Erme Plains

Downs, Moorland in Devon South Hams

England

Erme Plains

Flooded Pit, Leftlake The extraction pit for china clay.
Flooded Pit, Leftlake Credit: Chris Andrews

Erme Plains is a picturesque area located in South Devon, England. It is part of the larger region known as Dartmoor National Park, which encompasses vast stretches of moorland, rolling hills, and open countryside. Erme Plains is situated on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, near the village of Ivybridge.

The landscape of Erme Plains is characterized by its gently undulating terrain, scattered with granite outcrops and lush green fields. The area is crisscrossed by the River Erme, which meanders through the plains, creating beautiful wetland habitats and providing a source of water for local wildlife.

The plains are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including rare species such as the cuckooflower and the marsh fritillary butterfly. The wetlands attract a variety of bird species, including kingfishers, herons, and waders, making it a popular spot for birdwatching.

Erme Plains also holds historical and cultural significance. The remains of ancient settlements, stone circles, and burial mounds dot the landscape, serving as a reminder of the area's rich history. Moreover, the nearby town of Ivybridge offers visitors the opportunity to explore traditional Devonshire architecture, quaint shops, and local pubs.

The tranquility and natural beauty of Erme Plains make it a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and horse riding. The expansive open spaces and rolling hills provide ample opportunities for exploration and adventure, attracting locals and tourists alike. Whether it's a leisurely stroll along the riverbank or a challenging hike up one of the nearby tors, Erme Plains offers a serene and captivating experience for nature enthusiasts.

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Erme Plains Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.466568/-3.9184713 or Grid Reference SX6364. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Flooded Pit, Leftlake The extraction pit for china clay.
Flooded Pit, Leftlake
The extraction pit for china clay.
Tramway Bridge, Leftlake
Tramway Bridge, Leftlake
Old Wayside Cross on Western White Barrow, South Brent parish Petre's Cross, old head and shaft, Starkey No.02 by the moorland track, in parish of South Brent (South Hams District), on the summit cairn, Western White Barrow, on a pile of stones beside an abandoned shelter.

Scheduled Monument.
List Entry Number: 1002661 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1002661" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1002661">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>

Surveyed

Milestone Society National ID: DVSH_SBR03
Old Wayside Cross on Western White Barrow, South Brent parish
Petre's Cross, old head and shaft, Starkey No.02 by the moorland track, in parish of South Brent (South Hams District), on the summit cairn, Western White Barrow, on a pile of stones beside an abandoned shelter. Scheduled Monument. List Entry Number: 1002661 LinkExternal link Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: DVSH_SBR03
Old Waymarker Stone near Western White Barrow, South Brent parish Western White Barrow marker stone, standing stone by the moorland path, in parish of South Brent (South Hams District), just below the summit cairn, Western White Barrow, on open moor.

Surveyed

Milestone Society National ID: DVSH_SBR04
Old Waymarker Stone near Western White Barrow, South Brent parish
Western White Barrow marker stone, standing stone by the moorland path, in parish of South Brent (South Hams District), just below the summit cairn, Western White Barrow, on open moor. Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: DVSH_SBR04
Hook Lake prehistoric stone row A single prehistoric stone row measuring 227m long, including at least 92 mainly medium-sized stones and a few small stones. The row is orientated north to south and leads downslope (south) from a cairn. The southern length of the row is partly incorporated into a prehistoric enclosure wall and at one-point a round house has been built up against one of the row stones. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/hook-lake/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/hook-lake/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Hook Lake prehistoric stone row
A single prehistoric stone row measuring 227m long, including at least 92 mainly medium-sized stones and a few small stones. The row is orientated north to south and leads downslope (south) from a cairn. The southern length of the row is partly incorporated into a prehistoric enclosure wall and at one-point a round house has been built up against one of the row stones. LinkExternal link
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and  measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. Sinuous alignment ascending the hill at Dry Lake Ford. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row
The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. Sinuous alignment ascending the hill at Dry Lake Ford. LinkExternal link
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and  measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. The stone row passes Erme Pound which is a prehistoric enclosed settlement which was re-used in the historic period. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row
The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. The stone row passes Erme Pound which is a prehistoric enclosed settlement which was re-used in the historic period. LinkExternal link
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. Row passing a large cairn. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row
The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. Row passing a large cairn. LinkExternal link
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. Stone row leading from the kerbed cairn (Scale 1m). <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row
The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. Stone row leading from the kerbed cairn (Scale 1m). LinkExternal link
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row and kerbed cairn The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. The stone row leads from a well preserved kerbed cairn.
<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://stonerows.wordpress.com/gazetteer/region/dartmoor/upper-erme/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Upper Erme prehistoric stone row and kerbed cairn
The longest prehistoric stone row in the world is of the single type and measures 3,386m long, including around 922 mainly medium and small-sized stones together with some large orthostats. The stone row leads from a well preserved kerbed cairn. LinkExternal link
Blatchford Brook Foot Ford prehistoric settlement An enclosed prehistoric settlement probably of Middle Bronze Age date (c. 1400 -1000 BC). <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=14935" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=14935">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Blatchford Brook Foot Ford prehistoric settlement
An enclosed prehistoric settlement probably of Middle Bronze Age date (c. 1400 -1000 BC). LinkExternal link
Blatchford Bottom 1 prehistoric settlement Prehistoric settlement including at least eight houses and several fields.
Blatchford Bottom 1 prehistoric settlement
Prehistoric settlement including at least eight houses and several fields.
Pair of prehistoric enclosed settlements at Hook Lake Two Bronze Age enclosures, several houses, cairns and a stone row at Hook Lake. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=14936" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=14936">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Pair of prehistoric enclosed settlements at Hook Lake
Two Bronze Age enclosures, several houses, cairns and a stone row at Hook Lake. LinkExternal link
Tin streamwork in the Erme Valley The entire valley bottom has been dug over systematically in the search for and collection of tin ore. Much of what is visible is probably early post-medieval in date but some may be medieval. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-five-fieldwork-interpretation/extraction-alluvial-streamworks/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-five-fieldwork-interpretation/extraction-alluvial-streamworks/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Tin streamwork in the Erme Valley
The entire valley bottom has been dug over systematically in the search for and collection of tin ore. Much of what is visible is probably early post-medieval in date but some may be medieval. LinkExternal link
Tinner's building in the Erme Valley Tinner's buildings provided shelter and storage for those employed in the nearby streamworks. This one is bigger than average perhaps reflecting a larger than normal workforce (Scale 1m). <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-five-fieldwork-interpretation/ancillary-buildings/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-five-fieldwork-interpretation/ancillary-buildings/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Tinner's building in the Erme Valley
Tinner's buildings provided shelter and storage for those employed in the nearby streamworks. This one is bigger than average perhaps reflecting a larger than normal workforce (Scale 1m). LinkExternal link
Alluvial tin streamwork in the Erme Valley Series of parallel drystone walls (known as stiling) revetting waste dumps thrown up during streamworking operations. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-five-fieldwork-interpretation/extraction-alluvial-streamworks/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-five-fieldwork-interpretation/extraction-alluvial-streamworks/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Alluvial tin streamwork in the Erme Valley
Series of parallel drystone walls (known as stiling) revetting waste dumps thrown up during streamworking operations. LinkExternal link
Alluvial tin streamwork in the Erme Valley A series of waste dumps revetted by drystone walling known as stiling. The dumps were produced during systematic working of the tin deposits. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-five-fieldwork-interpretation/extraction-alluvial-streamworks/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-five-fieldwork-interpretation/extraction-alluvial-streamworks/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Alluvial tin streamwork in the Erme Valley
A series of waste dumps revetted by drystone walling known as stiling. The dumps were produced during systematic working of the tin deposits. LinkExternal link
Hook Lake tin mill Building which housed stamping machinery used to crush tin ore. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-three-mining-technology/processing-stamping/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://earlytin.wordpress.com/thesis-1986/chapter-three-mining-technology/processing-stamping/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Hook Lake tin mill
Building which housed stamping machinery used to crush tin ore. LinkExternal link
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Erme Plains is located at Grid Ref: SX6364 (Lat: 50.466568, Lng: -3.9184713)

Administrative County: Devon

District: South Hams

Police Authority: Devon and Cornwall

What 3 Words

///bend.jousting.freely. Near South Brent, Devon

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 50.466568,-3.9184713
Ford: yes
Lat/Long: 50.4693798/-3.9154257
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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