Shavercombe Falls, a Dartmoor Waterfall

The route starts at the gravel parking area by the river >>>

(S/E) Follow the farm track east, over the small bridge, and continue up the track. As the track sweeps up and right, leave the track.

(1) The route will handrail the river upstream. This section of the ground has many undulations, caused by old tinners scratching the land looking for cassiterite (tin oxide)(A).

(2) Spanish Lake (B). Crossing the stream and continuing upstream. The route leads slightly away from the river due to wet ground, to a footbridge.

(3) The route handrails a dry ditch, the remains of a leat (C). Continue heading in a northeasterly direction along the bank. The leat will run alongside another linear feature, part of an old field system, with Pillow mounds, former rabbit warrens. Meeting another stream, follow it up, heading southeast and into the mouth of the valley. The waterfall is at the head of the valley.

(4) At Shavercombe Falls, head west and up the slope; a route up is visible. At the top of a small outcrop of granite, Shavercombe Tor. Heading in a southeasterly direction along the top of the valley, past the falls, and as the land levels out, head in a south, then south-westerly direction to Hen Tor.

(5) At Hen Tor, heading in a more westerly direction, passing a linear feature and down toward a stream, Spanish Lake. Turn north west, right, and over the footbridge, the leat contours the hill with a sharp bend.

(6) Follow the disused leat westwards, and onto a farm track bridge. Turn right and follow the track down to the farm. Continue through the farm, and down the track, passing (1) and onto (S/E).

Before the walk

1. Ensure the walk matches your needs, skills, and abilities
2. Check the weather forecast.
3. Be prepared with suitable clothing and footwear.
4. Personal medication
5. Consider something to eat, and always keep hydrated; take a drink.
6. Use the Visorando app, download the walk to your mobile. Consider a battery backup and or a printed route.
7. Let someone know where you are. The app has a share route function, ‘Share my Location’.

• Parking: There are several convenient gravel parking areas along the access track, towards the moorland farm; do not cross the bridge.
• Timing: The estimated time allows for extra time, when appropriate, for exploration and personal pace.
• The Route: Is mainly on open moorland with no designated footpaths. Keep to the directions on the app
• Accessibility: This route has been assigned "Moderate" due to open moorland and an undulating route.
• Handrail: Is a linear feature that has been identified as a road, wall, etc
• Option: There is an option to shorten this route, between (2) and (6), but you will miss seeing the waterfall.

Start: This walk's starting point - W3W >>>

During the walk

• Follow the Country Codes: Respect its inhabitants, and other Countryside users
• Leave no trace: leave only footprints, but take away great memories.
• Farmers do have special powers regarding dogs worrying, even on moorland.
• Dogs: Keep under control, and bag it and bin it, don't sling it.
• Self-care: Know your own limitations; walking is an adventure and can involve risks. Be responsible and know when to turn back, rather than get into difficulties
• First Aid: Treat blisters before they occur,
• Groups: Walking within a group? Start together, keep together, end together.
• Care should be taken when climbing tors, especially when wet: All two tors have easy access routes; be mindful of the more adventurous scrambles and appreciate that there can be some high drops.
• Where sheep roam, and bracken grows. There is a remote chance of picking up 'ticks'. It is advisable to check oneself and the dogs after the walk for tics. Be Tick aware >>>

Enjoyed the walk:

• Where you can: Support the local economy: have a pint, a pasty, or a cuppa.
• Feedback from this walk: Please leave your thoughts

Report any findings; see app ' ! '

During the route

(A) Open Cast tinners - workings along the riverside areas where the metal ore was either washed down from mine workings, or further onto the moors to find new seams.

(B) Spanish Lake, perhaps an unusual place name for a location on the moors. The name refers to the Spanish Armada and the threat of invasion in the summer of 1588. The local inhabitants at that time, in fear of looting, buried their prized possessions in the valley, hence the name. As with all place names, prior to this, the stream was called Eastern Brook. The nearby Trowelsworthy Tor was called East Tor, with the local dialect and the map cartographer, on hearing the local sounding, East Tor Brook became known as Eastern Brook.

(C) The Leat supplied water to the nearby China Clay Works

Nearby

At (3), on the opposite side of the river, Ditsworthy Warren House is a film location for Steven Spielberg's (2011) War Horse.