Plym Valley bricks, boulders and bronze walk
An invigorating walk through woodland, over moorland and alongside the River Meavy, with views of Dartmoor and South Devon. You'll pass imposing granite crags, such as the infamous Dewerstone, and the remains of quarries, a 19th-century brickworks and a Bronze Age burial.
Total steps: 9
Total steps: 9
Start point
National Trust car park, Shaugh Bridge, near Shaugh Prior, grid ref SX533637
Step 1
Starting in the car park next to a disused china clay kiln, take the path that begins at the notice board and cross the footbridge over the River Plym. Directly in front of you, you'll see the remains of the Ferro-Ceramic mine and brickworks. Continue by following the granite boulder pathway eastwards uphill.
Step 2
Stay on this pathway as it curves sharply round to the left and continues uphill for another 33yd (30m) before levelling out to form what was the granite quarry tramway. Follow this former tramway track round the hill, passing quarries on your right.
Step 3
When you reach a fork in the track, bear right and head up the old tramway incline. At the top you'll be facing the cable house.
Step 4
From the cable house, head south along the higher tramway track, passing more granite quarries on your left. At the end of the tramway, follow the path up the hill, round to your left and over a stone wall to the summit of Dewerstone Hill.
Step 5
From the summit, head north-east towards the corner of the stone-walled boundary of the Cadworthy Farm enclosures, keeping the woodland edge and stone wall in sight on your right. Follow the wall to a lonely, windswept oak tree embedded in the wall.
Step 6
Head west across Wigford Down until you reach a set of farm enclosures. Follow the stone wall all the way to the road at Urgles Stone Cross.
Step 7
Bear left and follow the road down to the bottom of the hill.
Step 8
Before the bridge over the River Meavy, bear left and go over a stile onto a track towards Dewerstone Cottage. You'll join the incomplete granite quarry tramway and pass through a long cutting, followed by a wooden gate.
Step 9
Immediately after the cottage (the former counting house for the quarrying company), take the right-hand path down to the River Meavy. Continue along this riverside path back to the car park.
End point
National Trust car park, Shaugh Bridge, near Shaugh Prior, grid ref SX533637
Trail map
More near here
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Cadover Bridge and Dewerstone Rock circular walk
Take in dramatic views of South Devon on this invigorating circular route over open moorland and through ancient oak-wooded valleys.
Discovering Dewerstone Wood
Follow footpaths through the woods and alongside the river on this short, circular, waymarked walk that includes sections of the former granite quarry tramway.
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