushing water. A lot of the wood is a nature reserve and access is prohibited. Dendle may derive from "Dene" (Saxon - a forest) and "Wald" (German - a valley).
	Another view of Dendle's Wood with Broadall Lake stream running beside the path.