This is a great walk providing wild moor views. From Sharpitor descend through a pine forest, to join the Devonport Leat. The route then heads east over Leather Tor Bridge and along well-defined tracks before striking off over the moor to visit Crazy Well Pool. From the pool you rejoin the Devonport Leat before returning to the car park. Some of the terrain is challenging with rocky and uneven tracks. Stout footwear is essential.
Walk Details
Grid Ref: SX557706
Distance: 5 miles
Grade: Medium
Map: OS Explorer OL28
Duration: 3-4 hours
No toilets or refreshments
START FROM: The small car park on the B3212 two miles out from Yelverton on the Yelverton to Princetown Road. The car park is on the right at the brow of the hill, alongside a shallow pond which is a watering hole for local ponies. There is an alternative car park a little further along the B3212 on the left.
Route
From the car park head uphill towards Sharpitor. As you reach the base of the tor skirt around it to the RIGHT. Once over the other side of the tor head towards Leather Tor. As you cross over the grassy area between the two tors bear LEFT (A), downhill towards a conifer forest AHEAD of you.
Keep to the grassed area, avoiding the rocks on the left of Leather Tor. Descend to reach a stone wall on the edge of the forest. Turn LEFT and keep the wall on your right as you make your way over stony ground (no discernible path). Look for an open gateway in the wall with two stone pillars. Pass through the gateway (B) and go immediately LEFT with a stone wall on the left and a wire fence on the right to a stile. Low hanging tree branches make this a challenge but keep faith. Once over the stile bear half LEFT downhill, over a low broken wall and through the conifer trees.
Then go downhill through the plantation to reach the Devonport Leat. Cross over the granite bridge to a signpost and carry on AHEAD following the direction to Leather Tor Farm. The wide track bears around to the right and after 300 yards you reach the ruin of Leather Tor Farm (see information board about the ruin). Continue AHEAD, over a stile by a gate, and turn LEFT (C) onto a wide track.
Follow the Public Bridleway and proceed down this track as it descends passing a potato cave on the left before reaching Leather Tor Bridge (built in the 1830’s). Cross over the bridge and turn LEFT following the public bridleway signed “Open moor”. After 50 yards, where the track divides, take the right fork and continue uphill for 500 yards, ignoring tracks on the left. On reaching another finger post signed “Older bridge”, continue for another 20 yards and, at a T-junction, turn LEFT (D).
Continue slightly uphill, along this broad track for 500 yards to pass through a broken gateway and out on to the open moor. Continue AHEAD for another 500 yards. Cross over a stream across the track and turn immediately LEFT (E) up a rough track through some gorse bushes. Make towards a cross on the horizon. On reaching the cross (Crazy Well Cross or Clazy Well Cross) look back to get some great views over the moor to Burrator and beyond.
Turn LEFT away from the cross and follow the track for 100 yards to reach Crazy Well Pool. From the pool head uphill on a clear grassy path and after 150 yards you reach the Devonport Leat. Turn LEFT and walk alongside the leat on its right bank as it contours around Raddick Hill, After a mile of following the leat, descend by some rocky cascades (care needed) to cross an aqueduct over the River Meavy. Turn LEFT (F) to walk alongside the Devonport Leat. After 150 yards, opposite the second tree on your right, you should spot a small ceramic Indian head mounted in the bank of the leat (see points of interest). Continue along the leat for 400 yards and where it bends right and then left, strike off towards a row of pine trees ahead.
Make for the extreme right-hand side of the trees. On reaching the corner, pass through a gap in the wall and head uphill along a track towards the main road (B3212). Turn LEFT (G) before the road and follow tracks that run parallel to the road, heading uphill for½ mile to arrive back at the car park.