The delights of Wigford Down

A circular walk on open moorland

Starting point:  Cadover Bridge, in the large car park below the bridge.

Distance: Approximately four miles

Time: Approximately two hours

From the car park, walk towards and go over Cadover Bridge and turn left along a track. Head towards the tall granite cross above you. Cadover Cross is one of a number of crosses that was erected to mark a route between Tavistock Abbey and Plympton Priory and was used by monks.

Now follow the stone wall, keeping it to your left. Where the stone wall goes left, find a grassy track just above it and keep on this track, keeping the wall in sight. You will soon see Plymouth and Plymouth Sound in front of you. The wall will soon turn left again, follow it towards the woods. You will see a tall chimney in front – this is Derriford Hospital. Keeping on this grassy track,  head towards this chimney. The woods will drop down the hillside and just as you reach an outcrop of rock called Oxen Tor, the track becomes more narrow and rocky. The very big outcrop of rock behind Oxen Tor is the Dewerstone. This used by rock climbers and there a number outcrops, with difference routes up the rock face.

Continue along the track and you soon cross a line of rocks going from your left to the right. This was part of the ramparts of an iron age hillfort, long abandoned.

Cross over and carry on the grassy track and head to the highest point front of you. From the top of the Dewerstone, there are fantastic views across to Plymouth, the TV mast at Princetown and Brent Tor Church. Just make sure you do this walk a very clear day to get this wonderful view.

The Dewerstone is a large granite outcrop over 100 metres high and its name derives from ‘Old Dewer’, which is a Dartmoor term for the Devil. One of the legends says that the Devil used to terrorise the moor at night with his pack of ‘Wisht Hounds’ and drive anyone out after dark to their deaths, from off the top of the Dewerstone.

 When you had good look around and are ready to carry on walking - look towards the TV mast and walk along the wider of  the two tracks, which slightly to the right of the mast. You will re-cross the remains of the hillfort again. Still heading towards the mast you take the small path to the left. The mast may disappear from view but will reappear later. Carry on until you reach the corner of the wall on your left. Now turn right and head uphill, across Wigford Down. There are a number small paths - once over the brow of the hill, you will see the china clay workings nearer Cadover Bridge. You will see a wider path, follow this across the Down, if in doubt, go right. If you spot a small standing stone with the letter ‘L’ on it, this stands for Lopes, the owners of Maristow Estate. This marks the boundary of their land and the National Trust.

Now turning half right, head towards the wall you were following near the start of the walk and the grassy track you were on before.  As you return to the corner of the wall, you will see the car park at Cadover Bridge. Just retrace your steps past the cross and back to the bridge.

By local historian Paul Rendell