Red Lake

Red Lake lies in the heart of the Southern Moor. There is a distinctive landmark - the overgrown spoil tip of the China Clay works that started working in 1910 but had failed by 1933. Clay was hosed out from a deep pit and the slurry was transported via pumps to settling beds at Greenhill about a mile away. After a week or so of settling the sluices were opened and the clay in suspension flowed down pipes some 7 miles to the clay processing works near Ivybridge. The unwanted sand and gravel was loaded into trucks at Red Lake which were then tipped onto the waste tip that we see today. There was a railway which ran alongside the clay pipes that led down to Ivybridge. This was only used for moving people and basic materials and is popularly known as the Puffing Billy track - although on the map it is named as The Two Moors way). The railway was of 3ft gauge and small steam engines pulled 3 passenger carriages. Only the trackway remains - the rails are long gone. Today, Red Lake is an isolated place. There are 3 deep pools, ruined buildings as well as the tip. It is surrounded by mires and fen but is an interesting place to see. When you visit there you'll see why it's called Red. Lake derives from the old Dartmoor meaning of stream rather than a body of water. 

Park at Shipley Bridge (SX 681629) 3 miles north of the town of South Brent. From here there is a road to the Avon Dam which follows the Avon river. Follow this road for a short distance and at the Hunter's Stone take the road up to the filtration plant. After a short climb, you can then follow the track of the old Zeal Tor tramway which takes you up on the westerly side of Brent Moor towards Red Lake. Carry on until you get to the obvious cairn of the Western White barrow  - Petre's Cross (SX 664654). Admire the views from here. Then carry on north to Crossways where you'll join the path of the tramway which takes you to Red Lake.  We then headed east over to Huntingdon Hill, crossing the Avon at Broad Falls, passing the cairn and remains of the Warren Farm and then easily crossing the Western Walla brook. The final stretch was over Hickaton Hill which took us to the north side of the Avon dam and thence back to Shipley bridge via the access road.

This 8 mile walk takes you into the edge of the South Dartmoor wilderness. It is not difficult but appropriate clothes, footwear and provisions are needed. The walk includes a range of human influence on the moor - old barrows and hut circles, failed industrial ventures and the modern dam. It takes about 4.5 hours. Be careful in adverse weather problems once you're off the tramway.

	The beautiful Avon gorge just north of Shipley bridge (SX 678630). When the rhododendrons are in flower this valley is stunning. The road leads up to the Avon dam.
	The remains of an embankment that carried the Zeal Tor tramway.
	The SE view from the Zeal Tor tramway.
	The SE view from the tramway at Broad Rushes.
	The low lying cairn of Western White Barrow (SX 664654).
	A crude shelter built into the barrow by 19th century peat workers. This is a very exposed place and in bad weather would be a grim place to stay.
	The shaft of Petre's cross at Western Whitebarrow. The tip of Red Lake is in the background.
	Jake beside one of the Red Lake clay settling pits at Greenhill just south of Crossways. The tip of Red Lake is in the background.
	Heading on down the Puffing Billy track towards Red Lake.
	Getting nearer to Red Lake.
	Here we are at Red Lake (SX 646669). Remains of some of the works are on the right with the spoil tip behind.
	Another view of Red Lake.
	All that's left of the pump house engine with one of the peat crowned flooded clay pits behind.
	Nearly at the top of the Red Lake pyramid. The waste tip is largely covered by heather but the paler sand and gravel are clearly seen.
	One of the pools at Red Lake. This really is a water filled deep pit and is where the bulk of the clay was extracted from.
	The other pools. On the right hand middle ground you can see the trackway. On the horizon is eastern Whitebarrow.
	The northerly view from Red Lake. Green Hill on the left and Fishlake mire in the middle. In the foreground are the distictive marks of the old peat workings at Red Lake.
	The easterly view from Red Lake looking towards Huntingdon Hill. On the right in the distance is part of the Avon dam.
	The Avon stream as it gathers from the mires of the higher moor to form a fast moving stream at Broad Falls. Ryder's mire is just on the left while Ryder's Hill is on the horizon.
	Looking down the Avon valley with Huntingdon Hill on the left.
	The rocks of Broad Falls (SX 653670). This is not the easiest of places to cross a river.
	Remains of a tin blowing house near Broad Falls.
	Looking westwards from the side of Huntingdon Hill back towards Red Lake. Broad Falls is on the right.
	The westerly view from Huntingdon cairn (SX 662669). You can see the shelter within the cairn. The cairn has been much disturbed over the years. This shot shows some tracks which make walking through the grassy tussocks much easier.
	The view over the Avon Dam from Huntingdon Hill. On the right horizon is Eastern Whitebarrow. In the middle distance beyond the dam lies Brent Hill.
	The cairn on Huntingdon Hill with the Whitebarrows on the horizon. This cairn is also known as "Heap of Sinners".
	The site of the abandoned Huntingdon Warren farm. This isolated farm burnt down in 1956 and was only reached by a difficult track from Lud Gate.
	The enclosure of Huntingdon Warren farm. This farm started off being the focal point of an extensive rabbit warren business in the 19th century.
	Hut circles on the southern slope of Hickaton Hill - or Dean moor. Avon dam in the background.
	We've joined the Abbot's way on Dean Moor at SX 678657. The way back to Shipley bridge is easy now.
	The Avon Dam. This was built in the 1950's despite much opposition. Today it is a well visited landmark.