West Okement River, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
Every Dartmoor obsessive takes a trip to Cranmere Pool. Located in a remote spot south of Okement Hill on the high north plateau in an area where many of Devon's most famous rivers rise, Cranmere Pool is essential visiting. Stand by Cranmere Pool's famous letterbox and you're also near the West Okement Head which is where the West Okement River rises in Dartmoor. On the northern flank of Okement Hill is the East Okement Head which is where the East Okement River rises in the National Park. These rivers perform a pincer movement around Dartmoor's highest ground at High Willhays and Yes Tor before meeting at Okehampton to form the River Okement.
From West Okement Head, the West Okement River curves around Great Kneeset before turning sharp north west past Lints Tor into a steep sided and beautiful valley. There, the river runs past Black-a-Tor Copse National Nature Reserve on its way to Meldon Reservoir. The water collects in the reservoir and then falls from the dam into the West Okement River as it flows under Meldon Viaduct into the West Okement Valley. It passes English Heritage's Okehampton Castle (English Heritage) and meets the East Okement River near the centre of town.
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