Historic England agrees with author about which is the real Abbot's Way

A CAMPAIGN to get the route of the famous Abbot's Way across Dartmoor changed on Ordnance Survey maps has made a breakthrough with Historic England agreeing the one currently marked is not “a historic feature”.

- Nick Pannell

Nick Pannell, author of a new book about the 700-year-old monastic route between Buckfast and Tavistock, says it is a significant step as Ordnance Survey (OS) has already said it will be led by the expertise of the heritage body on this matter.

He said: “Just because the OS route has been marked on the map for over 100 years, doesn’t mean it should continue to be when there is a clear consensus among Dartmoor antiquarians that it’s wrong.

“The more northern route, starting on Holne Moor and following a line of ancient stone crosses is the right one and so much more interesting as the crosses are all ancient monuments, full of character and history.

“I spent four years researching the route of the Abbot's Way for my book and I’m in no doubt the eastern section of the 22-mile Abbot's Way should be re-designated. There is no path as such between the waymark crosses as it was abandoned years ago but there isn’t one either on the OS route.