Teignhead Newtake Wall

This is a good walk that takes you into some of the highest parts of the moor. In good weather the views are great and you are near to the "roof of Devon". The newtake wall gives walkers a reliable reference point throughout much of the walk. It is difficult to get lost. In 1808 Matthew Crawford applied for a lease of moorland from the Duchy of Cornwall. Consequently, 900 acres of moorland were enclosed by drystone walls over the next few years and two farms were built - Teignhead and Manga. The building of the enclosure walls was strongly resented by the local commoners who suffered a reduction in their grazing rights. Over the next hundred years or so the enclosure was used to pasture cattle during the summer months - transhumance. Elisabeth Stanbrook gives much more information about the Teignhead farms and enclosures in her book on "Dartmoor Forest farms" - Devon Books 1994.

This walk started from a car park (SX 659839) in Fernworthy forest, which means walking about a mile along a forest path before getting onto the moor. Then take a path towards Sittaford Tor - passing the Grey Wethers circle on the way. From Sittaford the line of the newtake wall is clear. Walk down NW towards Quintin's man, cross the Teign and then follow the wall along in a NW direction. The going is straightforward with one stream crossing over the Great Varracombe. Walk beside the wall until you get to a right angle bend. To the left is Watern Tor (well worth a visit) but otherwise after admiring the impressive views head downside beside the wall until you get to the Teign. Head right and cross the river over the rails at Hew Lake Ford. Follow the newtake wall over Stonetor Hill until it impinges on the somewhat dark and forbidding aspect of Fernworthy Forest. From here you have 2 choices. You may want to crack on into the forest and follow the forest paths until you get back to the car park - this is not advised since the Forestry guys don't want people into the forest for HS reasons. Or else follow the edge of the forest back in a SW direction until you get back to the gate at Long Ridge. And thence back to the car.

Part of this 9 mile walk is on the edge of the military training areas so you are safe to do this walk at any time. However, it is on high, exposed ground and weather conditions can rapidly change. Having the newtake wall nearby gives the walker a good reference point. Map and compass are essential. It is a longer walk than you might expect.

	One of the paths that lead through Fernworthy Forest (SX 653841). This path goes from Froggymead down to Hemstone Rocks.
	SX 647831 - over the fence from Fernworthy forest and onto the moor.
	SX 643829 - a pool that leads into the South Teign stream. This is a great place to sit and eat some food.
	SX 640830 - Green moorland and on the horizon is Sittaford Tor and down on the right horizon are the stones of Grey Wethers.
	SX 639831 - Grey Wethers. Wethers is an old name for sheep - at a distance (and especially in misty conditions) the stones do look like a load of sheep.
	SX 636831 - This is where we encounter the newtake wall just up from Grey Wethers
	SX 634831 - walking up to Sittaford Tor
	SX 632831 - the newtake wall now heads northwards just leading away from Sittaford Tor. Quintin's man lies on the horizon
	SX - 631832 - Going down towards the Teign
	Little Varracombe - SX 628833 - lovely little quiet stream comes down here
	The newtake Teign Crossing - SX 625834. A sheltered spot which is maybe why the cattle like it.
	SX 624835 - looking south from just below Quintin's man. This picture well shows the extent of the newtake and an appreciation of the work involved in building it some 200 years ago.
	SX 629841 - Great Varracombe ford.
	SX 623845 - looking back towards Great Varracombe. On the hillside you can see five gentle incised channels. No water flows in any of these channels and it has recently been suggested that they were formed as subglacial meltwater channels when the top of Whitehorse Hill and the upper Great Varracombe valley were covered with glacial ice.
	SX 624849 - just east of Whitehorse Hill. This is an isolated place. In poor weather this would not be a nice place to be. But today on a June day there were loads and loads of butterflies. Plus the views over the countryside were superb.
	SX 628855 - looking eastwards from the slopes of Whitehorse Hill over towards Teignhead Great Mire
	SX 630859 - Hew Ford lies below. Beautiful view over parts of East Dartmoor.
	SX 629869 - one of the Watern Tor formations. One of Dartmoor's most iconic tors and certainly one of the best in terms of location.
	SX 631865 - right angled bend of the newtake. This is where the wall drops down to meet the Teign.
	SX 633865 - moving down the Watern Tor section of the newtake. Beautiful views from up here and it is sad to let go and drop down to the river.
	The ford over the Teign at Hew Lake Foot (SX 640860). In the past this ford had the great name of Wotesbrokelakesfote.
	SX 645858 - looking over towards Stonetor Hill
	SX 650855 - on top of Stonetor Hill looking southerly towards Fernworthy Forest.
	SX 651852 - looking into the northern edge of Fernworthy Forest. There's a hecka of a lot of wood in here. To go any further in this area is ill advised as it is really restricted. Forestry operations are regular and involve serious vehicles. The safe way forward is to walk around the Forest boundary until you get to the Long Ridge gate.
	SX 641843. A lovely view from the edge of the Fernworthy forest path as it opens out to the moor at Long Ridge. On the hillside behind the ponies lie the remains of Teignhead farm.
	SX 661844 - this is an alternative pathway leading back to the carpark