Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Into the Valley


Time for a long-ish run and in view of the claggy and breezy conditions I thought we'd head off down the Erme Valley.

We parked at Peat Cott (fast becoming a regular start point), down to Nun's Cross, Plym Ford and Broad Rock. The Erme was a bit lively after all the rain so we kept to the right bank, skirted Erme Pits and through Hortensford Bottom (more to come later for you fans of Dartmoor names!)

Just beyond Erme Pound and opposite Hook Lake a small tributary cuts through a steep-sided little valley bearing the scars of long ceased tin-workings and the remains of Bronze Age huts and enclosures. Both the stream and the workings are un-named on the OS map, but to those who know the moor these are Green Lake and Knackersmill Gulf respectively. 'Knack' is not uncommon in Dartmoor place-names and is thought to derive from Middle English meaning a sharp cracking sound. Wonderful name for a spot, anyway and well worth a visit just for that.

On the way back the weather gods smiled yet again and held off the torrential rain until we were back in the car.
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12 comments:

  1. Ali Bryan-Jones15 February 2011 at 11:46

    Knackersmill Gulf is a good one. I'm going to try to incorporate runs to interesting sounding places into my training schedule.

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  2. 4 Winds15 February 2011 at 23:51

    It was a snap decision - I had been flicking through one of my Dartmoor antiquities books, saw that one and thought it was about time I went back.

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  3. Simon16 February 2011 at 01:29

    I've been naming local landmarks around our neck of the woods lately but having yet quite got the knack. 'Weird Turf Lump' doesn't have quite the same ring as some of yours...;-)

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  4. ultra collie16 February 2011 at 05:50

    named by a scouser was it? 'im going to erme erme 'erme valley''

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  5. Stu Stod16 February 2011 at 11:03

    Hortens ford bottom - any relation to Anna?

    Call me childish if you like!

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  6. 4 Winds16 February 2011 at 11:07

    Ooo. That takes me back a bit..... :-)

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  7. bigdogblog18 February 2011 at 03:14

    'Anna Ford's Bum' - hmmmmmmmm some punky George Fromby type late 70's if i remember - aahh Wavis O'Shave 'twas..

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  8. 4 Winds18 February 2011 at 04:09

    Yeah. Formative years and all that. Wasn't that John Shuttleworth?

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  9. sbrt18 February 2011 at 08:09

    Any skids?

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  10. 4 Winds18 February 2011 at 08:18

    Can't beat a bit of Skids :-)

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  11. bigdogblog18 February 2011 at 09:39

    "Albert Tatlock..." kids today - no appreciation of real music =)

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  12. 4 Winds19 February 2011 at 01:17

    Has been a right trip down memory lane......

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