Pupers Hill

Pupers Hill (SX 673674) is one of the peaks of the extensive Dartmoor ridge that overlooks Buckfastleigh. There are 3 rock piles - Inner, Middle and Outer Pupers. The word Pupers is derived from Pipers - a Dartmoor tradition where those people who piped or danced on Sundays would be turned into stone. There are good views from the summit. Pupers is easy to get to - and the described walk gives entry points to get further into the southern moor if you wish.

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.  Then turn north up the Wella Brook valley. Once past the Huntingdon Farm enclosures that are on the western side of the stream head NE up to the Pupers rocks. Then head back down the slope towards Lud Gate. The path then takes you back to Cross Furzes. 

This is an easyish walk with a couple of wet bits near Huntingdon's Cross. Be careful of bad weather. Allow 3 hours for a 5 miles walk. 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.
	The ford and clapper bridge over the Dean at SX 698665. The bridge is dated from the early 18th century.
	Looking westwards from Lamb's Down.
	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 east view from the Abbot's Way just above Water Oak Corner. A short walk from here takes us to..
	The west view from the Abbot's Way on Dean Moor at SX 684658. Eastern White Barrow is on the horizon. Suddenly we are into moor territory.
	Crossing Brockhill Stream just up from the Avon Reservoir.
	Looking southwards over the Avon Reservoir from SX 675657 (Dean Moor).
	Looking west up the Avon valley from the Abbot's Way at SX 673658. On the horizon lies the tip of Red Lake.
	A view back over the Avon from the Abbot's Way as the stream begins to collect into the Avon reservoir.
	The old Huntingdon Cross lies next to the wall that abuts onto the ford over the Avon Stream at SX 665662.
	The remains of an old tin ore-stamping floor of the Huntingdon Mine surrounded by wet ground at SX 665664. On the horizon is Eastern White Barrow.
	A derelict water wheel pit - part of the old tin mine of Devon Wheal Vor that closed down in 1815 but reopened for a short while in 1866 as the Huntingdon Mine.
	Another view of the Huntingdon mine wheel pit.
	Keble Martin's chapel at SX 667667. This was built in the early 20th century by a group of young men led by Keble Martin the famous botanist and sometime vicar of Dartington.  The whitish granite pillar has a cross inscribed on it and just to the left of it is a step with the Christian symbol Px carved on it.
	The remains of Huntingdon Warren Farm with its enclosures. The sycamore tree marks the site of the house. It is surrounded by many old rabbit burrows.
	Looking up the Western Wella Valley from SX 670667. On the left lies part of the Huntingdon enclosure. Ryder's Hill is on the horizon.
	The cairn of Pupers Hill.
	A view into the mist from Pupers Hill.
	Looking west from Inner Pupers - Pupers cairn is on the horizon.
	The eastwards view over the West Buckfastleigh valley from Inner Pupers.
	Approaching Lud Gate.
	The Lud Gate lane (SX 685674) that leads towards Cross Furzes.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service.  Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.