Synopsis: Yellowmead stone circles are a series of concentric rings believe to date from the Neolithic or early Bronze Age. Along Narrator Brook, past ruined Deancombe Farm, and then a climb to Cuckoo Rock.
This is another walk outlined by Gillian Adams on her excellent blog, Divine Dartmoor Walks. I say another, as my previous walk, Wistman’s Wood, was also a walk of Gillian’s. I knew the parking places where suggested by Gillian would be quite few, so I opted to pull up on the verge a little short of that point.
A herd of Highland cattle - distinguished by their shaggy coats and long horns
There were some long horn Highland cattle roaming around on the track near to the scout hut. These had long shaggy coats, deep ruddy red in colour, which shined in the sun. They seemed remarkably docile and at ease with the people passing by. They may be a long way from home, but they look the part here in the Dartmoor landscape.
Yellowmead Stone Circles
I was thankful I had programmed my GPS with Gillian’s route, as I could so easily have passed by Yellowmead Stone Circles without spotting them if I hadn’t pinpointed them on my GPS. Over the years I’ve walked past this way on numerous occasions and not known they were there. Although the stones are not large in size, the fact that they are set in what is presumably a ritualistic pattern, reasons for which are quite unknown, does give the circles a certain appeal. What was it that made the setting of stones in concentric circles so important to these people?
Narrator Brook
The path from the stone circles rises gradually to a ridge and then drops to the corner of some trees. Continuing almost straight on, eventually I dropped down to the Narrator Brook. Here amongst the trees, the sun streaming through the branches, the babbling brook the only sound to be heard, the space felt very tranquil. I found a fallen tree in the sun to sit on and eat my lunch, sheltered from the chill wind that was blowing on the higher ground.
Narrator Brook - Clapper Bridge
After lunch the path I walked followed the course of the Narrator Brook to a point where I crossed the stream over a clapper bridge. It is thought that the stones of this clapper bridge may well have come from the Yellowmead Stone Circles, which, when you see them, seems highly plausible.
Ruined Deancombe Farm
From here the path ascends gradually along a track until the ruins of Deancombe Farm are reached. Apparently this farm was worked up until the 1930s. The ruins are quite substantial, suggesting Deancombe Farm was quite a major concern. I wonder if any photos exist from the time when it was a working farm. Today all the ruins are coated in a layer of bright green moss, perhaps emblematic of a lingering dampness that embraces this shaded valley location.
Cuckoo Rock - the moon above
Walking on from Deancombe Farm the next destination on this walk, Cuckoo Rock, comes into view almost immediately. It’s simply the largest rock on the hillside. The sun was shining on it causing it to look almost white. The moon came into view as I approached the rock, so I was just able to grab this shot of both together. My smart new camera with exposure bracketing might just be worth the not inconsiderable expense.
Narrator Brook
From here my path took me down the side of the valley where I had a couple of streams to cross, but this proved easy enough, even at this time of year. Once again, I found it rather idyllic, by the stream glistening cobalt blue in the acute rays of the sun.
I then followed a simple course across open moorland as mapped out for me by my GPS. It wasn’t long before the trees surrounding the scout hut were once again in sight.
Not a long walk, but quite varied and extremely interesting. I’d say it was highly recommended.
Walk Statistics:
Total Distance: 4.6 miles
Moving Time: 2hrs 13min
Stopped Time: 54min
Total Ascent: 309 metres
Maximum Elevation: 336 metres
Buses: (none)
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