Erme Pits, Grim’s Grave and Deadman’s Bottom

/ 10/05/2026

I did think about creating a title for this walk which included armpits and bottoms, but I reverted to type and stuck with the names of the visited places. This is a walk heading into the central south moor and an area I don’t walk too often. It can be very boggy in here, the paths are minimal at best and some tufty sections. That said once there, it can be a fantastic area, solitude is at maximum levels and Lower Hartor Tor is a very underrated outcrop. We started out from the Gutter Tor scout hut car park, heading up along the wide path towards Eylesbarrow and the tin mine, we turned off before the summit of Eylesbarrow heading to Plym Ford, we would cross the infant River Plym there and head along the Abbot’s Way to Broad Rock, where we had lunch. We continued to follow the Abbot’s Way towards Stingers Hill, turning uphill from there, following Hortonsford Bottom to Langcombe Hill. We then dropped down to Langcombe Head following the brook, passing Grim’s Grave and Deadman’s Bottom, we almost reached Plym Steps but instead turned uphill to Little Gnat’s Head and Calveslake Tor. We then had a decision to make on how to cross the River Plym. We chose the direct route, straight for Lower Hartor Tor. This is a very good outcrop, particularly from below so we had another break there to enjoy the views. All that was left was to contour around the Higher Hartor Tor and pick up the main path back down to the scout hut and the car.

Start – Gutter Tor parking

Route – Eylesbarrow Tin Mine – Plym Ford – Abbot’s Way – Broad Rock – Erme Pits – Stingers Hill – Langcombe Hill – Langcombe Head – Grim’s Grave – Deadman’s Bottom – Little Gnats Head – Calveslake Tor – Lower Hartor Tor – Gutter Tor parking

Distance – 10 miles   Start time – 10.45am  Time taken – 5hrs 20 mins  Highest Point – Langcombe Hill 474 metres

Weather – Sunshine, blue skies but windy

© Crown copyright 2026 Ordnance Survey FL 2026 SF
Views to Sheeps Tor as we start out
Following the path to Eylesbarrow you get distance views to Leather Tor and Sharpitor on the left
Eylesbarrow Tin mine buildings, this mine was in full flow during the 19th century
Looking down to Plym Ford, the start of the River Plym is about 300 metres in that direction
Looking along the River Plym valley as it snakes away, we are walking the Abbot’s Way here
Broad Rock and views to Redlake, the River Erme and Erme Pits is down there to the right
Broad Rock markings of BB for Blanchford Manor, time for our lunch here
Erme Pits, tin mining was in place here during the 1670’s
Nice little frog by the path on Stingers Hill
Walking up Stinger’s Hill towards Langcombe Hill
Typical terrain up here, soft ground even when it is drier, boggy in winter, as we look to Three Barrows
Langcombe Hill, looking down from Langcombe Head
Crossing Langcombe Brook
Grim’s Grave
That’s Lower Hartor Tor up on the hill, we turn right here first though to Little Gnat’s Head
Little Gnat’s Head to Lower Hartor Tor, to gets across there we will need to cross the River Plym
Calveslake Tor looking to Evil Combe
We crossed the Plym easily and reached Lower Hartor Tor, a fine outcrop
Looking back over to Calveslake Tor from Lower Hartor Tor
Linda walking the grassy path back towards the car, Sheeps Tor in the distance
Back at the scout hut, which was in use today. A nice walk in a difficult area to get to, the paths were just about good enough for us and it is always nice to get back to Broad Rock and Erme Pits.

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14 thoughts on “Erme Pits, Grim’s Grave and Deadman’s Bottom”

  1. I do sometimes wonder about the story behind the naming of these places, if there is one. A bit bare and a bit grim in places. It’s all about the challenge of getting high 😉

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