The Stone Rows at Merrivale, and other artefacts in the area

Start the Four Winds car park (A) >>>

(S/E) Leave the parking area and head east to the point where the stream passes under the road (B). Turn right and follow the access track, past the farmhouse on the right. Notice whilst walking along this track, granite sleepers with drill holes, once a rail track for the quarry. Approaching the old quarry spoil heap on the left, to where there is an opening in the hill into the old quarry.

(1) Explore Foggintor Quarry, off app; to see inside the old quarry workings, now flooded. Continue south along the track and more spoil heaps, and ruined buildings. The route will veer right and southwest.

An option: to shortened route (2) to (4), turn right on (2) and follow the old railway track northwest to (4) to continue the shorter route.

(2) Continue southwest across the old railway line and climb the hill; this is open moorland but well trodden, so a route is visible.

Care, the route will lead up to near the edge of the disused quarry of Swelltor. Be mindful of app/GPS variables, keep away from the edge. The route lead down over an old spoil head, there is a route down. Meeting another track, turn right and northwest, continue along the track to the Corbels (C).

(3) Continue along the old sidings track, which will meet with the old railway track. Stay on the track around the tor on the right, King Tor. Two tracks are leading around the first bend. The left-hand track was the original 'horse-drawn' track before the steam track was laid. On the northern corner of the track (4), the route will turn left and north. There are several tracks down to the corner of the field; this route uses the most commonly used one; however, it may get a little wet underfoot approaching the stream.

(5) Cross the stream heading northwest, skirting the wall to the standing stone, then north to the stone row, cairns, and settlements (6) head east, and handrail the road back to (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: Vehicle parking - The Four Winds moorland parking area.
• Timing: The estimated time allows for extra time, when appropriate, for exploration and personal pace.
• The Route: This route has been assigned "Easy" due to a reasonable path to follow and the distance.
• Accessibility: Around the disused quarries, the route will require extra care, and the area at (5) can become wet underfoot.
• Handrail: Is a linear feature that has been identified as a road, wall, etc
• Option: There is an option to shorten this route, from (2) to (4).

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

During the walk

• The Route: Where applicable, keep to the defined paths.
• Follow the Highway and Country Codes: The Countryside: 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 open-access land.
• 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.

Enjoyed the walk:

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

Report any findings; see app ' ! '

Along the route

(A) The Four Winds Car park, many would only see this enclosure as a parking area, but in fact, the site of a Primary School, for the children of the nearby quarries, Foggintor School replaced the school at Mission Hall. >>>

(B) On the opposite side of the road north, a site of the Mission Hall, the site of a former school, a meeting hall and dwelling for the mining community and further up the hill, a Pump House supplied drinking water to Princetown. Water was taken from the nearby stream, treated, and pumped to a higher holding tank, which then fed Princetown by gravity. >>>

(C) The Corbels quarried and dressed granite intended for the London Bridge (1831-1967) when it was extended in width, but the Corbels were mis-measured and the wrong size.>>> The bridge was eventually sold and now stands in America >>>

• The rail line, part of the Princetown to Yelverton line, was originally horse-drawn and played a part in transporting criminals to Dartmoor Prison, serving as a link for the residents, and removing the granite that had been quarried.
• The Quarries - Swelltor and Foggintor (disused) Quarried stone for many prominent buildings in London.
• Yellowmead Farm, a remote moorland farm once used by a large paint company to advertise its outdoor paint and its durability, was painted yellow.
• Merrivale Stone row and settlement >>>

Nearby

Merrivale Quarry, the last working granite quarry on the moors, can be seen northwest from (6). There is a country pub in the valley.