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Snowdon

Snowdon seems an odd name for a couple of cairns on the southern moor. Snowdon may be more associated with grand, craggy, Welsh mountains - but this rather more modest spot does have excellent views and doubtless attracts some snow from time to time. Quite why it's called Snowdon is unclear - years ago it was known as Fieldfare, which feels a more appropriate name. The cairns of Snowdon lie beside a wet track that joins the hills of Ryder and Puper.
Start at Michelcombe Lane - SX 695689. There's a steep track that goes up the hillside to Lane Head gate. Take the left hand fork to Michelcombe Down - the track leads down to the Mardle valley which is easily crossed. Climb up the steep side of Showdon and walk over to the cairns. You can then follow the track that leads through the grass to Ryder's Hill. From Ryders, head NE, pass through the shallow depression of Mardle Head and join the fairly obvious track of the eastbound Sandy Way which takes us back to Lane Head.
This is not a difficult 5 mile walk but there is a good climb at the start. The ground may be a little rough and wet, and this is one of those places on Dartmoor where rubber boots could be a wiser choice than leather boots - especially after it's rained. Be careful if the mist comes down and you're on the rather featureless plateau of Ryder. No army grounds - anywhere - near.
 
The start of the Sandy Way at Michelcombe - SX 695689. There's room here for three or so cars. The Sandy Way is an old track that goes over Holne moor, skirts past Aune head and then drops down past Ter hill towards Whiteworks and Princetown.
The steep track that leads up from Michelcombe to Lane Head.
More of the steep track. The east views over Buckfast and Holne are beginning to open out.
Looking south towards Puper's Hill from the side of Michelcombe Down.
The ford over the Mardle at SX 675689.
The view down the Mardle valley from the edge of the Snowdon ridge. As you can see it's just been raining.
One of the cairns on top of the Snowdon ridge.
The southerly view from Snowdon looking down the Walla brook valley. Straight ahead on the opposite hillside are the remains of Huntingdon Farm.
Looking back at one of the cairns of Snowdon as we head off towards Ryder.
The soggy path between Ryder's hill and Snowdon. Ryders is on the horizon. It had just rained 15 mins before this photo was taken and the light and colour were too subtle for the camera.
The boundstone at the head of the Walla brook. The stone seems to have a special interest for Rollo.
Sundew - there's lots of this insectivorous plant up here - which shows just how wet and impoverished the terrain is.
The easterly view from Ryder's Hill.
The stones of Ryder's Hill. The short pillar is inscribed with an "H" (for Holne) and is also known as Petre on the Mount. The taller one has a "B" for Buckfastleigh and is also called Petre's Bound stone.
Another view of Ryder's Hill stones together with the OS triangulation post.
One more shot of Ryder's.
The NE view over Holne Ridge.
Some very clean and rather sharp looking sheep on Holne Ridge.
Looking up at Ryder's Hill from the Sandy Way path, near to where it joins the Coombestone path at SX 673697.
One of the Venford reservoir boundary stones inscribed RD / H. These stones mark the purchase of land in the early 1900s by Paignton Council from Richard Dawson, then lord of Holne Manor.
The view over Buckfast from the Sandy Way. You can see the tower of Buckfast Abbey above the trees. It's an evocative view and all it needs to make one think of medieval times is for some bell ringing to come sounding over the air.
Another shot of the easterly view from the Sandy Way - SX 680697.
The overgrown track of Wheal Emma leat at SX 686691. This leat used to help power a copper mine in west Buckfastleigh.
A cow resting in the late afternoon sun beside the Sandy Way track.
Lane Head - SX 685690.
 


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