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