Dartmoor at its best today, hot but not too hot! Cooling breeze "on top" a bit humid in the valley but just right in the shade. Near on perfection!
The "famous five" set out on the longer scenic route to Leapra Cross, via the fabulous Lettaford (what fab stonework and longhouses) across fields to the easily seen cross.More field's past Moorland farm where the owner made sure we didn't go wrong, God forbid! What did she mean!!
More fields and to the timeless and picturesque Combe farms, someone should paint them substituting rusting old cars instead of hay wagons, which of course are parked safely in the Linhay.
More fields till we get to Lower Hookney where fallen trees offered a comfyish place for coffee/cold drinks etc. Amazing tree formations.
Charlie found "a body" half hidden in one, ahhhh !! Best left there until we finish our walk.
On on up the steps, down the steps past the massive stone gatepost, down past Lower Hookney, Kendon to Glorious Heather Combe village with its picturesque longhouses, now people's homes and businesses. On through the well kept track through the estate chatting to the forester about the assortment of trees planted there. We progressed on till, horror of horrors, the mariners way was blocked by overgrown vegetation. What to do? Well as you know "when the going gets tough, the tough get going". So the resourceful Liz led us to the next level path through very rough ground . We all suffered a touch of the "Morwellham leg" And needed a sit down to recover.
Path nice and easy till our way was barred yet again by a chain across. "Sod that " said this badass and roughly threw it aside, don't worry the fine upstanding citizen amongst us put it back!
Natsworthy boundary stone inspected and lunch consumed under the shade of an old oak tree.
Now up and up, past Berry pound on the other side of the East Webbern river and on to the memorial stone of the airmen who sadly lost their lives in a plane crash in March 1941. returning from France.
Stunning Grimspound next, always interesting and upwards to Hookney tor. What fantastic and glorious views, what heaven! Onwards again to Shapley tor and downwards, thank goodness, towards the car park that never seemed to get any closer.
Finally the car park full of strangers wanting to know how to get to Pwllhelli !!!! Whaat?
Who cares we had our best reward
A WILLY'S ICE CREAM 🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦
PS. If I've "borrowed" anyone's words it must be, we all been walking together for too long. 😂
Brenda