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This walk: 2021-4-12. Burrator Reservoir, Sheepstor Dam, Sheepstor growan pit, Devonport Leat, Leather Tor growan pit. D365-Q6, R6

Growan is essentially rotted granite that crumbles to the touch. Chemical weathering causes decay which softens the feldspar crystals. Growan was excavated to a depth of 30m (98 feet) at Sheepstor Dam. 

 

Further reading
Peter Freene (2001), The evolution of a Dartmoor Landscape - Exploring Burrator, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon County Council, Exeter, 36 pages.

 

Two very short walks!  

The first walk, to Sheepstor Dam growan pit

The end of Burrator Reservoir and the Sheepstor earth/clay dam.The entrance to the growan pit (or "Quarry") is located in the centre of the photograph .....

 

Looking back along the dam to the entrance into the reservoir - where there is space for a car to park ..... the path at the entrance is worn and has been repaired with fresh, yellow growan .....

 

The turning into the growan pit, with a path running beside a ruined four-walled building .....

 

More of a view of the building .....

 

The track going in .....

 

At the end of the track there are two growan pits ..... the location here is SX 55790 67970 .....

 

Close-up of the newly exposed growan.

 

Google Earth view of the Sheepstor Dam growan pit at the right edge of the image, the turn into the pit and the repaired track (with growan) at the left edge (yellow), just inside the gate off the road. Image Copyright Google Earh 2021.

 


© Crown copyright 2021 Ordnance Survey Licence number 100047373
Also, Copyright © 2005, Memory-Map Europe, with permission.

Map of the shortest walk on this web site!

 

The second walk, to Lowery Tor growan pit

The track from Cross Gate Cross meeting Devonport Leat, at SX 56435 69538 (this is above the track that continues to Leathertor farm .....

 

This track crosses a large clapper bridge that leads to the growan pit .....

 

Six imposts (?) in this clapper bridge .....

 

The track to the pit goes into the centre of this photograph .....

 

Looking into the rather deserted growan pit .....

 

General view inside the sunken "quarry" ..... SX 56516 69719 .....

 

Some stonework from a ruined structure inside the pit.

 

Google Earth image of the Leather Tor growan pit. Copyright Google Earth 2021.

 


© Crown copyright 2021 Ordnance Survey Licence number 100047373
Also, Copyright © 2005, Memory-Map Europe, with permission.

Map showing the track of the walk from Norsworthy Bridge car park - indicated by the green / white crosses.

 

All photographs on this web site are copyright © Keith Ryan.
All rights reserved - please email for permissions