Goldsmith's Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
Goldsmith's Cross is one of a high number of crosses marking the route of the ancient Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route as shown on the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map. Goldsmith's Cross is located just south of the infamous Foxtor Mires that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used as inspiration for great Grimpen Mire in his short novel 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'. Thankfully, Goldsmith's Cross is on good, solid ground so it's relatively easy to visit.
We've positioned Goldsmith's Cross on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.
To visit, we'd recommend wandering around the western flank of the natural amphitheatre of moorland in which Foxtor Mires sits. Leave your vehicle at one of the parking areas on the Princetown to Whiteworks road. Walk to Nun's Cross Farm. From there, follow Devonport Leat east and then north east until you come to a farm wall. Follow the wall east and you'll see tracks running across to Goldsmith's Cross. Take a map and compass. The crosses are designed to be highly visible but check your map to be sure.
Alternatively, follow Devonport Leat from near Whiteworks until you come to the aforementioned farm wall. You can also approach from the car parking area by Gutter Tor up the road from Sheepstor. Follow the old Jobbers' Road over moorland to Nun's Cross Farm. Last, it's great fun to walk the ancient Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route itself. Using this, Childe's Tomb is east of Goldsmith's Cross and Nun's or Siward's Cross to the west.
We wouldn't recommend trying to cross Foxtor Mires to get to Goldsmith's Cross.
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