Erme Pits, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park

Erme Pits, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park

Follow the path marked Abbot's Way on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map from either the east or west and you'll cross the heart of Dartmoor's south plateau. Where the Abbot's Way crosses Erme Head Ford by Erme Head are a number of very deep pits known as Erme Pits. These are the remains of an old mine and are visible on the satellite imagery of the accompanying Google map. At the eastern end of Erme Pits is Erme Pits Ford that you cross to walk the Abbot's Way.

In his 'Guide to Dartmoor', William Crossing notes that 'the mining remains in this locality are extensive, and afford examples of streaming and also of open workings. Of the latter Erme Pits, by which name the excavations on the Cornwood side of the stream are generally distinguished from those on Erme Pits Hill, are the largest and deepest. These probably represent the Armed Pit mentioned in 1672 as yielding a particular kind of ore called zill tin. The remains of two little buildings of the usual mining type may be seen in these pits'.