Fernworthy

Fernworthy attracts many visitors. The reservoir and forest make for an ideal summer picnic spot, whereas the easy access and parking allow most people the chance to do a pleasant little walk in nice surroundings. In this walk we walk around Fernworthy and see how the forest and reservoir fit in with the moorland context. Fernworthy is quite big so to perambulate it all is not a short easy walk. There are a lot of old remains to be seen in this area - particularly of the Bronze Age.

Park at King's Oven car park SX 676811 - about 100 NE of the Warren House Inn. Head north over Hurston Ridge, walk over part of Chagford Common and make for the entrance car park to Fernworthy near Metheral. We then headed around the dam to the north side of the reservoir, past the cist and made our way to Thornworthy Tor. Admire the views and then head NW and then SW towards Teignhead Farm keeping the forest on your left all the way (in fact we do this all the way back to King's Oven). The Grey Wethers stone circle is next and keeping in a SE direction we then tramp up the slope of White Ridge which is the highest point of this walk. The final leg is still on a SE bearing towards Water Hill and back down to the car park.

The walk is about 9 miles and involves a couple of graded climbs. There is some rough ground in places, but it isn't very wet. No military areas nearby.

	The King's Oven car park looking towards the Warren House Inn on the Moretonhampstead - Princetown road.
	The non descript remains of King's Oven tin smelter. This was definitely working in the 12th century, was known as Furnum Regis, was one of the original boundary points of Dartmoor forest and was one of the few places where second smelting was allowed. It was wind (ie. draught) powered which is rare in Dartmoor - water being the usual power source. SX 675813
	These could be mould stones for the smelter. They are just NE of King's Oven.
	Hurston Ridge stone row at SX 672825. View looking NE with the lump of Meldon Common in the background and Chagford Common straight ahead.
	The SW view of the stone row.
	Remains of a Bronze age reave on Hurston Ridge. A reave is a old farm wall and this was part of an extensive farming settlement.
	Another Bronze Age reave near the entrance to Fernworthy. SX 671837.
	A picnic area at Fernworthy - SX 669839
	Fernworthy reservoir with a low water level. Right in front are the stones of a hut circle which is normally hidden from view by the water.
	The dam of Fernworthy reservoir. The reservoir was built to supply Torbay with Dartmoor water. SX 671842
	Fernworthy reservoir. In the distance you can just see the old stone bridge that is usually covered by the water.
	A Bronze Age burial site on the north side of the reservoir at SX 667843.
	A closer view of the well formed kistvaen or burial cist. The body would have been put inside the chest - maybe in a crouched position and probably with some valued possessions. The top stone would have sealed the chamber and then covered by earth to make an impressive burial cairn. Of course, a short time later the mound was rifled by grave robbers.
	The north view from Thornworthy Tor looking over the north part of Chagford Common. The isolated pinnacle of Kes Tor is slightly to the right while on the far horizon on the left lies Cosdon Hill.
	The west view from Thornworthy Tor. The dark hardwood trees of Fernworthy lie behind.
	One of the rocks of Thornworthy Tor - SX 665851.
	The edge of Fernworthy Forest at Stonetor Hill - SX 652854
	Manga Hill from Long Ridge. In the centre of the hillside are the remains of Manga Farm.
	The N view from Long Ridge - SX 641844. On the left is Manga Hill, on the right part of Gidleigh Common, Cosdon is on the far horizon and the valley is the Teign.
	Looking over towards Teignhead Farm from Long Ridge. To the left is the upper Teign valley whilst on the horizon is the ridge that leads from Quintin's man to Whitehorse Hill.
	Part of the Grey Wethers stone circles - SX 639831
	Looking back at Grey Wethers. Wethers is an old name for sheep. They might just look like a few sheep in poorer visibility.
	The NW view from White Ridge. Fernworthy Forest on the right, Sittaford tor on the left. SX 646822
	The Stannon brook valley which heads down towards Postbridge and the East Dart. SX 650818
	Making our way down from White Ridge and towards Water Hill.
	The Bronze age cairn on top of Water Hill - SX 672813
	The SE view from Water Hill.