Watern Combe

Watern Combe is a lonely place. It is a large shallow depression situated between Watern Tor and Hangingstone Hill. A mire covers most of it and from this combe emerges the Walla brook - a substantial tribituary of the Teign. Years ago people used the combe. There's the remains of tin working around the exit of the brook with two tinner's huts and good evidence of stonework walling up the banks of the brook so as to increase the flow of water (and help wash away the tin debris). Families also used to come and cut rushes for their houses. Nowadays apart from walkers (and the military) it gets pretty quiet. You are far from civilisation and even in Dartmoor terms it is isolated.

Park off the road by Great Ensworthy (SX 659895). Take the track that leads up to Buttern Hill beside Buttern Farm. Then head over to the Sandy road that leads between Kennon Hill and Rival Tor. This will take you along an obvious path to Galleven Ford. Then head up over Headon - it's easy to lose the track here but as long as you don't head into the rather obvious Galleven mire then the ground is quite safe - and down to the bright green of Wildtor well. Then walk beside the Walla brook up the slope and into the coombe. The coombe is big and wet but you can walk around it on the slopes. Then head up to Watern Tor. From here take the obvious NE track down to Walla brook. The slopes of this valley are steep and the Walla brook is a substantial stream. Once over then carry on towards Rival Tor. You have to cross the Galleven stream and the leat which should be straightforward. Then up to Rival Tor and from there it's an easy walk back to Buttern Hill.

Allow 5 hours for this moderate walk. The ground is mostly reasonable but take care of the Walla brook if there's been rain recently. Adapt your route if necessary. Watern Tor and Watern Coombe are within the military zone.

	The start of the walk near Great Ensworthy. Ensworthy may derive from Aune (or Avon) which is what the nearby Forder Brook used to be known as. The edge of Buttern Hill is on the horizon and one of the tracks up the hill is visible. There's a farm behind the trees on the left.
	The track that leads up to Buttern Hill beside the newtake wall. The view is facing eastwards over the Devon countryside.
	A close look at Whitemoor marsh and the dark patch of willow growing in the wettest and deepest part of the mire.
	The hardly visible stones of Buttern stone circle at SX 649885. Some of these stones have been knocked around a bit.
	Here's a closer look at the tallest stone of the circle. The curious shape looks a bit like a chicken.
	Looking over towards the rocks of Rival Tor.
	SX - 642886. This track - part of the Sandy Road - leads around the southern side of Kennon Hill. We're heading towards Galleven. On the left distance lies Ruelake.
	A gert called Proctor's Gully - SX 640887. This was part of the extensive tin working around Galleven.
	At the bottom of Proctor's Gully are the remains of extensive medieval tin working. This place is known as Whitey Works and is part of Ruelake Pit.
	The view downstream from the beautiful Galleven Ford at SX 635887.
	The north view of Galleven Ford. The stream that drains the mire above. On the left there is the Sandy Road - an old peat track that connects Manga Hill via Watern and skirts Kennon to Creaber. Sandy because there's lots of rotted granite (or sand) around here.
	The substantial Galleven Mire just up from the ford. Hound Tor on the horizon.
	Headon Hill with Watern Tor on the horizon. Headon is unmarked on the OS maps but is a substantial hill in this area (Headon derives from High Down). The ground is a little wet but not unpleasant.
	The Gidleigh - Throwleigh marker post on top of Headon Hill at SX 631880 . The G stands for Gidleigh and shows that we are just in the Gidleigh parish. TP is inscribed on the other side.
	The bright green warning sign of Wildtor Well (SX 628876). This is a deep mire caused by an upwelling spring. A place to stay clear of. Certainly cattle have been lost in this.
	The Walla brook spreading out on the valley floor after having emerged from Watern Coombe.
	The Walla brook with Watern Tor on the horizon. Walla brook comes from the 13th century Wallebrok ( or Anglo Saxon Weala broc - which may mean brook of the Britons).
	The Walla brook as it tumbles out of Watern Combe and down the slopes towards Wildtor well. There's quite a gradient so this substantial brook really does tumble along here.
	The isolated Watern Combe.
	A long shot of the extensive combe looking towards the Walla brook head in the distance. The slope on the far horizon is Whitehorse hill.
	The remains of a small tinner's hut amidst the waste of tin streaming. This hut is on the combe floor not very far from the exit of the combe.
	An overall view of Watern Combe with Hangingstone on the horizon.
	Watern Tor.
	One of the distinctive shapes of Watern Tor.
	The NE track leading away from Watern Tor down to Walla brook.
	The Walla brook as it winds down to the wet ground of Gidleigh Common.
	The Walla brook at SX 635875
	Looking back at the steep slope of the Walla brook valley with Watern Tor on the horizon.
	The ground between the Walla brook and the Galleven valleys. This is pretty easy walking.
	The Galleven valley - SX 642878. This valley and Rue Lake were pretty heavily streamed by tinners. There's a lot of tin workings around this area.
	The Gidleigh leat. This was built hundreds of years ago to deliver water to Creaber and other farms as well as Gidleigh village. It is still well maintained.
	Galleven Brook at SX 642879. The photo is taken just below where the takeoff of the Gidleigh leat starts. This is rather a beautiful little place.
	Rival Tor - (SX 642881)
	The slabs of Buttern Rocks with Cosdon on the horizon.
	A tethering ring attached to Buttern Rocks. The horse would be tethered while the moorman would go about his moor business on foot.
	Relics of old enclosures on Buttern Hill.