Fice's Well

Fice's Well (SX 578759) is an old spring that has had curative powers on eye complaints attributed to it. The spring is covered by a canopy and is surrounded by a circular wall. It lies a short distance from the Two Bridges - Tavistock road and is a good excuse to walk the short Yearlick Ball tramway, see a little of the peaty parts of Black Dunghill and the prison leat, visit the impressive heights of Great Mistor and return back to the car in a little over 2 hours. The first third of the walk involves walking along the track of the old peat tramway that transported peat into Dartmoor prison. This was used to fuel the naptha works that lit the prison in the mid 1850's. The tramway consisted of horsedrawn trucks along iron rails. No remains are left.

Park off the B3357 at SX 578750. There are 2 gates - but only the northern one has a right of way. Head off along the tramway track towards Fice's Well which lies 800 metres away. The track will then take you into the flat wastes of Yearlick Ball and Black Dunghill. From here you could follow the prison leat to take you up the Walkham valley. Alternatively, it is a gentle stroll up the eastern side of Great Mistor. There are great views from here. Follow the SE track alongside the enclosure fence to get back to the road at Rundlestone. 

This is a straightforward - almost easy - walk that includes many Dartmoor contrasts with lots to see. It lies within a military firing range.

	The start of the walk from the roadway at SX 578750. The view is looking northwards. In the distance lies the wastes of Black Dunghill and the upper Walkham valley.
	The track of the Yearlick Ball tramway as it runs past South Gate on its last stretch to the prison. This area is out of bounds to walkers.
	A modern marker stone by the side of the tramway.
	The tramway used to pass through here.
	Line of the tramway as it croses one of the prison farm fields.
	Looking down one of the boundary walls towards Omen Beam.
	Fice's Well with its inscribed canopy - IF and the date 1568. The story goes that Sir John Fice and his wife were stranded here in the mist. They drunk at the well and then rediscovered their path. They built the canopy to commemorate the event.
	The protective circular wall around Fice's Well. In the middle background lies Dartmoor Prison.
	The track of the Yearlick Ball tramway as it passes through a small cutting - SX 576760.
	Another view of the tramway.
	A tramway bridge over a small gully
	The tramway as it nears the enclosure fence at SX 575767. Black Dunghill is in the background.
	Black Dunghill.
	Remains of the peat packing wharf - SX 575770. This was the terminus of the tramway. Peat turfs were brought down to here by packhorses.
	Black Dunghill showing the straight lines of the old peat cuttings.
	The Prison Leat
	Looking eastwards towards Black Dunghill from beside the leat - SX 572771.
	The rock stacks of Great Mistor from the eastern side.
	Looking north from Great Mistor.
	One of the imposing rock faces of Great Mistor.
	Looking south west from Great Mistor. Merrivale lies in the mist - beyond the clitter.
	The southerly view from Great Mistor. Little Mistor lies on the right while in the middle distance stretches the line of the enclosure fence that we'll return by.
	Little Mistor.
	The fence alongside the enclosure at SX 567763.
	Heading back towards Rundlestone.