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Walkham Valley

The Walkham valley is impressively obvious to all motorists who drive to Tavistock from Princetown. The valley is dominated by the Staple and Roos Tors on one side and Great Mis Tor on the other. The view epitomises the grandeur and isolation of Dartmoor whatever the weather conditions, but it also points to the unseen inner plateau of the north moor. This valley is an excellent way of walking into the moor and although the described walk only goes half way, the determined walker can follow the Walkham right up to the solitude of the upper head of the river and have a thoroughly good experience. As with many walks on Dartmoor this one mixes the old (Bronze Age settlements and stone circles) with the new (granite quarrying, leats and tin mills).
Park at the roadside car park at SX 539750 and walk north up the slopes of Little Staple Tor. Bear round to the right and you'll find the empty course of the Longford leat. Walk along it until you get to the edge of the Shillapark enclosure and then descend down to the Walkham river crossing the running Sortridge leat as you go. On a river bend you'll find the remains of a blowing house, carry on and you'll get to the head weir of the Sortridge leat. Carry on up the valley and you'll see the remains of the Bronze Age settlement. Head directly north up the slope and you'll arrive at a diminutive stone circle. Then walk SW towards Roos Tor from where you'll head back towards Staple Tors and the car park.
A straightforward walk of about 5 miles. No rough ground - but you do get isolated rather quickly. This is on the edge of the military areas. The Shillapark enclosure is out of bounds to walkers.
 
The off road car park at (SX 539750) looking more or less south.
The east view from the top of the Merrivale quarry with the Princetown road behind.
Looking up the Walkham valley from the side of the dry Longford leat. In the valley below Great Mis Tor lies Shillapark farm.
One of the many open-air sett-maker's benches (or bankers) that are gathered around Staple Tor. Sett makers had to dress larger pieces of granite into smaller pieces, and they would stand (or kneel) beside their stone bench and with hammer and chisel would trim the granite block. Up to 60 pieces of granite per day could be produced.
A bridge over the Sortridge leat. This leat was originally made to transport water to the copper mines near Sortridge some 6 miles away.
The Upper Merrivale tin mill (SX 552766). This blowing house has been extensively researched in the early 1990s (Dartrmoor Magazine 37 - Tom Greeves). There are 2 mills here. On the left are the remains of the wheelpit with the rectangle of one of the mills on the right. You can see the mouldstone and just in front of it are the remains of the furnace surrounded by vegetation.
Another view of the tin mill, this time looking upstream. Behind the mouldstone lie the remains of buddles beside the Walkham.
A water filled tin ingot mouldstone. Just to the right of the artfully placed sheep skull is a small mould that would have been used for producing smaller test moulds - or maybe small ingots to be sold quietly.
A collection of mouldstones and mortarstones.
Modern work around the Sortridge leat.
The headweir of the Grimstone and Sortridge leat
The view over the upper Walkham valley as seen from the Langstone Moor Bronze Age settlement. There are a number of well preserved hut circles and enclosures here and it is easy to begin to imagine what life here used to be like. I doubt that the view has changed very much but what of the vegetation? On the horizon are Roos and Staple tors.
Great Mistor from the settlement.
Great Mis Tor with Greena Ball on the left.
Another view of the upper Walkham valley.
And one more view of the upper Walkham valley.
The Bronze Age Langstone Stone Circle (SX 556782). Sadly, this was damaged by soldiers during training exercises in the 2nd World War. Roos Tor in the background.
Roos Tor.
Mid Staple Tor from Great Staple Tor.
Great Mis Tor from Great Staple Tor.
One of the stacks of Great Staple Tor.
The rockstrewn slopes of Little Staple Tor. In the background is the Princetown road.
 


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