Heatwave, what heatwave? Bring extra water the leader
suggested!!
A truly lovely summer's day for five of us to set off from
Shilstone Tor, bright sun, hot but with a refreshing breeze. Across Throwleigh
Common, cross the Blackaton Brook, along Cheriton Combe to the impressive
triple stone row known as the “Graveyard”. Then the climb up to Cosdon Beacon
which went better than expected due to a very cooling breeze, which offered
fantastic 360-degree views of our beloved Dartmoor. The normal route was then
followed to Hound Tor via the hardly discernible Little Hound Tor, the stone
circle and the impressive White Moor Stone. A picnic with a view on Hound Tor
before following the track to the lovely Wild Tor, before crossing the, Walla Brook
and ascending to the fabulous Watern Tor where the ponies were, as usual, in
great abundance (and smelly!!)
By now the breeze had picked up to a very cooling wind
carrying the occasional rain drop, very odd! On down to cross the Walla Brook
again to pick up the track to Gartaven Ford to search out the two boundary rocks,
found. Then past Ruelake Pit, past Rippator, across the eastern flank of Buttern
Hill, past the walled enclosures and down to the road and back to the cars.
A thoroughly enjoyable 16kms, a lot cooler than expected, in
fact quite cold towards the end with threatening rain all around.