Huntingdon Warren

Huntingdon Warren was set up by Thomas Mitchelmore around 1802. The hill was ideal for creating a rabbit colony since it was surrounded on 3 sides by streams so that only the north side needed a new dyke. Artificial mounds (what the OS calls pillow mounds) were built in which the rabbits lived, bred and were trapped from. There's a lot of these at Huntingdon. For much of the 19th century this was a successful warren. The original warren house was a substantial 2 storey thatched building. It burnt down in 1890 and was rebuilt largely by the Duchy. This new farmhouse remained in farm use until WW2 after which it was lived in by eccentrics and finally burnt down by naval cadets in 1956. This time it wasn't rebuilt - instead it was levelled off and only a few stones remain. The Warren has an interesting history with more than its fair share of conflict with other moor workers such as the nearby mine.

Park at Cross Furzes (SX 700666) and follow the path of the old Abbot's Way (or Jobber's Path) over Lambs Down, Water Oak Corner and past the Avon Reservoir and make for the old Huntingdon's Cross.  Follow the Avon upstream, past the clapper bridge until you get to Broad Falls. Then walk up the warren slope and take the leat path until you get to the remains of the Warren House. Then you can either return to Cross Furzes via Puper's Hill to Lud gate and a 1 mile walk along a metalled road or else walk along the ridgeway south of Puper's Hill until you get back to Water Oak Corner.

This is a pretty straightforward walk of around 7 miles. Tracks all the way and no wet or boggy ground. No military areas.

	Near Cross Furzes at SX 700666. We take the path down on the left. This is the start of the Abbot's Way.
	Curious cattle in the field beside the track.
	The ford and clapper bridge over the Dean at SX 698665. The bridge is dated from the early 18th century.
	Lamb's Down - SX 695663.
	May bluebells on Lamb's Down.
	The gateway to the moor near Water Oak corner.
	The small plantation at Water Oak Corner (SX 685660). This was an attempt to plant upland trees - sycamore, pine and beech - with mixed results. The original oak trees have long gone.
	The west view from the Abbot's Way on Dean Moor at SX 684658. Eastern White Barrow is on the horizon.
	Brockhill stream as it starts to flow into the reservoir.
	Heading westwards on the Abbot's Way.
	A view back over the Avon from the Abbot's Way as the Avon enters the reservoir.
	Beside the Avon at SX 660661.
	Looking downstream from the clapper bridge.
	A clapper bridge over the Avon. This was built by the warrener to give him better access to Ivybridge.
	The Avon at Stony Girt.
	A vermin trap beside the Avon - SX 655665.
	A closer look at the vermin trap. There's a sidestone on the right and 2 sidestones on the left. On top would have been placed a capstone - thus making a tunnel like chamber. The 2 entrances would have had stone (slate?) shutters which would have created the trap. You can see one of the grooves that the shutter would have used.
	The Avon just below Broad Falls. See the raven's nest in the tree.
	The tinner's mill at Broad Falls.
	Looking downstream from Broad Falls.
	The view from above Broad Falls looking over towards Fishlake Mire and the boggy stretches of the upper Avon.
	A lookout on the west side of Huntingdon Hill. This curious structure was built around 1850 to protect the warren from poachers - particularly those working at Redlake. There's a small chimney which doubtless was used on cold nights.
	There's a lot of leat bridges like this. They were built for the convenience of the warrener. The leat led from Broad Falls to the Huntingdon mine.
	The SE view from beside the leat over part of the warren, the Avon valley and the reservoir.
	This is where the leat enters the grounds of the old Warren House.
	The entrance to the Warren farm.
	Some rather curious Shetland ponies.
	Bluebells on Lamb's Down.