Canonteign Falls, Devon.

[debris4spike]

These are actually the highest falls in England.  They are situated on the southern edge of Datmoor and are partly man-made. As you can see here in this section copied from the web site, which can be found Here if you want to read more.

Lady Exmouth Waterfall

In 1880 Lady Susan Exmouth created this present waterfall, diverting water from the original natural falls which still tumble down through the secret garden away to the left.

Lady Susan employed the local miners who lost their jobs when the Frank Mills Mine closed in 1880. The miners restored and redirected the leat that originally fed water to the mine and the resulting waterfalls, 220ft (67 metres) were and still are, the highest falls in England and a tremendous example of the 'Victorian Folly'.

The leat was an impressive feat of engineering drawing water from further up the valley. At one stage this water was used to power an overshot waterwheel at a timber sawmill Lady Susan established at the foot of the Falls. This was another initiative to create employment and prosperity in the area. The water was channelled down wooden launders (chutes) to the mill and you can see evidence of these in the banks near the bottom Clampitt Falls.

A circular concrete reservoir near Bruce's Pond acted as a filter for some of the water which was piped to the miners cottages, the remains of which can be seen near the old airshaft by the children's assault course. Large iron pipes which carried the water to the mine and later to the cottages are still evident near the pathways near Lady Exmouth's Bridge.

Well, last Saturday, Mum, Dad, Jiffy and I met up with Tim and Claire to go for a walk. The weather wasn't great, but considering what weather we have had this summer (and are having as I type this) we were all right.

We did the basic "walk", to the top of the waterfall and back. There are other walks laid out, those that avoid the falls and just walk round the lakes, was the one rec'd for the "elderly", but as my parents are only 83 and 80, they siad that it didn't apply to them ... So, as you can see behind the cut, we did the full walk. 

 
I must apologise for the picture quality - I had Jiffy in his lead, who didn't want to hang around while I worked out the settings ... too much to sniff and explore!

As we started the walk I saw this sign, which I thought was lovely.



The lower half of the falls, near the car park.


Looking up towards the top.


Dartmoor at its best.


Jiffy having fun ... yes, when we got back he had a bath, which he also enjoyed.  It was a Jiffy-Heaven day.


On the way up - it was steps most of the way.  As you can see they are natural - so uneven (and wet!).


At the top - the white building in the middle is the shop at the car park.


And so on our way back - it was a slightly easier track home.

 Although the weather wasn't great, we had a really lovely time.

Comments

[winsomeone.livejournal.com]

What a gorgeous area- I love the view from the top.

I am always amazed at how spry your parents are at their age.

[debris4spike]

Yes, Mum and Dad were both sure that they would be OK - and they were. It was great to be able to see where we had walked from - makes it that much more worth it!

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful place!

[debris4spike]

It is lovely - it is a view like this that reminds me of the line in the Anthem - "England's green and pleasant land".

I am lucky to live here.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

So true. If we took nothing away from our trip last year, it was the knowledge that England is a beautiful country. We've turned our photos into a screen saver, and often end up just watching it cycle through the pics. lol

[debris4spike]

Yes, I have my pictures cycling around. It is a good idea, and brings back great memories.

[lupina78.livejournal.com]

What an amazing place!! The waterfall looks very mysterious.
And I´m sure Jiffy had been the one that enjoyed this journey the most...*gg*

Thanks for this beautiful pics!!

[debris4spike]

Yes - Jiffy Heaven! He had great fun - and colected the mud to prove it!

[auntiero.livejournal.com]

What a gorgeous part of England! I really need to get my camera to download to my laptop. I'd love to share some of the sites around my area.

Your parents look great! May we all be as hale and spry as they are at those ages. :)

[debris4spike]

Oh yes please - love to see you home area.

I love the fact that Mum and Dad are so well - we are off to Greece in September.

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of the Volksmarsch that we would do when we lived in Germany. There were hikes people would do through beautiful country side like this. Usually it would be 10k walks. I have even hiked through the snow and it always seem to be only uphill. The forests were so beautiful. Course, there was a lot of food and beer to go along with the hike. Your country side is so lovely and your photos are wonderful. Nice that you get to share it with your family. Laughed at the sign.

[debris4spike]

We didn't take food - only water ... but had coffee and cake back at the car - before we drove home for a huge tea!

Glad you enjoy my trips!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Your icon with Simply Irresistible has Robert Palmer singing in my head. Better than yesterday when I got Barry singing Copa dancing through my brain after using it in a drabble.

[debris4spike]

It is so annoying when you can't get a song out of you mind - thou' I was lucky as the last time that happened it was one of James' ... so that can happen anyday!!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

When I got my cd Like A Waterfall, I drove my son crazy playing it. He was like "Who the hell is that?" I can still get Don't Worry Son stuck in my head very easily. Love the line about black dogs after midnight.

[debris4spike]

Yes that is one that will stick for me. When I came home from London I couldn't get "Baby Blue" out of my mind, which was what he used to sing for his son and he sang at 2 of the concerts i have been to. If you don't know it, then here is a link, to a link!
http://debris4spike.livejournal.com/150584.html

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

Looks like you had a wonderful day, those falls are beautiful. I like that sign and Jiffy is so adorable.

but as my parents are only 83 and 80, they siad that it didn't apply to them ...

That's wonderful, it sounds like your parents are very active and are still quite mobile and spirited.

[debris4spike]

It is a lovely sign, isn't it? Yes - it was Jiffy Heaven.

Mum and Dad are great - we are off to Greece in September.

[jerusha]

That looks like a wonderful hike. I love waterfalls, and those pictures were just what I needed this afternoon.

[debris4spike]

Glad to be able to help. It was a lovely walk - and ith all the rain we have had the falls, and the greenery, were lovely.

[dragonflylady77.livejournal.com]

I had to wait for today to see the beautiful pictures (we went over our bandwidth limit and they slowed the internet down like dial up, so I waited it out).. Wow!! Your parents are truly amazing!! That walk looks very very beautiful!

[debris4spike]

Yes, my parents are great.

Dartmoor is lovely - I really should make more time to actually go out and enjoy these areas.

[pfeifferpack.livejournal.com]

OH so beautiful! You take such lovely photos...you could sell prints of many of these.

You have such a beautifu family too. I am so happy you are all close and spend significant time together. What a blessing and I can't think of anyone more deserving.

Thank you so much for sharing them and your life with us!

Kathleen

[debris4spike]

Thank you - I do love my family - and the part of the country I live in. Glad you ebjoy reading about them all!

Deborah

[norain21.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm going to like temporarily move in with you, ha! That's sooooo beautiful. The green! I miss that color so much. That place is soooo beatiful. I'd probably be overwhelmed seeing it in person.

[debris4spike]

England is beautiful. I feel annoyed with myself that I don't take more time to "visit" mt own neighbourhood.

[ukchrisp.livejournal.com]

What a pretty place, I haven't been to that part of Dartmoor, I used to go around the Holne, Hexworthy, Dartmeet areas as the person who bred two of my horses lived just outside Holne and I used to visit her and do a bit of sightseeing too.

I think it's great that your parents are still so agile at their age, I think it's funny that they didn't consider themselves old enough to do the "elderly" walk, my Father in laws the same, he plays keyboard for the "old folk" at the local nursing homes (his words)and he's 84!

[debris4spike]

Yes, I love that attitude - my parents get annoyed if people know their age, as Mum says it means that they think that she should be slowing down at "her age"!

Dartmoor is lovely - I am so close, drive round it every weekend, but so rarely explore it.