Off we went from the
Scout Hut in almost perfect conditions for walking – clear, with cloud
interspersed with sunshine and enough breeze to cool. Over Gutter Tor and the adjacent trig point
and down to Ditsworthy Warren House - of ‘Warhorse’ fame - we went. A remarkable chance encounter with a young
Australian a couple of years ago, whose ancestor had farmed rabbits here in the
distant past, had led to two of our number acquiring a wealth of detail relating
to life here at that time. So we now
learned where and how skinning knives were sharpened and even found the grill
behind which the working ferrets lurked, awaiting duty. On then, past the impressive stone row
bounded by a menhir at each end. We
paused to examine an inscription on one, reputedly in Chinese and denoting the
name of a street in Hong Kong. Was
somebody having me on? A quick cuppa at
Higher Hartor then up to Eylesbarrow via the extensive tin mine ruins, before
beginning the descent to the settlements below Combeshead Tor. Here we sat by hut circles and had a picnic,
while, at five minute intervals, greeting individual Royal Marines under
training or assessment making their way somewhat less leisurely than us to
their next checkpoint. Full marks to
them for their cheeriness as they passed!
Then back to the Scout Hut – though no longer shown as such on the
on-line OS map. The usual post-walk pub visit has yet to happen for some of us,
nevertheless it was a well spent day.