Powdermills, Dartmoor

We walked out of Brimpt's Farm over the moor to Laughter Tor, Bellever Tor and then over to Powdemills, where we had hoped to visit the pottery. But it was closed for half term, so we spent a little time looking at the old Powdermills buildings which were used to make gunpowder from 1840 to about 1890, for use in local quarries and for farmers to break up granite rocks and clear fields. They ground up saltpetre from India with sulphur from Vesuvius and local charcoal in what was a highly dangerous process. Long derelict chimneys, a mill house and other parts of buildings remain, some surrounded by majestic beech trees clad in velvet moss.

Then back over the West Dart and across the moor to the Swincombe valley, past the (still closed) Forest Inn and across Huccaby bridge.