This is the largest and oldest recorded cross on Dartmoor, being mentioned in the 1240 Perambulation of the Forest of Dartmoor. [21] It was historically known as Siward's Cross, most likely in connection with Siward, Earl of Northumbria at the time of Edward the Confessor. Siward was Lord of the Manor of Tavei (probably today's Mary Tavy) and witnessed the founding charter of Exeter Cathedral in 1050. [21] The derivation of its alternative name of Nun's Cross, which was first recorded as "Nannecross" in 1699, is unknown, but William Crossing suggested that it may be derived from the Cornu-Celtic "nans" or "nant" meaning valley or ravine. [21] [22] Today, the name Nun’s Cross is associated with the farm and is also given as an alternative name for Siward’s Cross that stands here (and was discussed in the last blog about this route). However, Fleming hypothesises that in the past, a second cross may have stood near here (2011). Tin workings of the 16th and 17th C, to the east of the current farm, are documented with ‘nun’ in their name (Greeves, pers comm to cited in Fleming, 2011). It is therefore possible that there used to be another cross here, perhaps at Nun’s Cross Ford, to the east of the 19th C farm, guiding the traveller across the headwaters of the river Swincombe. 2. Goldsmith’s Cross And so, leaving behind the uneasy feeling of being stalked by a hungry wolf, let’s return to the route, and the 7 interesting things along this section … This simple description is super informative. It confirm the name of the O Brook is derived from Oak Brook, and so we can assume that sometime in the past, this tributary of the Dart was wooded with Oak trees. Not so now. The oaks have gone, although there is a sprinkle of other shrubs and small trees, including willow, edging the valley bottom. It also tells us that this area was being used for tin extraction before the date of 1240 AD, and that these tin works were ‘Dryworkes’; a dry work being tin working of surficial deposits, found at the base of slopes and dry valley bottoms , as opposed to streamworks, where the tin is found in stream or river channels and floodplains. 7. Horse Ford

NOTE: No parking arrangements at start and finish. Start (2 miles) is by free minibus or walk or cycle.

SX 59 70 NW, 294°, 1.163 km Whiteworks Holed Stone No.6 NE, 49°, 1.165 km Newleycombe Bottom W, 268°, 1.167 km Willabeam W, 273°, 1.168 km Newleycombe Gert Stream W, 273°, 1.168 km Willaby Spring W, 274°, 1.169 km Knighton Lodge (Remains of) NE, 37°, 1.171 km Peat Cot Hill N, 7°, 1.172 km 420 m Contour Ring, Peat Cot Hill N, 7°, 1.175 km Whiteworks Holed Stone No.8 NE, 50°, 1.180 km Goldsmith’s Cross E.3. Cist E, 82°, 1.185 km No. 0301, This is where the history of Nun's Cross Farm gets spooky - and makes me question my decision to venture up here. What’s the contrast between a nun and a woman taking a bath? One has hope in her heart, while the other has soap in her private parts.

In 1998, a reader wrote to us “Can you or your readers give me any information about the sword stone that is said to be in the remote Nun's Cross Farm area of Dartmoor? The farm slowly dilapidated throughout the years, but now it has had some much needed care, making it inhabitable for those who dare stay overnight. The mystery of a farmer’s vanishing wife The strange aspect of the farm really has no explanation. It has puzzled The Plymouth Herald’s readers since the late 1990s when a reader wrote in asking us to investigate, asking about a stone inscribed with a coat of arms including the letters V and T separated by a sword.

Competitors are responsible for their own personal safety and for assessing their own abilities to complete the course. One for the Dartmoor obsessive, this is an ancient route that runs the length of Dartmoor. You can walk a stretch of it east of Nun's Cross Farm. Public Toilets location what3words: ///cycles.crumble.fiery. The public toilets are just across the road at the public car park adjacent to Princetown Visitor Centre. 20p charge and just a 100m walk from the primary school carpark. Dog restrictions From Fernworthy Forest to Wistman's Wood, Nun's Cross, The Dewerstone, and many more - Dartmoor really does have some spooky-looking scenes, and some of them are wreathed in legend.

The open, windswept upland moors are characterised by large expanses of grass and heather, peat blanket bogs and valley mires. These provide habitats for wildlife such as skylark, meadow pipit, common lizards and fox moth caterpillars. In 2016, the nuns attended World Youth Week, a festival for young people organised by the Catholic church that takes place every two to three years. They were excited by the idea of travelling outside Italy and meeting people from all over the world. a b Butler, Jeremy (1991). Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities, Volume 2: The North. Exeter: Devon Books. p.27. ISBN 0-86114-870-3.What is a common trait between a person with a lisp and a nun? They both have a fondness for the Faith book. On the plus side the start team were able to deploy a 4x4 to the start which was extremely useful as it is highly exposed. The weather eased as the day progressed and we had a great showing for control collecting, which allowed us to clear up and close out the event cleanly. On the face of it the minibus hire firm thought we where all very organised which is nice to hear. Mike had been working on the new map and concentrated on the areas that I was intending on using. By early July the map was complete and I transferred all controls over. But speculation is still rife, the T could point to the name Tyrwhitt who at one time was a large landowner who lived at nearby Tor Royal. It’s easy to shrug this off as another wild tale, but it’s an all-together different story as you look at the farm on a misty day from the Nun’s Cross that gives the building its name. Nun’s Cross

While some may find the concept of funny nun jokes to be controversial or offensive, it is clear that they have remained a popular form of humor for many people. Whether it is the absurdity of imagining nuns behaving in humorous ways or the use of religious imagery to poke fun at societal norms, funny nun jokes have a unique appeal. Whether heading east or west, a major danger to any traveller in this vicinity, would have been ending up in Fox Tor Mire, the most notorious of Dartmoor’s valley bogs. This is definitely a place which is preferable to go around, rather than through, so saturated and blancmange-like is the terrain. Every foot forward is one that needs to be tested against the threat of sinking. It is within this context that we might judge Goldsmith’s Cross. Whilst all crosses that serve routes are markers, the placing of Goldsmith’s Cross seems particularly judicious in guiding wayfarers on a safe path. SX 60 69 S, 187°, 0.540 km B.M. 1326.8, W face, snow (398 m) N, 2°, 0.540 km Newleycombe Tinners’ Hut No.01, near Devonport Leat (407 m) W, 254°, 0.562 km Sheep Leap (over Devonport Leat) N, 13°, 0.583 km Outcrop near Hutchinson’s Cross W, 256°, 0.592 km Sunny Corner N, 18°, 0.593 km Devonport Leat (Hutchinson’s) Cross W, 258°, 0.631 km Nun’s Cross Mire SE, 148°, 0.632 km Nun’s Cross Brook SE, 148°, 0.632 km PCWW Marker, Granite, No.37, 1917 Post (429 m) NW, 333°, 0.662 km Post with Hole, next to PCWW Marker Post (429 m) NW, 333°, 0.669 km Beehive Hut, foot of the Upper Reservoir Embankment W, 256°, 0.670 km B.M. 1430.9, NF SW, 210°, 0.673 km Drivage Bottom Stream W, 258°, 0.680 km Leat Footbridge and Sluice, near Hutchinson’s Cross W, 262°, 0.691 km Upper Reservoir, Drivage Bottom Stream W, 256°, 0.702 km Nun’s Cross Mine W, 250°, 0.707 km Upright Stone by PCWW No.42 1917 Post (439 m) SW, 205°, 0.711 km PCWW Marker, Granite, No.42, 1917 Post (439 m) SW, 205°, 0.715 km Drivage Hut W, 266°, 0.715 km Devonport Leat Weir, near Hutchinson’s Cross W, 266°, 0.718 km Lower Reservoir, Drivage Bottom Stream W, 256°, 0.733 km Newleycombe Tinners’ Hut No.02, near Weir (413 m) W, 264°, 0.739 km Leat Clapper Bridge, above Drivage Bottom W, 278°, 0.742 km Whealam Hill E, 108°, 0.771 km Whiteworks Car Park No.02 N, 346°, 0.779 km Girder Bridge over Devonport Leat (2) N, 22°, 0.812 km Adit near Tinners’ Hut, Drivage Bottom W, 286°, 0.838 km Newleycombe Tinners’ Hut No.03, Drivage Bottom (355 m) W, 288°, 0.843 km Bridge over Devonport Leat (Whiteworks) NE, 23°, 0.847 km Older Bottom NW, 295°, 0.848 km Whealam Stream Tin Stamping Mill E, 92°, 0.884 km PCWW Marker, Granite, No.36, 1917 Post (428 m) NW, 336°, 0.891 km Older Bridge, over Devonport Leat NW, 304°, 0.908 km Possible Buddle, Whiteworks Tin Mine NE, 53°, 0.921 km Whealham Bottom Inscribed Granite Cross (407 m) SE, 126°, 0.931 km Foxtor Mires Tinners’ Hut NE, 52°, 0.933 km Drivage Bottom NW, 293°, 0.939 km Newleycombe Lake NW, 315°, 0.940 km Wineford Brook NW, 315°, 0.940 km Whiteworks Car Park No.01 N, 345°, 0.953 km Ford, Drivage Bottom (2) NW, 305°, 0.958 km Whiteworks Hut Walls NE, 37°, 0.962 km Whealam or Wheal Anne Bottom E, 104°, 0.963 km Stannan Hill N, 2°, 0.965 km PCWW Marker, Granite, No.43, 1917 Post (442 m) SW, 204°, 0.973 km Whiteworks Triangular Holed Stone NE, 34°, 0.983 km Whiteworks Building NE, 33°, 0.991 km 1 km B.M. 1371.3, WF N, 10°, 1.007 km Wheal Chance Ruined Building or Third Wheel Pit W, 268°, 1.021 km Possible Loading Bay for Tramway? NE, 35°, 1.029 km Wheal Chance Possible (Tin Ore Crushing) Stamps Area W, 269°, 1.032 km Wheal Chance Main Wheel Pit W, 269°, 1.032 km Whiteworks Whim Plat NE, 34°, 1.034 km Ford, Drivage Bottom (1) NW, 300°, 1.035 km Wheal Chance Settling Pit W, 269°, 1.040 km Walled Shaft, Whiteworks, South NE, 45°, 1.040 km No. 0378, Nun’s Cross Farm is shrouded in stories of intrigue and mystery, as is much of the land surrounding it. Would you dare stay overnight in this abandoned farmhouse? Let us know below in the comments section. Nun’s CrossWith bunk beds and log fires inside, a lot of the ancient theme has been preserved for those who dare to spend a night there, reports Devon Live. The origins of the farm Why do nuns always travel in pairs? One to keep an eye on the other and make sure she doesn’t get into any habits. The house was built-in 1870 by John Hooper who had leased the land from the Dutchy of Cornwall and after he and his wife took occupancy in 1871, they proceeded to raise a family. Mr & Mrs Hooper lived well into their 90’s and after that the house itself fell into disrepair and dilapidation. These days, after a little restoration, Nun’s Cross Farm is run by a local school as a bunkhouse and base predominantly for school parties, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Ten Tors etc. The challenge was to establish whether it was viable to host an orienteering event in a part of Dartmoor that did not have sufficient parking to support a traditional event format. Nuns are often depicted as serious and devout women who have dedicated their lives to serving God. However, there are many funny stories and jokes about nuns that portray them in a more lighthearted and humorous way.