Western Wella Brook

The Western Wella brook runs past Huntingdon Warren farm and over its short course before it joins up with the Avon it shows the remains of two important Dartmoor industries - tin streaming and rabbit warrening.

Park at Cross Furzes (SX 700666) and follow the path of the old Abbot's Way (or Jobber's Path) over Lambs Down, Water Oak Corner and past the Avon Reservoir and make for the old Huntingdon's Cross.  Then up the Western Wella brook until we get to the warren farm. Cross the brook and then climb up the southern slopes of the warren until you get to the leat path. Then head SW down the slopes to the clapper bridge. Carry on beside the Avon until you get to Broad Falls. Carry on upstream as far as you can and then head back to the warren enclosure. Walk over the hill and make for the cairn. Then down to the farm and head upstream beside the Wella brook as it passes into the gert. At the top cross over to Snowdon, then walk along the ridge to Puper's Hill and back to Water Oak corner and your car.

A good 9 mile walk over largely straightforward ground. However, there are some rough bits and poor weather will make your walk uncomfortable. No military ranges nearby.

	Near Cross Furzes at SX 700666. We take the path down on the left. This is the start of the Abbot's Way.
	The ford and clapper bridge over the Dean at SX 698665. The bridge is dated from the early 18th century.
	Lamb's Down.
	The west view from the Abbot's Way on Dean Moor at SX 684658. Eastern White Barrow is on the horizon. We are now on the moor proper.
	The edge of the Avon reservoir.
	A derelict water wheel pit - part of the old tin mine of Devon Wheal Vor that closed down in 1815 but reopened for a short while in 1866 as the Huntingdon Mine.
	Another view of the Huntingdon mine wheel pit.
	Keble Martin's chapel at SX 667667 near to Huntingdon Warren farm. This was built in the early 20th century by a group of young men led by Keble Martin the famous botanist and sometime vicar of Dartington.
	One of the rabbit burrows associated with Huntingdon warren. On the OS maps they are marked as pillow mounds. Eastern Whitebarrow is on the horizon and the Avon flows down the valley toward the reservoir.
	The SE view from one of the shelters built by the warreners. All around are the remains of Bronze age hut circles.
	Looking downstream from the Avon clapper bridge.
	The clapper bridge over the Avon. This was built by the warrener to give him better access to Ivybridge.
	An upstream view of the Avon as it goes over rocky outcrops near Stony Girt.
	A downstream view of the Avon.
	The Avon not far from Broad Falls. There's a raven's nest in this tree.
	The Avon river taken from SX 654668. Broad Falls is in the distance.
	The downstream view from Broad Falls.
	The Avon as it emerges from the marshy pan above Broad Falls. Taken from SX 653672.
	Another view of the Avon - looking northwards. Naker's Hill is on the left horizon.
	Part of the enclosure wall of Huntingdon Warren as it comes down to join the Avon. On the left is the start of Ryders Mire.
	A lookout on the west side of Huntingdon Hill. This curious structure was built around 1850 to protect the warren from poachers - particularly those working at Redlake. There's a small chimney which doubtless was used on cold nights.
	You can see the horizontal line of an old leat that went from the water at Broad falls over to Wheal Dorothy in Red Brook.
	Looking NE towards the shallow pan that houses the Upper Avon. This is wet country with two infamous mires - Fishlake and Ryders.
	The main cairn of a Heap of Sinners (or Huntingdon Barrow) at SX 662669. This odd shaped top was built by a Dartmoor eccentric called MooRoaMan in the 1940's. There are great views from this cairn and it does make a distictive landmark.
	Wellabrook Girt at SX 666678. This was built by the tin miners that were very active here in past centuries. There are heaps of rubble tips spread out over the floor of the girt.
	Another view of Wellabrook Girt.
	Two of the smallish cairns that denote Snowdon. There's even a little bit of snow in the picture.
	The path from Snowdon over to Puper's Hill. This is great ridge walking at SX 669680.
	The cairn of Pupers Hill - SX 673674
	Looking back towards Snowdon from Puper's Hill.