Cater's Beam

Cater's Beam is a featureless fen covered hill of South Dartmoor. It isn't difficult to get to, but it is a strangely remote, primeaval and wet place to be. To quote Eden Philpotts "Time rolls over the mountain like a mist and the mighty granite arch of the Beam emerges eternal and unchanged. Its tough integument of peat and heath and matter herbage answers only to the call of the seasons and it bears grass, bloom and berry as it bore them for palaeolithic man and his flocks". Wow - and there's much more of this descriptive style! The reality is a bit more prosaic but this really is a place for wilderness freaks.

Approach from the southern road out from Princetown. Just before the road turns to Whiteworks there is a handy car park (SX 603708). Head southwards along an easy track to Nun's Cross Farm. Then head off along the old Jobber's track which takes you up to Cater's Beam and the edge of the southern wilderness. 

A 6.5 mile walk with no great hazards other than water in whatever form. Be very careful of misty weather while on the plateau.

	The start of the walk near the car park (SX 603708). In the background lies the misty hills of the southern moor with Fox Tor Mire in between.
	Heading down to Nun's Cross farm.
	The exploratory leat at Nun's Cross. It was hoped that a cutting through the hillside would have been possible but the sides would have been too steep. Instead a tunnel was built.
	The Devonport leat as it curves around to meet the tunnel entrance. On the horizon is Nun's Cross Farm.
	Looking north over towards Nun's Cross from Hand Hill. The small patch of green betrays Nun's Cross.
	The tiny cross of Hand Hill - SX 613695.
	Looking NE towards Ter Hill with the rather indistinct rocks of Fox Tor below.
	Black Lane as we approach the wooden post.
	The post at the start of Black Lane (SX 627690). It's a railway sleeper and the words Cater's Beam are scratched onto it.
	Looking west back over Crane Hill. Somewhere down there is the post - but it's lost in the grassy wilderness.
	This is the summit of Cater's Beam at SX 632690 - a SE view. You can see the distictive "pimple" of Eastern Whitebarrow on the horizon.
	Walking down towards Swincombe Head. We've crossed out from the upper band of peaty fen that you get on the top of Cater's Beam.
	Looking northwards towards Ter Hill from SX 638695.
	Remains of tin streaming in the upper Swincombe valley.
	The wall that heads south down to the Swincombe from Mount Misery. On the hillside to the right is Fox Tor Girt.
	Mount Misery Corner- SX 637706. The views from here are splendid.
	The Fox Tor newtake wall at SX 635707.
	A gateway in the wall.
	Approaching the Swincombe valley.
	The upper Swincombe valley. The fall of the river in the background is known as the "Boiler". Further behind lies Fox Tor Mire.
	This is where the two main streams that run through Fox Tor Mire meet.
	Crossing the Swincombe just downstream from the Boiler.
	Remains of a tinner's house near the Boiler.
	Fox Tor mire as the evening approaches and the mist begins to fall.