Hillson's House

Hillson's House (SX 636623) is on the summit cairn of the prominent hill of Stalldown. It seems that Hillson was a waif that was found on the hill and was named Hillson or "son of the hill". When he grew up he returned to the hill and built a small house on the cairn within which he lived and successfully built and sold clocks. This may be true - or it may be another Dartmoor tall tale. In any case the views from Stalldown over South Devon are worth seeing and the Erme valley which runs underneath is a most beautiful Dartmoor valley with lots of prehistoric and medieval structures to see.

Park at New Waste (SX 624611). Take the path around the waterworks and proceed up the Erme valley. You can go as far up the valley as you want to go. At the top of the valley you are in the centre of the South Dartmoor wilderness near to Red lake. This walk went past Downing's Brook and when we got to the island around which the Erme flows we turned left and headed back up the northern side of Stalldown. We navigated through the mist up to the impressive Stalldown stone row from where Hillson's House lies a short walk to the east. It is then easy to head back down the slope to New Waste. 

The walk is straightforward with an easy ascent up Stalldown. We did the walk in mist.

	The car park at New Waste near Cornwood (SX 624611). This car park is an excellent place to start exploring the Erme and Yealm valleys.
	The track that leads towards the Erme valley.
	One of the prehistoric settlements that lie alongside the track at (SX 639614). There are many others around here.
	Going up the track at (SX 643618). On the right are some of the oaks of Pile's Copse - an old Dartmoor wood.
	Another view of the oak trees near Pile's Copse.
	Looking up the Erme valley (SX 643626).
	Downing's house (SX 639629). This is a medieval tinner's beehive shelter where tools and tin ingots were probably stored. It is too small to be a shelter. Originally it would have been covered by turf.
	Downing's brook. Downing's house is on the right hand side of the stream just below the tree.
	Looking back down the track at Downing's Brook.
	The view upstream of the weir (SX 640632).
	The weir.
	The island in the Erme (SX 637635).
	The Stalldown stone row (SX 632625). These stones line down the hillside. There are about 40 of them.
	Hillson's House atop the cairn of Stalldown.
	Inside Hillson's House. Could Hillson have lived here and made clocks?
	Another view of the stone row.
	Heading towards the water treatment works near New Waste. (SX 630615)