Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel), Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park

Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel), Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park

A wheal is a mine. A leat is a man-made waterway used to channel water from, say, a river down to a mine, mill or town/city. Wheal Emma Leat is the now dry channel of a leat built in 1859 that once collected water from near the source of the River Swincombe as it flows past the eastern side of Foxtor Mires and transported it down to the River Mardle and then Wheal Emma Copper Mine north west of Buckfastleigh in Brook Wood. As we understand it, Wheal Emma was part of the South Devon United Copper Mine.

Today, the leat is great for walking on Dartmoor's south moor. We'd particularly recommend the upper section of the leat.

If this type of walking is of interest, we'd suggest you follow the side of the leat from Hexworthy up to Foxtor Mires and then wander across to the Foxtor Farm area. It's a great way to get to a remote part of Dartmoor and a safe way to experience the eastern side of Foxtor Mires.

Head for Hexworthy. Continue on the road towards Sherberton. There's parking by the gates that bar public vehicle access down to Sherberton. From there, walk back towards Hexworthy. Very shortly, you'll see a sign on your right directing you to the south moor. Wheal Emma Leat is in front of you. Follow it as it gently climbs to the edge of Dartmoor's south plateau.

Note that the route of Wheal Emma Leat is marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. It connects with the River Mardle near Chalk Ford and the Two Moors Way near Scorriton.