Where was our man with machete? Not with us that's for sure, when we struggled through shoulder height bracken following the winding Wallabrook to the north west corner of Soussons.
There, right on the wall corner was a puzzling boundary stone, a new piece of granite with 2000 on it. Not shown on any maps, no info anywhere. Too modern apparently, replacing an older stone in the old wall showing the boundaries between the parishes of North Bovey and Widdecombe where they meet the official boundary of Dartmoor Forest.
Scrambling over the wall and barbed wire for a living statues photo shoot, impressive! And following easy paths lined with colourful fly agarics, we skirted past poor Ephraim avoiding the Pinch point per the government's guidelines until reaching Soussons Farm which appears to be a holiday home.
Through the boggy ford, up the field, through the gates onto the lands of the wonderful Challacombe Farm. Here the magic begins. Lazy troll still sleeps. The pixies have started to rebuild their empire. The Iceland and Shetland sheep are very prettily dainty and then, the one and only Piggy who loves someone to give her a good scratch.
Onwards again the mass of Hameldown on our right, onto Headland Warren Farm, looking very chocolate box, and their fields of alpacas. Before the WW11 this place was a pub:-Jan Roberts lives hereSells cider and beerYour hearts for to cheerAnd if you want meatTo make up a treatHere be rabbits to eat
After that, selling cream teas before reverting back to a farm. A good place for a spot socially distanced lunch before trudging up to a busy Birch Tor. Lovely views towards the Warren House and our parked cars and the men in high viz with their speed traps or were they checking the social distancing?
Brenda