River Erme, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
Burgh Island, Bigbury-on-Sea Beach and Bantham Beach are among the most famous natural attractions on the South Devon coast. The River Avon flows into the sea here. Just north west is an equally beautiful but less well-known estuary called the Erme Estuary. The River Erme flows into the sea here.
Both the River Avon and River Erme rise on Dartmoor's south moor close to one another. Avon Head is particularly remote. Erme Head is more accessible. Located between Langcome Hill and Crane Hill, Erme Head is north of Langcombe Head and south of Plym Head.
The path marked Abbot's Way on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map crosses the River Erme at Erme Head Ford.
The river flows between Erme Pits and Erme Pits Hill. The Abbot's Way crosses the water at Erme Pits Ford.
At this point, in the heart of the south moor, the River Erme is fed by numerous lakes and brooks including Blacklane Brook and Red Lake.
The river then arcs south and passes Erme Pound.
By Erme Pound, the Erme cuts across Stall Moor Stone Row. This is the longest stone row in the world.
Meandering across Erme Plains, passing other prehistoric settlements and disused mining buildings, it comes to the beautiful weir below Left Lake.
From the weir, the Erme flows through a particularly beautiful valley. Piles Copse is on the eastern side of the water.
Downstream, it leaves the high moor near Harford and flows through a steep-sided wooded valley to Ivybridge where it departs the National Park.
A bridge spans the Erme at Ermington in the South Devon countryside.
Passing through Erme Estuary, the river meets the sea at Erme Mouth. At low tide, Wonwell Beach and Meadowsfoot Beach are beautiful.
You are now on the South Devon coast and the South West Coast Path.
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