Of Dartmoor attd its Borderland, 71 i : CHAPTER IX. The Abbots' Way* An Ancient Track — Brock Hill Mire — Red Lake Ford — Broad Rock — Plym Steps — Springs of the Plym — Si ward's Cross — Its Early Mention — Inscription on the Cross — Bond -mark of the Monks' Moor — Course of the Abbots* Way — The Windypost — Moortown — Cross on Whitchurch Down— Monkeys' Castle— A Broken Way- side Cross — Some Tavistock Worthies. By far the most important track in the south quarter of the forest was the Abbots' Way, which is still in many places a well-defined path, and of considerable use to horsemen. It enters the moor on its south-eastern side in the neighbourhood of Lambsdown Farm, at the head of the valley of Dean Bum, but cannot be traced with any certainty until it is seen at a ford on Dean Moor,* This is on a small stream that runs from Brock Hill Mire into the Avon, and from this point the old road is perfectly distinct as far as Huntingdon Cross. Here it crossed the Avon, but mining operations have obliterated it ; it is not seen again until Buckland Ford is reached. This name we shall have no difficulty in con- necting with the abbey to which the ancient path conducted. From the ford it is easily traceable for a considerable distance, and is carried up the hill by the side of a hollow. At the top it is crossed by the disused turf tramway, a quarter of a mile or more below Western Whitaburrow, and from this point we shall follow it across the forest. We shall first trace it to Red Lake Ford, which we may easily do, as this old track is here very plainly marked. It may have crossed the stfeam at this fording-place, or lower down ; at all events, there are evident traces of a path below it, on the lefc bank. The road on each side of the ford is certainly well-defined, but this would naturally be the case as it is much used by the moormen in driving their cattle to and from the grazing grounds on Green Hill, where is the best pasturage in the south quarter. • Vide page 18.
