WW 26th August 2020

We parked by Brimpts and wandered through the farm buildings; yes, yes, I know, but us tight wads were too mean to pay the parking meter just for one hour.

The heavy horses had a nice new home, unfortunately they must have been on holiday!

On through the yard, lovely light on Yar Down, to reach Dolly's Cot. Dolly was a very attractive farm girl who caught the eye of royalty, so her handsome jealous husband hid her away in this cottage. Silly man, they could have made a lot of money out of that situation. Maybe she did, as eventually she moved to Dolly Treble's Cottage to live out her life.

The path beside the Dart was washed away in places leaving only witches fingers to grab our ankles. The stepping stones were easy to negotiate until the last but one, always is, isn't it, but after the usual scriching and squawking and help from my walking mate, leapt!!! across and continued over the flat squelchy bit to the seat in memory of two sisters whose names escape me. We tarried awhile admiring the view before being attacked by malicious midges, nasty things.

Moving on across little stone bridge, passing Rogues Roost and Rogues Rest. Wonder if they were lovable!? No, no they were not. Sheep rustlers lived there and cock fighting was practiced nearby.

Down across a boggy field passing through mossy gates, up to Yar Down. With the tor in sight we passed Mrs Galloway wearing a pristine white belt and finally it was there, wow, Yar Tor's very own Maze, or cairn maze to be exact, what an interesting place just right for a refreshing beverage and to peruse what was left of the sunset and unusual sky colourings.

Down we tracked towards the Cave - Penny memorial cross. The stone on which it sits is called the Belstone Bible. WHY?

Over the road to track down the coffin stone, difficult to see the markings in our head torches but it feeds the imagination never the less.

Down, down to Dartmeet and the long drag back to the cars. The pixies had left all the lights on but didn't appear to be home, strange place!

At last the cars came into view, 9-45 but sadly, no pub.

Well that was interesting, you should have been there.

Brenda

TWW 25th August 2020

A small select group for this week's walk from Bere Alston. Down the track to Lockridge Farm where someone had spent a lot of money on tarmac. On an earlier "virtual" walk this year it was all about cherries, this time apples were definitely the feature, a boot full before we started and surrounded by laden trees on the walk. Some magnificent oaks along the river before a detour round South Ward Farm which included a nice wild animal tracks game. Passing the Cothele estate on the other bank to gain a welcome permitted path along the river past the most elegant house I know, then a very different view of Calstock. The newly engineered flood planes had all their ponds full of water due to the all the recent rain and the big machinery was standing idle. A stop for lunch in the clearing by the now defunct tree swings. Then up through the woods through Tuckermarsh to the cars. And no rain fell on us at all: brilliant.
Mike

WW 19th August 2020

Absolutely, totally, perfectly, wonderfully the perfect weather to explore Emsworthy Mire. And, for added attraction Storm Ellen blew in - what more could anyone want? From one of the Saddle Tor car parks and down to where we always find lots of cuckoos and swathes of bluebells - but not today, now just why is that? Our dear leader had planned a most comprehensive route through (through) the mire to find all sorts of wonderful plants: bog asphodel, bog bean (Ed. in fact bog anything at all), Devil's Bit Scabious, Marsh St. John's Wort, Bell Ling and Heath Heathers aplenty. Lovely views across the lawn to the red topped barn, a nice spot to pause for a cuppa on the way back. All in all just the right sort of evening to be out and about on our moor. And, from now on, don't forget to pack those headtorches.

TWW 18th August 2020

As we assembled at High Down car park, the clouds looked black and threatening.  Along the track to the River Lyd, where some crossed by steppingstones, others preferring the bridge.  Onward to Doe Tor farm, where we compared the ruins with a photograph of the farm in its heyday.  Up over the tor, and down to the cist and WD 16. boundary stone.  A steady climb up to the pass between Hare Tor and Sharp Tor and the WD 19 boundary stone.  A welcome stop for a brew by the cairn.  The clouds descended briefly, but no wet stuff.  We followed the old track down to the Rattlebrook, passing the WD 20 boundary stone en route.  Safely over the Rattlebrook and Green Tor Water, and up, up, up, onto Amicombe Hill.  Along the northern edge of the Dartmoor 365 Wilderness Square (“Bah Humbug” said some) to the Amicombe Hill Ring Rock and lunch.  Suitably re-fuelled, we slogged across to Green Tor, then down to Bleak House, back across the Rattlebrook and along the bridle way to High Down.  As we reached the Lyd, some large spots of rain began to fall.  Many dived for their waterproofs, but no sooner were they donned than the rain stopped!  Swiftly up the track and back to the cars.  A grand day out.

Phil

WW 12th August 2020

We met in that oasis of calm, Princetown CP, just the two of us and trundled out along the yellow brick road towards Meavy head. Always fascinating to watch the water bubbling up through the sand and gravel and rippling outwards. Very easy to miss not quite like leatsmeet. To think that's baby beginnings of the mighty Meavy River.

Turning down towards Devil's Bridge, though no sign of the old devil himself, crossing the straightened road, really!! (must have had one too many)

Across said road to follow the old rifle range and the lovely hut circles up to my favourite Hart Tor, the all round views were breathtaking with the sun starting to set.

This tor has a kind feel to it, don't you think?

The plan was to make our way down to Black Tor Falls for a snackette but killer ants had other ideas! Trillions of them flying into every orifice, getting in to our hair, sticking to arms, legs. They must have very hungry!

We ran, yes ran, back up hill to escape these nasty little critters

Back down Pudding Rock and over Hart Tor Brook up to Cramber Tor intending to have a quick drink there, but no, nasty little critters had taken over there too.

So, turning left again across the ridge, a bit squelchy in places and past the trig point, walking on and on till we reached Ivybridge Lane. Can't miss it can you.

Left again until the ever popular South Hess gave us the chance of drinks break.

The skies started to darken and melt into the skyline, 50 shades of grey came to mind, who'd have thought the colour grey was so colourful. Darkly fascinating!

We dropped down towards the Plume just as raindrops started to fall.

All very nice.

Brenda

TWW 11th August 2020

A steamy hot morning for eight to set off on a real (previously virtual) walk around some of Walkhampton's stones.

Hats, shorts, water and sunscreen the order of the day.

Down past Yennadon Cross to Welltown and a quick swerve left to cross the beautiful flowery meadows. Soon down to the village and on to Knowle Down where beautiful ponies graze.

High bracken thwarted visual identification of reave but a lower track and boundary stone marked KD and FD soon found. It's counterpart up in the high bracken also sought. KD Knowle Down and FD for Fillace Down. Presumably grazing rights divided between the neighbouring villages.

Leisurely coffee stop taken at the stepping stones and then a squelchy lane to find Huckworthy. Two chaps on a bench told us they had seen a kingfisher!!

Over the bridge to see the county stone opposite the Parlby Arms and returning back over the beautiful Walkham to not conclusively find the other county stone.

A steep hike up to the churchyard past the reconstructed cross and a quick study of George Gray's gravestone, the 8 year old's death in 1843 happened due to being lost for 2 days on Dartmoor whilst looking after horses and it being misty. Horror on several levels !

Back down to Welltown and through to find another cross opposite the lane to Peek Hill Farm. Tummies rumbling well, a sweaty march to reach the droving track past Horseyatt and lunch in the shade of the tall bank and laden sloe bushes.

Such a hot walk !!

Anne

WW 5th August 2020

Phew, at last, some real, proper, decent Dartmoor weather to head out. Along the super, duper smooth road to Omen Beam where two robust campervan folk were braving the elements. Full waterproofs quickly donned and out into it. Down the muddy (yes, do you remember that stuff - mud) track to the bridge. Over and up the long, wide, grassy way to Beardown Tor and on up to the flagpole where the wind and the mist were swirling. The compass definitely needed to guide us across to Lydford Tor for another pleasant battering experience. By the wall, through the gate to Broad Hole where shelter was found for a nice cuppa. The next objective occasionally appeared out of the lovely murk. Across the Cowsic (such an evocative name) and up by the huge badger set to check on Travellers' Ford Cross. All well; so steadily along keeping to the crest and avoiding Black Dunghill (the map makers really loved this place) back to the track and the cars. 
A truly lovely evening to be out and about on our moor. Rather surprisingly we met nobody else - just where is everybody?

TWW 4th August 2020

A short road walk and then up up to the top of Sheepstor where we had some of the clearest views possible, a horizon on the sea much wider than I ever remember. Down and through the prickly fuzes to follow the leat, full of interesting things but no dragonflies today. Next came the wonderful ha-ha type wall. Now I always thought Cornwall started at the Tamar but I was reliably informed that this was it on Yellowmead Down. And what a lot of work must have gone into making it. A short stop for coffee and to our surprise a lady appeared looking for Tavistock and somewhere to buy bottled water!! Up to Eylesbarrow then down to Combshead Tor for lunch. A quick look at the stone row and the fascinating reversing stone, then Down Tor and a visit to the slow worms still hiding under their shelters. Back to the cars and on to a very busy Royal Oak (for some) - perfect.
Mike