We arrived at the Forrest Car Park at Postbridge to find it full of Land Rovers and horse boxes – yes, the hunt was out! We managed to squeeze our cars in at the top end of the car park and carried out the weekly “distribution of apples”. Then off across the road to the drift lane and over the fields to Archerton. A little bramble bashing was required to get along the path onto the open moor.
Heading westward, towards the Cherry Brook with the boundary wall to the north of us, we were afforded a fine view of the Cairn and Cist on the other side of the wall – the top stones of the wall had fallen, providing an ideal “viewing platform”. After a slightly tricky water crossing over the Cherry Brook, it was up, up, up towards Higher White Tor. At this point, we heard a strange mournful howling. Was it the hunt, the hound of the Baskervilles, or something else? Passing through the gate in the wall, we decided it was time for a brew. At this point some sharp-eyed member spotted a lone hound on the far side of the valley apparently following our trail into Hollowcombe Bottom. By the time coffee break was over, a second dog had come into view, and appeared to be leading the lost hound back in the direction of Powdermills.
We headed on to Lower White Tor, where we stopped for a photo call before continuing on our way to Brown’s House. Despite the recent dry weather, it was still decidedly squidgy underfoot. Dr Brown must have been desperate to keep his wife away from any other men to want to live in such a spot! Although Dr Brown applied for a lease from the Duchy of Cornwall in 1810, by 1812 he had sold it on, suggesting that the location was not to his liking. We headed back across the Cherry Brook near Cherry Brook Rocks, and picked up the path beside the wall, taking us over Braddon Tor and on to Broad Down. We then headed south to follow the familiar path across Braddon Lake past Roundy Park, down the drift lane to Postbridge and the East Dart Hotel. Here we enjoyed a pleasant lunch before returning to the cars.
Phil