Hooten Wheals

Hooten Wheals (SX 655708) is a disused tin mine.  It is situated up the valley of the O brook which was obviously a rich tin area since there is another tin mine nearby - Hensroost - as well as remains of earlier extensive tin streaming. Hooten Wheals was active at the end of the 19th century and for a few years after. A severe storm in 1920 finally put paid to it. It was a productive mine in its time. There are lots of remains still around and little imagination is needed to appreciate what a busy place this would have been 100 years ago. More imagination and a map is needed to see where all the various mine buildings, aqueducts, tramroads and so forth fit in to the tangle of bracken and undergrowth that now covers the site. Sadly, a lot of the damage was done by artillery while practising for the 1944 D Day landings.

Park at Gobbet Plain (SX 647728) on the road from Hexworthy to Sherberton. Head due south over Down Ridge. From here you can easily see the mine remains. Head for Skir Ford and cross over the brook. You can now head on up Skir Hill taking in the remains of Henroost on the way. Return back down the east side of the hill. As you near the valley you'll find the remains of Hooten Wheals. Return back along the mine track. Note that the track passes through private property near Hexworthy.

This is an easy walk of about 3 miles as described although you could easily extend the walk over Skir Hill to look at Aune Head mire. 

	The view over Down Ridge from Gobbet Plain (SX 647728). The way of the walk lies over Down ridge on the mid horizon.
	Looking south towards Skir Hill from Down Ridge.
	Skir Ford (SX 650713) over the O Brook.
	A fenced off pit of Hensroost mine (SX 651710) - Taylor's Shaft.
	One of the tin trenches at Henroost mine.
	On the ridge approaching Skir Hill (SX 650703)
	Hooten Wheals mine. Another fenced off area with old spoil tips behind.
	A small wheel pit with a view over Yar Tor and Sharp Tor in the background. This is near to Low's shaft which is where a lot of the ore stone was mined from. The shaft was over 300 ft deep.
	A view overlooking where the settling tanks and buddles used to be (SX 656708).
	Another view of the settling tanks and buddles at the new mill, Hooten Wheals. Years ago all this would have been inside a shed.
	Hooten Wheals from the mine track at SX 655710.
	Remains of the Hensroost wheel launder that was used to power some of the tin stamps in the 19th century. The O brook valley lies up the hillside in the back whilst the remains of Hooten Wheal lie on the right.
	Horse Ford cross (SX 660713) with Hooten Wheals behind. This medieval cross helps to mark out the old Abbot's way track between Buckfast and Tavistock.
	The mine track that leads back towards Hexworthy.
	The north view over Huccaby from where the track enters the private enclosures (SX 659718).
	Back at Gobbet Plain.