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Snaily House

Snaily House is a ruined farmhouse that lies beside the East Dart just south of Bellever. The ruins lie rather hidden within the Whiteslades coniferous plantation which is all that is left of an old Dartmoor tenement from the 1700s. The story goes that the last inhabitants of the house were two spinsters who were rather fond of eating bottled, salted slugs and a few garden vegetables - hence the name Snaily. Local farmers suspected them of sheep stealing so we can imagine their surprise when the bottled secret slipped out. Apparently, the embarrassed ladies pined away and died leaving the house to fall into ruins. Of course, this is not quite true although Dartmoor does have a heritage of "diet supplement" tales that involve thick black slugs. Two elderly agricultural labourers (a man and a woman) occupied this farmstead in the 1840s and it is from this time that Whiteslades farm became known as Snaily House.
Park offroad at SX 664775 and take the southerly path along the ridge for just over a mile until you get to a gate that leads onto Babeny. Turn around and head west on down the hillside towards the river at the obvious stepping stones at Laughter Hole. Cross into the Whiteslade plantation and walk beside the river stopping by Snaily House on the way. Carry on through the plantation and continue walking beside the river to Bellever Bridge. From there it is a short walk up the hill to the car park.
An easy walk over the ridge, but rather wet down by the river. Certainly not a walk for trainers. About 3 miles with no real hazards to worry about. This would be a lovely spring or early summer walk.
 
The start of the track over Riddon ridge. Riddon is a derivative of Red Down owing to its colourful summer coating of heather. We won't see much of that today. The ridge has quite a few prehistoric remains - hut settlements, reaves and cairns. It also has some medieval field enclosures.
Looking west over to the settlement of Bellever from the top of Riddon Ridge.
A boundary stone with TS incised on it. This could mark a tinner's area or stake (although it was never a productive tin area), but is more likely to refer to Thomas Smerdon who (with others) used part of Riddon for open plan farming in the 18th century. There are a number of these boundary stones on Riddon Ridge.
Here the track goes through a prehistoric reave SX 667762.
The west view from the lower part of Riddon Ridge looking over to the slopes south of Laughter Tor. In case you're wondering why "Laughter" then the word Laughter probably derives from the old Dartmoor word lough which means to pile into mounds (eg. loughing peat turves). Agricultural improvement was tried out on these slopes - but all it left was the name of the nearby tor - Lough Tor.
Looking over to Laughter Hole House and Laughter Tor on the horizon. The house was built in 1912 and has never been a royal hunting lodge (which has been recently suggested). In fact it was converted for Ralegh Philpotts (the brother of Frank who built many of the Dartmoor peat passes).
The stepping stones across the East Dart by Laughter Hole - SX 662758.
The East Dart as it flows down Laughter Hole.
The East Dart in full flow.
Snaily House - SX 661763. The photo shows the remains of one of the cupboard recesses.
View down river from Snaily House
Snaily House. Originally this would have been a two room thatched house, with a good fireplace and some outhouses built up against it. It was built around 1800 and was abandoned around 1860.
The remains of one of the gates into the Whiteslades plantation - SX 660765
Campsite beside the East Dart.
Wet ground beside the Dart.
 


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