Bricks, boulders and bronze walking trail
Discover a range of archaeological artefacts dating as far back as the Bronze Age. A walk through woodlands and over moorland which is home to an array of wildlife and offers views of Dartmoor and South Devon.
Map
Start:
National Trust car park, Shaugh Bridge, near Shaugh Prior, grid ref SX533637
1
Starting in the car park outside what was once a china clay kiln, take the path starting at the notice board and head over the footbridge across the River Plym. You will find the remains of the Ferro ceramic mine and brickworks directly in front of you. There's a chance you may come across livestock - please take particular care if you're walking with dogs.
Ferro ceramic mine/brickworks
Built and operational in the late 19th century, the most notable feature visible today is the long tunnel brick kiln. Bricks were loaded onto tramway trucks and entered a drying chamber at the northern end. After then passing through the firing kiln in the centre, they entered the cooling compartment at the southern end. The mine is located within Dewerstone Hill, north-east of the kiln.
2
To continue, follow the granite boulder pathway heading eastwards uphill. Stay on this pathway as it curves sharply round to the left and advances uphill another 33yd (30m), before levelling out to form what was the granite quarry tramway. Follow this former tramway track round the hill, passing a couple of granite quarries on your right.
Granite quarries and tramway
A number of disused granite quarries punctuate the western side of Dewerstone Hill. These are linked together by a tramway, the granite sleepers of which are still visible today.
3
On reaching a fork in the track, bear right and head up the old tramway incline. At the top you will be facing the cable house.
The Cable House
The cable house operated as a means for transporting granite boulders from the quarries close to the peak of Dewerstone Hill, down to the lower tramway. Full carts descending counterbalanced empty carts ascending.
4
From the cable house, head south along the higher tramway track, passing more granite quarries on your left. On reaching the end of the tramway, follow the path up the hill and round to your left, passing over a stone wall before reaching the summit of Dewerstone Hill.
5
From the summit, head north-east towards the corner of the stone walled boundary of the Cadworthy Farm enclosures, keeping the woodland edge and stone wall in sight on your right. Continue to follow the wall to a lonely, windswept oak tree embedded in the wall.
6
The Bronze Age cist is located approximately 16yd (15m) north from this tree. To continue, head west across Wigford Down until you reach a set of farm enclosures. Follow the stone wall all the way to the road at Urgles Stone Cross.
Bronze Age structures
Many Bronze Age structures have been found to contain fragments of pottery and other artefacts. A Bronze Age jar was found in a crevice on the nearby Dewerstone and can now be viewed in Plymouth City Museum. The structure photographed here is of another cist found near the Plym, further upstream.
7
Bear left and follow the road down to the bottom of the hill.
8
Before the bridge over the River Meavy, bear left and over a stile onto a track towards Dewerstone Cottage. You will automatically join the incomplete granite quarry tramway and pass through a long cutting, followed by a wooden gate.
9
Immediately after the cottage (the old counting house for the quarrying company), take the right hand path down to the River Meavy. Continue along this path back to the car park.
End:
National Trust car park, Shaugh Bridge, near Shaugh Prior, grid ref SX533637
