Yealm Steps, a Dartmoor waterfall, and the old China Clay Works

Starting at one of the many parking areas along the farm access track W3W >>>

(S/E) Follow the track northeast toward the Farm, crossing the bridge. At the farm entrance, the route continues in an easterly direction on the farm track. As the track starts to climb the hill, passing over the leat, the track fades into open moorland, continuing east towards some Pillow Mounds (A) and heading towards Little Trowelsworthy Tor. Approaching the Tor, notice a large granite boulder cylindrical in shape (B)

(1) Continue towards the Great Trowelsworthy Tor outcrop.

(2) Continue in an easterly direction, down and cross the stream; it can get a little wet underfoot. On the side of the hill, there is a scar in the land, handrail it up the hill. In gaining height, Shell Top (3) will become visible, leaving the scar in the ground, keep gaining height and head towards Shell Top.

At (3) Escape Route: Looking 1 km south is Penn Beacon (5); a route down off the moors to the nearest vehicular access at (8) located at W3W >>>, or West Rook Gate W3W >>> and Cornwood W3W >>>

(3) Continue East and remain high, follow the contour, until the valley is more apparent, then head down into the valley where the Yealm Steps are.

Escape Route: from (4) and (5) head south off the moors to the nearest track leading to vehicular access and occupied dwellings, see (3) escape route.

(4) Heading in a southwesterly direction, maintaining height and contouring to Penn Beacon (5) Keep high, it's a climb back.

(5) After Penn Beacon, head slightly more towards the northwest and gradually down the hill, meeting up with an old China Clay Works (C) track, and the Dartmoor Way (D). Follow the track as it curves northward up; it may be too wet underfoot to make a shortcut.

(6) Here you have the option to see Stone Rows at (7). If you do so, come back to (6) afterwards.

Continue south on the track past the Big Pond, remnants of the Clay Working in the area to where the track meets the remote moorland access lane.

(8) Turn right to continue along the road heading north. As the lane descends towards the river, the track to the start is on the right. Turn right to go back to the start (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, footwear, and equipment.
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. Have a battery backup and or a printed route, the OS Explorer OL28 map.
7. Let someone know where you are. The app has a share route function, ‘Share my Location’.

• Parking: Vehicle parking - There is convenient vehicle parking in the area, along then river bank
• Timing: The time taken is estimated, to allow extra time, when appropriate, for exploring and personal pace.
• Accessibility: This route has been assigned "Moderate" due to the open moorland and the distance.
• Escape Route: Is a route that either leads to a place of safety or a shorter route back to the start.- used in the event of an occurrence, whether physical or natural.

Start: This walk's starting point is the access track for Trowelsworthy Farm, which is a gravel track that can get washed out; the puddles can be deep. W3W >>>

During the walk

• Follow the 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 animals, 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.

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) Pillow Mound; artificial earth mounds, purpose-built as rabbit warrens

(B) Cylindrical granite boulder; a huge boulder was 'dressed' to form a base for a flag pole for the Devonport Dockyard. What the stonemasons didn't think about was transporting it off the moors. >>>>

(C) Lee Moor China Clay Works was a huge clay works, but now quarrying has stopped, and the landscape is allowed to return to nature

(D) Dartmoor Way, a circular, long-distance walk/cycle route around Dartmoor >>>