Delightful Double Waters
Ron Smith takes us on a journey through Double Waters, where the Walkham tumbles into the Tavy below West Down. If you are quiet and lucky, you might see a dipper or a grey wagtail.
Start at the loop lay-by on the East side of the A386, just South of the little lane leading down and across to Whitchurch, GR488723. Follow the orange stars on the map; the walk is described here clockwise, which is probably the better way round.
Drop down the little lane to join the cycle path paralleling the A386. You will follow this for about a mile and a half, including a well-lit and nicely straight railway tunnel. Be warned – it is rather drippy! Immediately before you would have crossed the Gem Bridge over the Walkham, avail yourself of the blocks to sit, think, admire the bridge and have your coffee. Now go back a short way and take the gate into the wood, now on your left. This is part of Drake’s Trail. At the lane by Grenofen Bridge over the river, go straight across into a driveway; this continues in the form of a narrow path.
As you follow the bank of the river, note its beautiful cascades and pools. On your right are remains of mining works, including a chimney. The path then climbs up to go round a riverside property. At a track T junction, look ahead for a path dropping ahead over the shoulder and down to the Tavy. Alternatively, you can follow the left-hand track back down to the Walkham. In either case, here you are at DOUBLE WATERS. My ideal snack spot is at the junction and by the footbridge.
The mining history of both sides of valley is complex; with small mines opening, closing and re-opening as prices of the minerals went up and down and further underground explorations revealed fresh lodes of copper and tin. It is well over 100 years since the last active mining went on. The remains of the largest mine is just the other side of the footbridge. It was known as ‘Virtuous Lady’; a more interesting name than the ones you have passed already such as ‘Sortridge Consols’ or even ‘Poldice Mine’.
The track you have left is the road access to the riverside property; you can, if you wish, return to the T junction and follow it easily up and across the flank of West Down. A more challenging alternative is to go upstream along the bank of the Tavy, until stopped by a locked field gate giving access to a wood. From here, it is steeply uphill by the side of the wood to rejoin the vehicle track at the top, where a tarmac lane starts. Follow this lane for nearly a mile past Walreddon. You will be walking under an attractive green arch of branches, losing height gently. When another lane comes in from your right, take it briefly uphill and immediately turn off left through a field gate. The footpath leads across open meadows before dropping down the main road. Cross with care, then wend your way through the estate before going back up the original lane to find your starting point on the left.
It is worth looking at the design of the estate as you walk through it. The houses have an interesting variety of finishes, including sections with local stone as well as stucco; all are slightly different. I believe that these will stand the test of time, unlike the identical boxes of a few decades ago. I very much hope that developers are encouraged to follow this sort of design by appropriate planning constraints.
Walks such as this can be found on the website of Plymouth Ramblers. The Dartmoor Rambling club specialises in walks accessible by public transport; contact Ron Smith on 01752674230 or at ronaldfwsmith@gmail.com. All walks include good, cheerful and friendly company.