Emsworthy

Emsworthy is a fascinating place that is easy to get to. There's an old farming complex, remains of prehistoric settlements, tin mining and the Victorian granite quarry workings of Hay Tor all in a short distance of each other. In addition, there's the beautiful Becka Valley and the chance to hike off over Haytor Down.

Park at the roadside car park near to Saddle Tor at SX 748762. Follow the NW path down beside the wet ground around Emsworthy stream. After a short while you'll come to the Emsworthy enclosures from where you can take a marked path to the ruins of Emsworthy farmhouse. Continue along the path and skirt the edge of Emsworthy rocks and contour over towards the great mass of Holwell Tor. Then follow the granite tramway up to Hay Tor Down. Then head back towards Saddle Tor while skirting Hay Tor on your right. From Saddle Tor return to the car park.

This is a good Dartmoor walk with some climbing, some rough ground and a little wet ground as well. Although you're never far from civilisation a map and compass is needed. Mist could quickly come down. No military areas.

	The roadside car park at SX 748762
	The source of Emsworthy Brook which is one of the tribituaries of the Becka Brook. At this stage the brook doesn't look very attractive but in a short distance it becomes a particularly beautiful Dartmoor stream with one part of which is well known to many as Becky Falls.
	On the edge of the Emsworthy enclosures - SX 744762
	Seven Lords' Lands Cairn - SX 741762. Around this cairn was the hub of 7 manorial boundaries - which gives it the name. The cairn seems to have disappeared.
	Entry into Emsworthy SX 746764. This is known as Emsworthy Lane. Although now a ruin, Emsworthy goes right back in time and is probably one of the oldest of Dartmoor's farms - even back to the Bronze Age. In 1379 it was known as Aylemesworthy and in 1560 as Omsworthye (Hemery).
	One of the old buildings of Emsworthy is being used as a barn. The left gatepost has L shaped grooves into which bars were slotted to seal off fields.
	The ruins of Emsworthy farm.
	Wet ground at SX 748773
	Emsworthy Rocks - SX 749770
	Scrub surrrounding the upper Becka Brook.
	The view over the Becka valley from the sides of Holwell Tor.
	Just one of the impressive stacks of Holwell Tor- SX 751778
	The rails of the Holwell granite tramway that guided basic trucks on wheels. The tramway goes up an incline so it is most likely that a team of horses would be used. When going downhill the horses were probably unhitched and control of the trucks was made by a brakesman.
	A granite tramway junction.
	The ruins of a quarry building - possibly a smithy. SX 752777
	One of the faces of the Holwell granite quarry. The Hey Tor quarries worked from 1820 to 1860. The granite was used to rebuild part of London Bridge, to build the National Gallery, British Museum and many other buildings in London.
	The NW view over the Becka valley from SX 753777. On the left are part of the granite waste spoil tips while on the right side is where an old settlement used to be. The remains are not easy to see but one can appreciate the sheltered position that this aspect gave to the prehistoric farmers.
	A junction into a small siding along the incline of the Holwell quarry tramway. The siding was probably used to store trucks.
	The junction between the main quarry tramway (right) and the Holwell tramway branch (left) at SX 757777.
	Hey Tor from SX 755770
	Approaching Saddle Tor. This is an avenue tor ie. 2 granite blocks separated by a lower grassy sward. Hence the name Saddle.
	One of the blocks of Saddle Tor - SX 751763
	Remains of tinning beside the roadside car park. This was part of Emsworthy Tin Mine or HayTor Consols. The mine worked in the mid 19th century and produced over 16 tons of tin.