Two rivers, a church and a bit of moorland for this walk

The prospect of very wet and blowy weather lead to the choice of this particular route as we thought it would be best to keep off any high ground. This walk, which we've done several times before, promised more shelter. In the event, the rain did not pass us by, so it was a wet walk, but not as wet as we were expecting. Despite that, it was a brilliant day and a great time was had by all who came.

We started and ended in the Bedford Bridge car park on the Tavistock to Yelverton road. We walked alongside the Walkham River for a couple of miles until it joined the Tavy. From there, we headed up hill to Buckland Monachorum for lunch and then across a stretch of moorland back to the car park. I clocked 7.2 miles on my GPS and I'd class it as a 'moderate' for effort. Although there was a fair distance alongside the river, the ascent to Buckland Monachorum was a protracted slog.

The Gem Bridge, built to replace the much older Brunel bridge, which carried the GWR line to Tavistock. The bridge now carries the very popular Drake's Trail, part of the National Cycleway. I have walked under it many times but have never been on it or across it

Remains of an old mill or a structure associated with mine workings? Whatever it was, look closely and you can see evidence for a (water) wheel pit and a leat that fed it. One of the pleasures of many of our walks is that we often come across something intriguing, that gets you thinking "I wonder what that was there for?". Sometimes, it's obvious, other times, we have to be satisfied with an educated guess - or ask Mr Google

Talking of leats, here we are walking along a fairly large one taking water/power to where it was needed at some distance from the take-off point.

A clear stretch of the leat, filled with leaves. I think I should point out that there aren't many stretches as clear as this one

For this stretch, the leat was festooned with fallen trees, turning the path into quite an obstacle course. I doubt that they will be cleared and will be allowed to rot away. Good exercise though

On the other side of the river now, just down from Grenofen Bridge, and we come across this very impressive retaining wall. Built, I think, to keep the flatter working area of the nearby mine clear of falling debris

Lunch with, not just a view, but an accompaniment of rushing water

The Walkham tumbling over rocks. A video is below. Enjoy the sound of rushing water 

At Double Waters - with the Walkham coming in from the right to join the Tavy, which flows south to join the Tamar at Bere Ferrers. The new bridge over the Walkham can be seen on the right

Looking across to Blackmoorham Wood and down the valley carved out by the Tavy

Not far from the county border, and an ideal spot for lunch, is the Church of St Andrew, Buckland Monachorum. Famous and historic for many reasons but since the 16th Century because of its relationship with Sir Francis Drake, who worshipped here and who lived in the nearby Buckland Abbey. It was the Abbey which was responsible for the construction of this present church in 1490 but it’s predecessors go back to 900 (when it was wooden). That it was the Abbey Church accounts for its unexpected grandeur in such an out-of-the-way village.

Just up the road is Buckland Abbey. Drake was able to purchase the Abbey after the dissolution of the monasteries. Apart from his maritime antics, he was Lord Mayor of Plymouth and a reforming and forward-thinking achiever who brought the first clean water source to Plymouth. Drake’s Leat still exists in large part as it brings water from Dartmoor to a reservoir still in use. As a feat of engineering and construction and durability it is a lasting tribute to a controversial figure.

Camellias grow well in the acidic soils in this area. Lovely when they are in full bloom but the flowers don't last that long and the fallen petals make almost as good a show on the ground as they do on the bushes

A not-particularly-good photograph of the stained glass window above the altar. But, a useful reminder that I need to return with my 'proper' camera and get some better shots. A good excuse to visit the Drake's Manor pub next door for a meal

The impressive marble memorial to Admiral Lord Heathfield (1790)  - George Augustus Elliot, Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar, Knight of the Bath, General and Governor of Gibraltar. He married Ann Polexen-Drake, daughter of Sir Francis Drake (not that Francis, but his great grandson)

Looking towards the main altar. Three large aisles. As a church, it has a very lively congregation with a reputation for its music

This stretch was a lot more difficult than it looks. With enough of an incline to stretch the muscles and with enough mud to make it a bit of a slippery slog

And we finished up with more water. This time running down what is normally a track