Ducks' Pool, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor has a north and south plateau separated by a central bowl. Both high plateaus have iconic and remote pools and letterboxes that attract high numbers of Dartmoor enthusiasts. The north's most famous pool is Cranmere Pool with its letterbox. The south's most famous is Ducks' Pool with its William Crossing Memorial Stone/Monument and letterbox.
Unusually for Dartmoor letterboxes, both are marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. Ducks' Pool is much the bigger of the two. Whilst both are drained, there are smaller pools of standing water at Ducks' Pool so it needs to be walked with care. Whenever we visit, there's a plastic duck at the memorial or letterbox as well!
We've positioned Ducks' Pool on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.
To visit for the first time, we'd recommend following what is marked the Abbot's Way on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. Start from one of the car parking areas on the Princetown to Whiteworks road. Wander down to Nun's Cross Farm. Continue to Plym Ford and then follow the Abbot's Way as it heads to Erme Pits. From there, yomp north by Blacklane Brook to Ducks' Pool.
We've also walked direct from Nun's Cross Farm over Crane Hill. As long as you keep above Plym Head the terrain isn't too bad. Plan for boggy, tussocky ground. You can also head east from the Abbot's Way just below Great Gnats' Head. These routes are much easier after a spell of dry weather.
From the west. You can walk in from the car parking area below Gutter Tor near the village Sheepstor. Follow the good path up to Eylesbarrow and then drop down to Plym Ford before following the Abbot's Way as outlined above. From the west, you can also wander in from the car parking areas at the eastern end of Burrator Reservoir. Head for Nun's Cross Farm and then Plym Ford.
From the north. From Nun's Cross Farm, you can follow a farm wall east to the foot of Fox Tor. From there, a path marked on both the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map and the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map runs south past Blacklane Mire. South of the mire is an area covered with granite boulders and tin mining works that's easy to cross. You then wander up to Ducks' Pool.
From the east. Follow the Abbot's Way from the east until you hit the Erme Pits area. From there, yomp north by Blacklane Brook to Ducks' Pool. To reach the Abbot's Way, you can start from the car parking area at Shipley Bridge or the very limited car parking area at Cross Furzes. We've also wandered in via the Two Moors Way from Scorriton.
From the south. Big walk but you can follow the Two Moors Way from Harford Moor Gate all the way up to the Red Lake China Clay Works area. Cross Red Lake (i.e. a stream) at Red Lake Ford and you're on the Abbot's Way. Follow the Abbot's Way from the east until you hit the Erme Pits area. From there, yomp north by Blacklane Brook to Ducks' Pool.
Photo Gallery
