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Golden Dagger Tin MineJust south of Bennet's Cross, which lies next to the Princetown - Moretonhampstead road, are the remains of two of the most productive Dartmoor mines - Vitifer and Golden Dagger. This area has been almost continuously mined since medieval times and the results of all this activity can still be seen by the large deep excavations (or gerts) that scar the hillsides around. At first miners would have streamed the tin rich stream of the Redwater, but as this began to yield less tin then they resorted to digging and then creating mine pits. Vitifer and Golden Dagger were the last mines and were worked on or off until the 20th century. A couple of deep shafts (400 ft) provided access to the underground workings in which up to 100 miners worked in hard conditions. The nearby Warren House Inn was their public house and the warren provided them with rabbit meat. There are surprisingly few remains left of this important mining area. Nothing of the railtracks that transported the ore from the mines or of the wheels that drove the machinery. The exotic name of Golden Dagger may derive from a bronze dagger that was found many years before in a nearby cairn.Park at the roadside car park by Bennet's Cross (SX 680816) and take the southwards track that leads down the valley through the overgrown remains of Vitifer mine. It may be difficult to picture the mines in the beautifully overgrown valley floor. Carry on until you approach Soussons wood. Pass through the gate and take the left track. You walk past the remains of Golden Dagger. Then head on along the track that skirts around Challacombe Down and leads to the farm. Go past the medieval ruins and take the Headland track that leads north back to the warren. Once past the Warren house head west alongside the gerts. You end back at Vitifer mine.This is an easy and popular walk since it easy to get to and is well tracked. Allow about 2 - 3 hours. No boggy ground although it is always wet around Golden Dagger.
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