What a wonderful balmy evening, so different from the last time we set off from the top of the poshest road in Tavistock up to the 'Pimple'. Designed by Lutyens, built in 1914 to mark an underground reservoir on Whitchurch Down. No water there now but a pleasant spot to sit to enjoy the view across Whitchurch Down to Pew Tor. We head down to find the small gate at the start of the footpath to Holwell and on to Caseytown. Enjoying the hedgerows resplendent in the blue, pink and white of bluebells, campion and cow parsley. Crossing the road and on across fields and through gateways where the earth once ankle deep in mud is now hard and rutted from the hooves of animals. No getting mislaid this time we find a very interesting array of farmyard machinery guarded by noisy geese and pop out onto Plasterdown. No sign now of the Army Camp which in 1943 became 115 Station Hospital caring for the wounded from D Day. It later housed Polish refuges at the end of the war. In the 1960's it was a WRAC station and later again housed refuges of displaced Ugandan Asians expelled by Idi Amin. It had it's own school. Shame it was demolished in 1976, perhaps then Tavistock could once again have become a refuge for displaced people.
We cross to find the the Grimstone and Sortridge leat where it joins the path to Sourtridge Farm. Right, here to Boyton. A nice gentle walk until we go down down to Budghill and up up to Middlemoor and back to the Pimple.
Good timing still light at 9.30. Then back down, Down road to the welcoming Market Inn for a change where the beer is cheaper.
Stella