Flowing from the slopes of Eylesbarrow
to a confluence with the West Dart – a distance no more than 4
miles – The short yet fascinating Swincombe river takes in many
more features and far more history than its diminutive size would
suggest.
It was the lower part of this river
valley that I headed to on my most recent Dartmoor Letterboxing
adventure. I started at the estate of Sherberton Farm. One of
Dartmoor's oldest such properties. The weather was incredible;
bright blue skies, not even the slightest hint of wind. I had the
moor to myself, and perhaps this was due to the low temperature. All
pools and bogs were frozen solid, with patches of snow visible on
some higher slopes. I set off for Deep Swincombe. A fabulous combe
off the river valley. Its steep sided and rocky, chocked full of
tinners huts, workings and, so it transpired – snow. Letterboxes
found required defrosting, or a thump to release it from an icy grip
in the ground.
As I continued upstream, the concrete
and brick structure of the Swincombe Intake Works came into view.
Built in the early 20th century to provide water to
Torbay, it was subject to a controversial planning application to
extend it in the early 1980s, but alas it was refused, and the area
now lies in private hands.
The track up to the works makes for a
solid and easy route back to the car. Close to the Sherberton
Estate, where a bridleway crosses the Swincombe river, the Fairy
Bridge would normally be found. A bridge was originally installed
here to aid mine workers cross the unpredictable river, where a ford
already existed. Over the years the wooden structure had been
replaced on more than one occasion. However, the National Park
Authority removed the bridge last Autumn. A victim of last
February's storms, the footbridge was condemned, and funding for a
replacement is being sought.
I approached the car. The clouds were
building, the ice was melting, and sensation in my extremities was
recovering. I could reflect on a highly successful day. 9 boxes found.
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