SIXTEEN members joined this Dartmoor walk of approx eight miles which was a mix of typical moorland terrain and some lane walking .

The morning was fine and warm in the sun but the weather turned cold at lunchtime. Luckily, the walk was completed just as the rain began. Setting out from Leapra Cross, the group made their way down a steep rubbly track to Lettaford and continued on the Two Moors Way to Hurston. Here they left the main trackway and headed south. Following a fairly stiff climb they rejoined the Two Moors Way on Chagford Common which brought them eventually to Hurston Stone Row at Hurston Ridge with Assycombe Hill and Fernworthy Forest to the west.

Hurston Ridge is known locally as Husson Ridge but it was recorded in 1340 as Hurteston. This may have derived from the Old English words Harte (deer) Tun (farm) or Heort (personal name) and Tun (farm) so it is either a deer farm or Heort’s Farm. At the northern end of the ridge is a place called Deer Park Corner which suggests the former.

During the Bronze Age there was a fair amount of human activity on the ridge and surrounding area. The immediate landscape is studded with prehistoric remains such as those on Assycombe Hill, Fernworthy, Hameldon, and Shoveldon.

At Hurston Ridge there are four burial cairns, a settlement of seven hut circles, two separate hut circles and the double stone row with a blocking stone. (from Legendary Dartmoor). The group continued on fairly rough ground to the road at Bennett’s Cross, an ancient granite wayside cross beside the B3212 near the Warren House Inn.

Bennett’s Cross is a boundary marker for Headland Warren and serves as a boundary marker for the parishes of Chagford and North Bovey. Who was Bennett?

In Legendary Dartmoor it is suggested that he was either a 16th century tinner – William Bennett – the cross marking the boundary of his sett, or Ellery Bennett who found the partially buried cross in the 1860s and had it cleaned and erected. If the latter, the distinct leans shows it was poorly erected. From the cross the walkers made their way up to Hookney Tor, with its fine view down to the medieval settlement of Grimspound and back to the car park via Shapley Tor.

Welcome refreshments were enjoyed in Moretonhampstead. As ever, new walkers are always welcome. You should be suitably attired for all weather conditions, including sturdy footwear and bring a packed lunch.

Meet at the post office in George Street, Okehampton on Sundays ready to leave at 9.30am. Next week’s walk is from Bellever Forest. We share cars so please be there in plenty of time so the group can leave promptly. Car drivers with spare seats are encouraged to meet at the post office to offer lifts to non-drivers.