An ominous drive to Meldon, heavy showers and spectacular rainbows, but the walk was completed without either.
So it was over the dam and along a contouring path above the valley to Meldon old quarry. The water was putting on an impressive display on the spillways of the dam. A quick pause by the quarry to look over the valley and wonder what the large number of brightly clad figures on the viaduct were up to. A steep climb up Longstone Hill to follow the track round to the wonderful Black Tor for coffee.The intention was to follow the line of range poles down to the West Oakment. All went well to start with, but bracken, clitter and some amazing bonsai oaks were getting in the way of that plan. They were supposed to be firing on Oakhampton range but there had been no sound of gunfire so a bit of a trespass above the rocks to a track down, opposite Stenga Tor. A pleasant lunch in the shelter of Blacka Tor Copse then on to Vellake corner. There was some grumbling from the ranks about the climb up Homerton Hill but a lovely balcony track lead us to the footbridge over the stream and back to the cars.
Just right.
Mike