Another warm evening to set out from Four Winds. And the track past Little to Great Mis Tor with views all round. Was that the sea we could see to the north west? Down across the now open enclosed land to the Walkham before heading to enjoy Little Roos. Big Roos beckoned and we arrived just in time for a glorious sunset, a nice cuppa and a gentle rock. Oh dear time to go, so swiftly down past the quarry and back by the stone rows to the cars. On to the Whitty which was very, very quiet. We see little of the boys nowadays.
Well we certainly 'ad the best of the day.
Out from Belstone Green and down.
Across the Taw and gently round Cosdon.
Then nicely finding the path to the summit.
For a cuppa and a surprise with the compass.
Past the stone circle and on to the other Hound Tor.
Across the brook and up to Steeperton.
For our picnic.
Down the ridge to the ford at the end of the gorge.
Up to Higher Tor and on to Belstone Tor.
Winding our way back past the tractors.
Did it rain - well a little.
Did it blow - perhaps a bit.
Did the sun shine - some of the time.
Was it nice - yes very nice.
Phew!
Goodness me!
Now, that's a lot better!
How lovely - cold hands!
And a drift of mist!
And a little mizzle!
What better weather can there be?
None at all!
Out from Meldon
Round and into Red-a-Ven
And up to Pixie's Pool
Where the orchids still bloom
And on up to Yes
Where trouser bottoms and lovely new jackets were donned
To find shelter from the cooling breeze
For a cuppa
Then down, down
Rather neatly
To Frank's
For a wee pint
Very nice
Well it certainly could have been, after all they should be heading back to Africa now. But, on looking into it almost certainly a buzzard, apparently white buzzards are not uncommon. Far more common than an osprey or goshawk.
29C, twenty nine degrees centigrade or as it soon to be known XXIX, I mean it is just getting a bit silly. So for the first time ever, ever, ever a full team in shorts set out from Harford Moor Gate. In the glaring sun but soon to find shelter in the fantastic Piles Copse. With its wonderful oak trees and little mires where the bog pimpernel (according to a far higher authority) is in full bloom. But out we had to go, out into the sheer hell of a Dartmoor sunny day. Will we ever see that lovely rain again? To the weir where a weird bubbler seems to lie. A tree was found to shelter from the burning interminable sun for a restful hot cuppa and picnic. Then uppety up to the ridge where a pleasant breeze eased the glow.
How lovely is our moor.
A bright sunny evening but with a cool and fresh breeze. We started from the little car park on the side of Smeardon Down and then followed the road down before looping back up to Boulters Tor. We then took the track down towards Cuddliptown but spent some time first exploring the abandoned farm of Twist. Now in a state of serious decline with a large ash tree growing up through where the roof once was. Back down the track before looping up to the moor just west of White Tor. We returned on the track which goes past Lower Godsworthy. It isn't marked as a footpath but we didn't encounter any problems as we went past the farmhouse.
We started on Roborough down, not far from the Dartmoor Diner and took the permissive path through the Maristow Estates gates down to Lopwell Dam. Then along the river to the lookout position near Blaxton Quay where we had a picnic. Through the woods, alongside Blaxton Creek before taking the much deeper path up to Pound to then rejoin the original path we are taken on the way out.
A gentle amble on a fine evening for a walk through Bellever Forest taking in Laughter Tor and Bellever Tor. Eventually we arrived at the usual place as the darkness was falling and waited for the Night Jars. We heard several of them singing in the woods, one landed on the track just in front of us and two more provided a flying display. The midges were out in abundance and very irritating they were too.
We set off from Two Bridges and took the track up to Crockern Tor. Then down to the main road and along to Powdermills. An impressive place and an opportunity to explore it in more detail. A place where gunpowder was made to supply the mines and quarries on Dartmoor. Then it was up on the footpath through the boggy bit to Longaford Tor (fortunately we managed to stay on the track). Back along the ridge to the Two Bridges Hotel where we had lunch in the sunshine.
You really do have to be there ...
