And there they were in their usual place - very nice.
From Roborough Down and over the busy, busy road. To head across and down to the lane. On to the way through the fence and by the aqueduct to the tunnel entrance. A super place for a nice cuppa. The lights in the tunnel are not on at night so torches were jolly useful. Onward to find the stile to take us steeply up and back onto the Down. To the railway line and the old shed. Over the golf course to the Moorland Garden - £85 for Christmas Dinner! Pleased to hear that the poorly one was a lot better in the morning.
And the heavens opened and it absolutely tipped it down - but by then we were on our way home.
Out from by the Warren House on a lovely warm morning with just the hint of a shower. To explore all (all) the gerts, beams and gullies. Super adventure with plenty of up and down. Roundily about down Hambley's Gert to wander up the North Lodes to Birch Tor with views far and wide. Along the track to the head of East Birch Mine and then down the gert to Headland Warren where the sun shone and a very warm spot was found for a cuppa. Along the track and through the gate at the rabbit proof wall. To head steeply, steeply up to the huge Scudley Beam and pop out on the down. Along by the stone row to search for East Birch Mine stone - no luck. (Ed. it turns out Mike's logan stone is East Birch Tor - new to us.) Then down Chaw Gully to cross Redwater Brook and see the magnificent highland cattle. Up the nice track to the pub? No, up the South Lodes gully and out to climb up to a rather sombre Warren House Inn.
Out to Minions
With the sun already low
To The Hurlers
And on, and up
To the Cheesewring
As the sun
Dived down
As did we
Down and round
To Sharp Tor
Across the Down
To the fantastic Bearah Tor Quarry
With the amazing saw
And old, old crane
A nice spot to celebrate
A BIG birthday
The light gone
Back across the Down
Up and over
As a huge Harvest Moon rose
Over Princetown
Wow - now that was a real adventure and like all the very best adventures it all started off so sublimely.
A beautiful autumnal sunny day to set out from Cold East Cross. To gently wander down the paths to Buckland Beacon to admire the Ten Commandments. Across Welstor Common to the old butts and down to the stile and sheep creep to cross the road. The lovely path gently meandered toward Rushlade Bridge and there, just by the track, a lovely apple tree laden with sweet juicy apples. Over the bridge, along the road a bit and up to the huge butts - just the spot to sit, have a cuppa and gaze over the moor. A nice track took us down to Langworthy Brook and out through the fields to plot a route to Rippon Tor. The chosen route across Mountsland Common proved somewhat less than ideal. The huge tussocks soon gave way to mire and briar all mixed in with huge bracken. The parties somehow managed to battle their way through albeit with a few scratches. By now the time had slipped away and the quickest and least painful route was taken back to the cars. On to a fantastically busy Rugglestone - 150 covers on a Tuesday lunchtime, no wonder there was a bit of a wait - compensated by a HUGE bowl of FREE chips!
A long time since we had such an exciting day.
Phew, at last some real, right proper weather ... to set out from Four Winds. The promise was to see the sun set from King's Tor and I suppose the sun must have set. Down and round to the old railway siding and the wonderful corbels. By the quarry to the main line and then the subtle track by Criptor. As expected the mud soon made its presence felt. Out and up by Ingra for a nice cuppa sheltering in the quarry. Along the railway, dodging the running soldiers, and up the shortcut by Foggintor. By now the misty, drizzly, mizzly stuff had stopped to be replaced by proper rain. Out to the road and down to the cars. On to a busy Whitty - not been there for some time.
A goodly evening to be out on our moor.
Second Tuesday in September - so off we go to Widecombe Fair all along down along ...
From Firth Bridge on a really lovely morning with a cooling breeze, fluffy clouds and lots of sunshine. Up to Grimspound, through and out. Up to Hameldown Tor then the long, long, long descent along the ridge - only really noticeable on the return! By all the burrow barrows, Kingslade Tor, Stoneslade Tor and down by the windy path so full of luscious blackberries. The super steep hill talking us all the way to the familiar sound of the organ and the fair. Busy, busy, busy with everything just in its place. So much to see and eat; Austin Sevens parading in the ring, Field Marshalls on display, sawing timber, sheep, cattle, wonderful live music, old lorries, beer, hogs roasting, coffee, crepes, pony displays, great big tractors, Uncle Tom Cobley and all, dog show, children racing and of course the ferret racing. For me, as always, it is the local craft and produce stall that is the star.
Such wonderful weather for their fair - then the long, steady pull back ...
The soldiers certainly provided lots of entertainment this evening. Out from Ringmoor Cott to chat with those not going to make it to the pub. Round to Brisworthy where the bashas were all set up for a long night. And round by the stone circle in the lovely evening light to pop up Legis just as the sun set. Over the stile and round to the wall corner and steadily along to Gutter Tor and there it all went a bit odd. Certainly soldiers on the skyline by the trig point and possibly soldiers disguised as pantomime cows. Some took the direct route, others the bendy way, as their paths crossed in the failing light (no torches allowed of course). Then, who were the soldiers who appeared mysteriously in the night and pixie led folk astray? Soon all were reunited to head to the Royal Oak where the Morris folk are back in rehearsal mode.
Definitely a feel of Autumn as we set out from Postbridge. Still lots and lots of our European friends on holiday. Out along and up the track by the East Dart to the Donaghy Memorial - very easy to find now after all the gorse has been cut back and a huge fire has swept through. Up to the main trackway and out to the Beehive Hut for a nice cuppa. By the river and round to the wonderful waterfall - easy to cross after a few dry days. Out to seek the peat regeneration works and then back by Broadun Rocks and down over Braddon Lake back to the cars. On to the Prince of Wales for a very nice lunch which arrived jolly quickly for most but not the hungriest!
You really do have to be there ...
