WW 30th June 2021

 

A short walk was promised, probably the shortest WW ever, and attended by more walkers than any Wednesday walk I can remember. With glorious weather ( no mist for a change ) it was off for a quick tour of some of the antiquities on Merrivale hill. First the numerous well preserved hut circles, dating back three or four thousand years. There amongst them was a large circular and slightly conical stone which no one had seen before. It is said to be a post-medieval apple crusher - there must have been more apple  trees around in those days!

Circling round a couple of standing stones and a stone circle it was then up to the main stone row - always impressive. Then back to the cars in perfect time to walk down to the pub for 8.00.

Now knowing there were 14 booked to eat, some extra supplies could have been laid on so everyone got the choice they wanted from the menu and the service was seriously slow.

( A chat with the chef at the end of the evening will hopefully help to iron out some of their teething problems.) That said everyone seemed to enjoy the food and company.

A jolly good evening.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STELLA.

Mike

TWW 29th June 2021

 

Everyone managed to arrive on time, marvellous! Coming from all directions and despite helping out at the scene of a motorbike accident.

Off we went, dead on ten, down the track, passed the "cannonball" and fabulous Hisley Bridge, climbing steadily up the track roughly following the Becka Brook through Houndtor Wood until at the top a large information sign was reached. After a discussion it was decided to proceed to Water via the permissive path to Becka Falls. This bunch of reprobates +1 ignoring instructions thought it might be good to actually visit said falls without paying their dues. Like naughty children we were told by Green woman to get back on the right path, which of course we did....... for a bit until an alternative path appeared. Ahhhh Green man pops up and firmly keeps us in the permitted path. Indeed, Blue man was erecting a fence as we went to keep us in line!

We emerged from forbidden forest out to lovely open meadow with obligatory pretty orchids and into Water.

Up through Letchole plantation, not unlike a Borneo rainforest minus the orangutans, to Horsham for a much needed tea break. We sat on someone's back door step and a compost bag, golly golly we are naughty!

Still going up through Neadon cleave, over Foxworthy Bridge. Decision time! More up to Hunters Tor or back down through the woods. Ever the gluttons for punishment, it was up, up and more up to glorious Hunters Tor for lunch. The views, stupendous!

Then, at last, down down over the common to a large collection of boulders hidden amongst trees known as Sharpitor, yes, for a moment I thought we'd wondered off course, known as Nutcrackers. I'll let you research the story yourself!

Still going down through peaceful, wonderful woods to join the main track through Hisley Wood to the ancient packhorse bridge. A collective sigh of relief. Nearly home, just more up the track and finally as all known joints were giving up the will to move, the Cars.!

PS thank you all for comingX, Brenda

WW 23rd June 2021

 

Well that was another wonderful wildlife wander, Sylvia’s Meadow this time looking for orchids. And we found them, lots!

We parked in the crammed car park of the newly refurbished Rifle Volunteer. Down the dark and shady footpath, which also looked as if it had been spruced up to meet Stuart and his two lovely little daughters. There was some difficulty with the gate due to someone being very vigilant and securing it with zip ties but Raz whipped out his trusty pocket knife and it was soon dealt with.

Once we got our eyes in, there they were. Platanthera Chlorantha, Platanthere Bifolia - Greater and Lesser Butterfly, Orchis Mascula - Early Purple and Dactylorhiza Maculata - Heath Orchid for sure and others not so sure, even with Stuart’s comprehensive Orchid book. Wonderful!

After a happy hour we retraced our steps up to the main road, crossing over, we continued up to Hingston Down Hill. Apparently due to the prolific tin mining that took place around here it has it’s own rhyme.

‘Hingston Down well ywrought is worth more than London Town dearly bought’

It certainly was just for the fantastic 360 degrees views. On down leafy tracks and back through one of the many new housing estates that have sprung up in St Ann’s Chapel and ........ IN .......to another lovely welcoming pub. No discrimination here for Casual Drinkers. Another good one to bare in mind for celebratory dinners me thinks.

Stella

TWW 22nd June 2021

 

The Longest Tuesday and truly marvellous weather for a walk - a cooling northerly with sunshine on and off. Out from Combestone and along to Horn's Cross, always a delightful spot. Then a nice winding track took us past the workings and over the top to Hapstead Ford and a nice spot for 11sies by the H Stone. More gentle tracks took us through the rapidly growing bracken by Snowdon Hole to Pupers with views far and wide. The ridge line took us on toward Snowdon where a lolloping figure could be seen heading to Heap o' Sinners - we knew who it was! So to Snowdon and a spot of shelter for an early lunch. And on up to Ryders where we met 'im. Down and out when a familiar red clothed figure was spotted - always lovely to meet friends out on the moor. All reunited and time for a nice swing Hooten Wheals way to spot the tree on the horizon guiding the way. The track by the old leat took us to a wonderful set of heath orchids - a very orchidy time of year. Then down and back to the cars glistening in the sun. And luckily no naughty ponies about to give them a kicking. A super duper morning to be out on our moor.

WW 16th June 2021

 

This fuzziness seems to be following us round ( no I don't mean you Brenda). The week before we went away,  thick disorienting mist around Burrator, three days of not being able to see the sea from the Wales coast path, but at least this Wednesday should be clear after such a nice day. But no, Dartmoor wove it's spell once more and as we left the cars from the revised car park wisps of the white stuff started to appear. Up the road a bit where Brenda was seen shouting furiously at a foal which had decided to graze on the side. On to the lovely Over Tor and by the time we reached Little Mis it was well wrapped and Great Mis had disappeared from the face of the earth. So on down the wall past a heard of very colourful ponies and their foals for a cuppa by the Walkham. A pleasant contour round below Roos and Staple as they too had disappeared. Below the quarry to find a welcoming Dartmoor Inn where we casual drinkers enjoyed a pleasant pint whilst hatching a cunning plot.

Mike

TWW 15th June 2021

 

Another wonderful day with like minded although some may say, simple minded people.

We were greeted by three chaps with very long lenses who had been out since six and only seen a lady Yellow Hammer. Also by swarms of small brown beetles flying about and gathering in clusters on the grass? What were they up to? They were apparently known as Bonking Beatles at The Garden House and very unwelcome they were as they lay their eggs in the ground and badgers find them a tasty snack digging up the pristine front lawn to get at them.

We followed the yellow arrows sometimes going off piste to splosh about in the Mire to find things we’d seen before, some we hadn’t seen for years and some we had never ever seen. Round leaved sundew, Tormentil, Milkworts, Bogwort, Ragged Robin, Heath Spotted Orchid. Such fun! We inspected the ponds seeing blue Damselfly and brown Dragonfly looking like Russian army helicopters.

We wondered on past Pig Wood to Snoddersbottom Wood along a gloriously cool and beautiful old lane leading to Holwell House, now apparently several dwellings.

The yellow arrows lead us away from Becka Brook but then a wondrous sight none had seen before - a whole field of orchids! WOW!

Then on to Holwell Lawn. The bluebells all gone but green and relaxing, lunch below Greator rock then down over the old clapper bridge where Fern went for a swim as did Liz’s sunglasses, the water too deep for them to be retrieved. Up, up to chug along the granite tramway, round Saddle and back to the very hot cars.

5k turned out to be 6 miles plus.

Lovely! Sorry some of you missed it, we’ll do it again one evening when the Bogbean and Marsh St-John’s Wort are out.

Stella

WW 9th June 2021

 

Well that's a new style of back packing, wild camping or whatever. Just how did he get his motorbike down there? Still a jolly nice spot to sit and enjoy the evening with a cuppa under a tarp.

After all that silly sunshine a most pleasant proper Dartymoor evening to set out from Bennett's Cross. Nice and mild, with a soft mist and just the hint of drizzle - perfect. To head down the old gerts to Vitifer and along the damp track toward Golden Dagger to be greeted by the wonderful highland cattle. (Lovely how they just look somewhat disdainfully at you and don't budge one inch.) And there a new resident in Dinah's House. Round the gentle bend and on to the farm where the Icelandic sheep grazed. Past the fairy door where the lion stood guard and down to check on the troll who, most fortunately, was fast asleep. No piggy to tickle today and the bluebells were just easing as the lynchets appeared through the mist. A chestnut mare (anyone else remember that song? - The Byrds, wonderful) welcomed us at Headland Warren as Daddy alpaca gazed longingly down at his ladies. The monkey puzzles certainly enjoy this sort of weather as do we as we meandered down to East Birch Tor. Back up and out on the ridge to Birch Tor proper and the easy track back to the cross and the cars. Wood smoke from the Warren House and the sheep slalom guided us home.

A very traditional Wednesday evening.

TWW 8th June 2021

 

An order for fine sunny weather had been placed for this walk, to better enjoy the panoramic views available from five Tors – King’s, Ingra, Leeden, Black and Hart Tor.    We were not disappointed.   Any residual cloud soon disappeared as we left Four Winds and headed up over King’s Tor.  Down we went, pausing first to admire the granite corbels that were to have graced London Bridge, then to exchange pleasantries with a male-only group of walkers – a fact that elicited some comment from one or two in our group!    Onward down the bridleway that is not the easiest to follow (especially in the dark), our senses stimulated by the sight and scent of hawthorn blossom.   Across the brook we went, using stepping stones that look stable but in fact lie in wait for the unwary.  The climb up to Leeden Tor followed a brief coffee stop at Ingra Tor, the moorland silence broken only by the sound of skylarks, but then – what was this rumbling sound growing louder by the second?   None other than a presidential helicopter winging its way upcountry from some point west, doubtless doing a practice run ahead of you-know-what.   A picnic stop was made on Hart Tor, before traversing the long-abandoned rifle range, its stone range markers still in place.   Crossing the road at Devil’s Bridge, we headed up to Foggintor, initially through tussock grass, which concealed at least one adder, spotted by one of our number.   There was but one wild swimmer in the quarry today, in contrast to a recent visit, though the day certainly invited it – and we made our way back across to Four Winds, after a walk notable above all for some stunning views.

As a postscript, visibility the morning after is very limited in the familiar Dartmoor drizzle – what luck yesterday!

Peter C

WW 2nd June 2021

 

It stated so well.

A warm sunny evening to go for a stroll from Lowery Cross. Local - familiar - easy, no need for all that planning stuff.

We were greeted by the lovely ladies of the moor quietly chewing the cud, then out along the Down with views down to the Reservoir. Along the leet, peaceful, quiet except for the sound of the water and bird song. The smell of banks of bluebells enhanced by the start of a misty drizzle. Lovely! The mist started to close in as we stopped for coffee (forgotten by some, thanks Liz) by the ever impressive Aqueduct. It got thicker as we followed the wall back and up to the shoulder between Sharpitor and Leather. No probs, We know where we are. Out we set avoiding the boggy bit and up but more gorse bushes than usual ?? Then the Misty Moors started playing their tricks again. Ahh! Sharpitor. On down, around, then Sharpitor again?? So where was Peek hill? But with the help of two compasses and Brenda’s gadget Peek hill was summited at last. We inspected the bunker where the great and the good of Plymouth could head out to in the event of a nuclear explosion while I, as a District Nurse in Devonport was instructed to head towards the Dockyard and hand out iodine pills!

All was well on locating the ladder stile into the deep dark woods and back to the cars.

Always an adventure to be had!

Stella

TWW 1st June 2021

 

A convivial gathering in Mothecombe schoolhouse field until all eight were present and correct and conveniences visited. 
Sunscreen, hats and shorts the order of the day. Blue sky and sun. 
How lucky were we  ?

Off down the hill to enjoy a slice of faded bluebell woodland track before the sandy vista of the little beach  came into sight. We zigzagged our way between the towels and sandcastles before beginning our climb past the "teahouse" and looking back at the lovely beach views. 

Now through buttercup meadows and up and down the twisty path past foxgloves and views to admire of turquoise rocky coves and daring lads splashing in.

St Anchorite's rock came into view and a in few more downs and ups we were at the rock itself.  A nice long coffee stop and a return trek back for lunch and a wander in Mothecombe House Gardens. Plenty to admire by way of thatched cottages, Georgian house, leafy tracks, lavenders,  aquilegias and echiums but roses mostly still sleeping. 

Lovely day out in best of company

Anne