WW 25th November 2020

Wow, what a fine evening with a 90% waxing gibbous. To set out from Norsworthy to soon pause for the space station to soar over - seven crew at the moment. By Middleworth, past Snappers, round Little Down with very bright lights ahead. And there, in the shelter from a most gentle breeze, a group bouldering with a very bright light - a nice way to spend a few hours. On to Down hoping to see the new Starlink satellites - but no sign. Down and across to check on the reversing stone and round to Combeshead. Gently down to Cuckoo Rock and the lovely track back - just time to check on the corrugated iron, no inhabitants. And back - be lovely when we can once again enjoy these lovely evenings together.

TWWs 24th November 2020

 

Off we went from the quarry carpark near Cox Tor – I and several fellow TW walkers, who were hopefully present in spirit, though certainly not in person.  With a freshening southerly wind at our backs we went up towards Great Staple Tor but made a distinctly watery diversion to see the ruin of the Tinner’s Hut.   How well concealed it is from the casual passer-by!  After pausing to admire the views from Great Staple Tor in the presence of some completely indifferent cattle we moved on to Roos Tor, down towards Higher Godsworthy, and then up towards Stephen’s Grave.  From there, the route was via bridleway and footpath to the now defunct Peter Tavy swimming pool for a refreshment stop.  Would my phantom companions want to indulge a passion for wild swimming?  Certainly not I!   Onward then, up past Great Combe Tor, just above which we were overtaken by a very energetic fell runner and dog.   The runner certainly had much greater aerobic capacity than I, though his black Labrador did seem to be somewhat distracted by the sheep droppins lying around on the ground.   By now the weather was closing in and prudence dictated contouring round, rather than climbing, Cox Tor and the route led back to the car park.   The runner had not been deterred, however, for he passed again, going downhill at speed, clearly having conquered the summit.  Altogether a very enjoyable 10.3 km – the only drawback was the complete reticence of my companions!

Peter C

WW 18th November 2020

Well, now that's a lot better
Some stars!
From the school
To the bluebell walk

Follow the yellow dots
All peaceful and calm
By the new house
(Folk living there)
To St. Leonard's
Such a peaceful spot
Round and up
To Sheepstor
With the odd squall
Joey's
New stile
Dam Dam

Burrator fully full
And back

Most pleasant

TWWs 17th November 2020

 

It's raining, it's pouring but the old man was missing. Shapley CP was not a hospitable place to be.

Nonetheless, being strong, determined out in all weather's couple of walkers, up through Shapley Common passing remarkable hut circles with what looked like spaghetti farfalle scattered around them. Those ancient brits knew a thing too!! Even made their own spaghetti!!!

Onto Shapley Tor and then Hookney Tor when the low cloud opened up for a brief nanosecond to reveal the Headland Warren Farm below and the path leading to the aptly named Grimspound (today at least).

Turning sharply eastwards trying to find the path that leads to Heather combe across Hameldown, so many paths to choose from, the poles erected to stop wartime aircraft land, standing strong and lonely and somehow defiant.

Trees appeared out of the mist and Heather Combe was in sight. So many trees and rhododendrons taken down, looks very different.

One of the posts of the three fishes depicting the Lord's Prayer was passed. Alas, no bread to go with them!!

Passing pretty cottages on to the Two Moors way, paths seem to have been changed and give a tidy up.

Through various farms with wonderful knarled and hollow trunks to find a soggy bank to eat soggy sandwiches wrapped in limp clingfilm with lukewarm tea. Oh how we know how to live!

On on through massive gateposts and unusual ones too through the timeless farm that never throws anything away including the rubbish but has a beautiful ash house close to it.

Getting closer to 'home' now, finally to Leapra Cross which has been overcome with the Holly and the Ivy, most sad but appropriate at this time year I suppose.

Back to the cars, muddied but happy.

See you all soon

Brenda

WW 11th November 2020

 
Well, good job I don't have a dog 'cos certainly not an evening to take a dog out. It blew and blew and rained and rained up at Lowery Cross. So out along with some shelter from the wall to find a beautiful Fly Agaric - been a good year for fun guys. Onward and downward to seek the leat take-off which was well gummed up with leaves. Plenty of overflow following the leat and out where the gate used to be. Lovely evening with the weather behind and plenty of muddy puddles. To Cross Gate where the now frequent rushing torrent headed down the road and by where the orchids bloom. Around and about and when it was time to turn and face it - it eased. No more wind and little rain so just a nice plidgy plodge back. Hopefully only three more weeks and we can enjoy these dark wet evenings together. 

TWWs 10th November 2020

 

WW 4th November 2020

 

What a wonderful evening for a night walk. The first real cold, clear night of the year, the last WW for a while unfortunately. We set off along the lovely old footpath from Merrivale to Daveytown through Longash farm and over the stream, tonight in full dramatic flow rushing down to meet the River Walkham.

A short diversion from the path to explore an old ruined farm with a full set of stadle stones minus their tops. Then a little further on a lovely little mossy Tor.

Bright lights were approaching? Other walkers? Dartmoor Rescue? No Bikers slithering and sliding along the muddy track.

On up to find Hucken Tor, a bit of a circuitous route through the old field walls but eventually over the stile and there it was, quite an impressive pile of rocks approached from below and lovely views from the top in the moonlight. Once on the King Tor track those bikers again and a familiar voice “hello Mike”! It was the Thursday biker boys and girls out for a blast before lockdown.  We followed their lights down over the stream again and up and along the stone rows back to the cars. We tend to take the Merrivale remains for granted having walked past them so often but they are an amazing group of Bronze Age reminders of the past. The large Cist is thought to have been built for an important warrior chief. Shame that in 1870 a farmer cut out the middle of the huge topping stone for a gate post! 

Stella

PS: While doing a Recce for this walk I came upon some large blue containers among the dense gorse full of soil and it one a strange plant flourished. What could it be? Raz suggested cake!

Stella

TWW 3rd November 2020

Well, we met again for the last time for a while.  There had been concerns about the amount of water that might be around but in the end there was only a couple of brief showers and the ordered sunshine also appeared!

We set off, mainly from the vicinity of the car park at Gutter Tor – someone really must ‘have a word’ about the military filling up the car park!  Up and over said Tor to find the longhouse (yes it was one of those expeditions again), mill stone, unfinished cross and wonderful Vermin trap.  Gotetorre settlement was first mention in 1281.  Then on and around, with a brief discussion with locals on quad bikes about hunting gates and cows being rounded up, to the next farmstead destination – Ringmoor Down (possibly Yeolaland tenement mentioned in records in 1566).  A couple of quite clearly seen longhouses here and a cow kindly demonstrating the use of the lower part of the building.

Down the track, past the very distinctive corn ditch, to Legis Tor farmstead – not quite so easy to make out the buildings here as most of the stone had been removed to be reused in the Legis Tor Warren walls.  Then down to Legis Lake – the leader had been concerned about the crossing of this, not being renowned for her keenness of “water crossings” however it was safely negotiated.  Tables had been booked via internet for coffee at the next farmstead (Legis Lake) but there was obviously a problem with connection as no one was there to open up for us.  So, we just helped ourselves, settling in nicely socially distanced around the long house.

On with the rest of the walk – some breathed a sigh of relief at leaving the medieval period behind - across Ringmoor Down via Brisworthy Stone circle and Ringmoor down stone row – nicely comfortably bronze age!

A quick dip then into a more modern era via lanes and Sheepstor village to pop back out on the Moor below Sheepstor for a lunch stop in the pleasant sunshine.  As the clouds drew in again the last stretch was round rather soggily underfoot (as despite appearances the rain held off) along the leat to the fourfold stone ring – or is it a spiral??   Then back through more squelch to the cars, to wish everyone a fond farewell until December (hopefully not happy Christmas yet!)

Jane