GRIMSPOUND Devon
Roam Dartmoor’s mysterious ancient remains and visit a lonely old inn with spectacular views
Afew dozen metres north-east of the car park stands Bennett’s Cross, an aged carved stone that marks an ancient track across the moor. It also defines the boundary between the mines at Vitifer and Headland Warren.
1. BIRCH TOR
From the cross, take a narrow path northeast, which bears left uphill; at the top, turn right by a cairn and make your way across heather to Birch Tor.
2. HEADLAND WARREN
Continue ahead and downhill to meet a path; turn left, again downhill. At the signpost by Headland Warren Farm, go uphill to cross the road and take a small path on the right.
3. HAMELDOWN TOR
Grimspound is one of Dartmoor’s finest prehistoric monuments, dating from 1300BC. Walk through the enclosure wall to look at the hut circles, some of which were restored in the late 19th century.
From the centre of the enclosure, turn right, pass through the wall and climb the rocky way to Hameldown Tor. Follow the path along the ridgetop, past Broad Burrow and Two Burrows, to reach a wall on
your right.
4. THE WALL
Turn right and follow the wall down the valley. Cross a stile in the next fence and continue downhill, crossing another stile on to the lane. Turn right to reach the drive to Challacombe Farm. Turn left up the drive and left at the T-junction. Pass the remains of an old medieval village, then to the left of the farm, and follow the track through a gate. Keep right through the next gateway (signed Bennett’s Cross) and along the field edge.
“THE WARREN HOUSE IS A REMOTE BUILDING THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM MILES AWAY”
5. GOLDEN DAGGER MINE
The next gate leads across the edge of Soussons Forest and past the remains of Golden Dagger mine – tin-extraction in this area dates back 800 years and finally ceased in the early 20th century. Vitifer, Birch Tor and Golden Dagger mines were the three last mines of any size still operating on Dartmoor by the 1820s.
Where the track bears left, keep ahead, pass through a gate and climb between the pits and gullies.
6. THE WARREN HOUSE
At a junction of tracks (a ruined building is on your left), turn left across the stream and climb uphill.
Keep going until you reach the road and the pub.
The Warren House Inn is a remote, simple, white-painted building sitting 426m above sea level, where it can be seen from miles away. A free house owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, it is a popular place for walkers throughout the year. Its open fire is said to have been burning since the pub was built in 1845, when smouldering peat was carried on a shovel across the road from the hearth of an earlier pub, the New House (now demolished).
To return to the start, follow the path that runs parallel to the road.