As mentioned earlier, Mick loves water. And the fact there is a small creek running through the property we are house sitting at the moment has provided much for him to explore and enjoy.

This channel leads down towards the fields where the sheep are, and provides water for the stock.

The creek appears in the higher ground, and previous inhabitants have crafted sluices and channels in order to get the water to work for them.

In another diversion, this channel has been lined with rocks to form a very straight pathway for the water along the boundary of this property and that of the neighbour’s.

Following rain, like we had during our first few days here, the flow of the water is quite fast.

In the past, that allowed the water to be used to power a mill that once was located in this channel. Hopefully you can pick out a spot in the photo below, taken very close to the house, where a wheel once was located.

And another spot here a bit further up in the lambs’ paddock on the edge of a neighbouring property.

Dartmoor National Park, where we are staying at the moment, has loads of mires and bogs, and the water from this area, known as Moorland water, has been harnessed for lots of different reasons including for powering mining and industry. It also makes excellent drinking water, and at least two clever business people have created businesses which use and promote the Moorland water – one a gin company and another a brewery. Unfortunately neither of these businesses is open for tours during the winter, otherwise we’d be checking them both out.

The current home owner is investigating ways he might be able to use the running water for energy for his property. Solar panels are definitely a “no no” on the heritage-listed property, but some discreet water wheels, placed at various places along the channel might just work.