Two Museums Walk

Leaflet design & map editing by TWO MUSEUMS WALK www.dragonpeak.studio A 5-mile walk linking the two museums of north 5 Climb the short incline to the top and turn left, 9 At the bottom of the slope continue along the Dartmoor – Finch Foundry in Sticklepath, and the along the path of an old leat. Follow this footpath following the river downstream. Be Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton. This towards the village of Belstone. careful here – there are some difficult rocks to route crosses open moorland, and care should be negotiate by the waters’ edge. At Halstock taken before setting out – follow Dartmoor National 6 Walk across the common into the village. You Woods look for a gap in the stone wall. Once Parks’ code for your safety. Children may collect a will be able to see the back of the Tors Inn Pub. through this, follow the footpath to your right letterbox stamp at the start and finish of the route – Keeping the pub on your left, follow the road to leading to a bridge across a tributary. Follow ask at reception. the T-junction. The old Belstone Telegraph the ‘Dartmoor Way’ waymarkers, keeping the Office can be seen on the opposite side of the river to your right. The footpath will eventually 1 Start at Finch Foundry which is owned and run road. Turn left here. lead you under the A30 road bridge and a 5- by the National Trust. The Foundry was home arched railway bridge at Fatherford. to a thriving business in Sticklepath, making For an easier walk avoiding the more difficult moor agricultural hand tools for Devon’s farmers. Go terrain, turn left at the Telegraph Office then take For a shorter walk, you can start/finish here. through the gate at the bottom of the car park at the next turning right. Walk along this road for 1½ There is a car parking area across ‘Charlottes the back of the Foundry and follow the track miles (2½ km). Pass under the road and railway Bridge’ through the grassed area known locally as Billy bridges and bear left. Take the left fork into a small Green. lane, passing a car parking area at Fatherford. After 10 Go through the gate at Fatherford and continue going through the gate, cross Charlottes Bridge and along the footpath, through Tramlines Wood. 2 Walk alongside the river and over the join the trail again at Point 10, keeping the river to Take the first footpath on your right (by the footbridge. Turn right. Once through the gate your right. green bench) down a steep slope to Simmons take the right fork. Park. Cross the bridge into the grounds of 7 Continue on into a dead-end road passing Okehampton College. Turn left, crossing the 3 Keeping the River Taw on your right, you Belstone Water Works and through the moor next bridge a short distance along. Turn right will pass Cleave Mill on the opposite bank which gate. Stay on the track with the wall to your and follow the path through Simmons Park to was once owned by the Pearse family that right. Keeping the wall close, walk to the crest the exit. included Tom Pearce of Widecombe Fair fame. of the hill. The East Okement River flows in the 11 On leaving Simmons Park, turn left and follow The leat to the Foundry starts here, and has distance. Follow this track down onto a broader been in existence since at least 1147. track, and turn right here. Continue for a further the road past the Post Office. Turn left at the 1/3rd mile, passing the ruins of Watchet Hill crossroads, and left again into the Museum 4 Continue on the track through Skaigh Woods. cottage and noting the bridge across Chapel Courtyard. After approximately a half mile cross the Ford. You will come to a clearly defined grassy 12 Here you will find the Victorian Tea Rooms, footbridge. Follow the track up a slight slope, track leading down to the river. Turn here and turning left onto a wide path at the top, and descend down to the bridge. Okehampton Visitor Information Point and the follow this for approximately ½ mile until you Museum of Dartmoor Life where there is a 8 Across the bridge, follow the footpath keeping come to the bottom of a sharp incline. This is fascinating selection of artefacts, photographs Belstone Cleave, which features in Henry the river to your right. Bear right at the and information about Dartmoor and the people Williamson’s novel “Tarka the Otter”. Dartmoor Way sign. Shortly the track will lead who lived there. you to a rocky outcrop. Look for the handrails which will lead you down past spectacular waterfalls. .

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