TWW 31st October 2023

 

WW 25th October 2023

 

It was a good night to be out and about at Cox Tor CP. Not bad at all, lovely twinkling lights all around, some red turning to green and vice versa. Just like Christmas!🎄

The apple crusher is still there. We still wondered about it! The moon flirted with clouds and showed herself intermittently, so romantic you know.
On, on to the romantic Windy Cross with the leat water rushing through and over the bulls eye. The light just right for an atmospheric photo.
Straight on to Feather Tor and on to Heckwood Tor.  Now where the heck was it?  My navigation did a wobbly, as did my temper but eventually went in the right direction. I blame my app myself. It goes where IT wants not where I want.........
From there onto Pew to listen to wonderful church bell ringing out with gusto and to have a drink etc. I could have done with a sherry myself.
Going down diagonally  to find a crossing place over the leat and back to Windy Cross.
From there, straight over the very popular Barn Hill and back to the cars. Funny, the car park was full of  vehicles of varying sorts, and flashing lights. Must be the rescue group again.
The Whitty made us welcome and we enjoyed a beer and chat.
All's well that ends well!

Brenda

TWW 24th October 2023

 

The rain had stopped, but there were still some threatening clouds in the sky as we arrived at Lew Trenchard school.  After the usual discussions about “what to wear” and putting on or taking of different items of clothing, we set off.

Across the old A30 and down the road we headed, then followed the Two Castles Trail, across a field and down a very sunken green lane to Lew Trenchard manor.  Past the walled garden with its fine crop of leeks, then down the track past Quarry Farm.  Opting for the footbridge rather than the ford, we crossed the river Lew then squelched our way across the water meadow and into Lew Wood.  Taking the forest track, we climbed steadily up, before descending the other side of the hill to Coryton Barton.  Taking the road to Coryton gave us great views of the Lew valley, and despite suggestions that it must be coffee time, we stuck to the leader’s grand plan and kept going to Coryton Church.  After a look inside, we found a sunny spot in the church yard for a brew.

Suitably refreshed, we headed off down the road towards Coryton Mill, turning off just before the mill to take the track over Cory Hill.  Some track, (well more of a canyon), deep with vertical sides, whether a natural feature, the result of erosion from horses and carts or some quarrying activity who knows. Over the hill, down to Cooper’s Cross then along the road to Eastcott. Into Eastcott Plantation and uperty up, up, up past Eastcott Beacon to the top of the hill, where we found an ideal spot for lunch.

Once “re-fuelled”, we headed across the Field to Lew Wood, and downhill to the retrace our tracks back across the River Lew, and up to Lew Trenchard.  Stopping at the church to see the tombstones of Grace and Sabine Baring-Gould and the fine 1520 Rood Screen reconstructed by Baring-Gould at the end of the 19^th century.  Past the Lew Trenchard Manor Hotel, with the smell of fine cooking wafting up from the kitchen.  Up the bridle way past Down House and Woodlands to the old A30, then past the sad spectre of “Jethro’s Club” and back to the cars.  All the way round without a spot of rain!

Phil

WW 18th October 2023

 

Not the most promising of evenings - but something always turns up ..

Waterproofs on and out from Norsworthy. Looks like there is to be more felling. By the lane to Lethertor Bridge and on to Raddick. Not too long until we popped out onto the open moor and muddled our way across to Crazy Well Pool - the only wild swimmers this evening, lots and lots of newts. Up to seek out the rushing leat and along. The mist blew in and out with cars on Peek Hill sometimes in view. Slip sliding down by the falls to the aqueduct. But just what is that? The wee bridge beside the aqueduct has been rebuilt with silver gates each end and huge railings to stop you falling off. (All seems a bit over the top.) At each end a granite pillar with these strange copper 'pennies' struck into them. Still, time presses, down along past a nice big toad and down down to the Meavy planks. Just contemplating on the lateness and scarcity of good fungi this year and there they were - perfect fly agarics - wonderful. Chatting about this and that when out of the gloom big burly figures loomed. Soldiers in full camouflage, certainly made us jump. Back to the reliable Burrator Inn - perhaps all pubs should have a pool table - and Wild Boar and Apple crisps.

TWW 17th October 2023

 

A pleasant stroll through coastal heathland near Bude.

We met at Crooklets Beach in the car park behind Rosie’s. Half the price of the Council one next door. Coffee to get us going. It would have been rude not to. Then out to find the coast path to take us up and across Mear Down to ‘The Bungalow’ now grandly called Northcott House, a wooden building which looked like my old village primary school. At Northcott Mouth we headed inland following an old track up Bucket hill, resisting a second coffee stop at the very attractive Horse Box. The track lead us through an overgrown bridle path where an odd pink campion lingered. We will do this again in the spring when it is reputed to be “a wild flower fiesta” or so it says in the AA book written by Des Hannigan, Raz’s brother in law.

Onwards across fields of recently harvested crops to join the road to turn left towards Sandy Mouth. Only 11.30 so we had a wander across the wide expanse of beach, quite wild and windy.

A very pleasant lunch was enjoyed in the National Trust Café. Alas no crab sandwiches on today.

We headed back following the coast path to Northcott beach then inland again to find a lovely old lane through a wood to meet the road back to Crooklets. Some headed home. Others found a view over to Maer Lake Nature Reserve. Only a few ducks and Canada Geese to see through binoculars today but Jon found a very exciting ‘thing’! Then we had ice cream and were serenaded with live music. A very nice day somewhat marred by being greeted when I got home by my next door neighbour saying “Raz has gone to Derriford!”

Stella

WW 11th October 2023

 

A misty mizzly evening to set out from the Scout Hut. All quiet, no sign of any soldiers - but perhaps they were all very good at hiding. Out along Edward's and on to quite a spooky Ditsworthy. By the track and the stream up to the magnificent standing stones. The track onward always seems like a long way but, this evening, it was interminable - until we got there. Still very mild for a cuppa atop Higher Hartor Tor - the promised rain still to arrive. Across to Eylesbarrow mine and down the bumpy road. And slowly the rain did arrive and by the time we got to the cars it was quite ploppy. To the Royal Oak where Stephen is still in charge for a couple of weeks - we will see what happens after that. Unfortunately we were just finishing our drinks when the Morris Folk bowled in so we missed the melodious music.

TWW 10th October 2023

 

A silvery morning on the Tamar as we met up for a silvery day amongst the silver lead mines. Much healthier at Weir Quay now without the fumes from the 18 furnaces !!

On to the actual Weir Quay and views of elderly water craft awaiting their make overs.

Along past the fragile hulk of the Merganser at Holes Hole before climbing up and up along the woodland path through clouds of hornets and soon to the South Hooe mine and choice of paths.

At South Hooe Cottage we were welcomed by Prue and with a guide sheet in hand we followed the trail route towards a diversion through the newer orchards.

Nearing coffee time we stopped to harvest apples and bullaces as per our hosts instructions before continuing through grassy meadowland parallel to the winding Tamar's shore and views of Halton Quay and later, Pentillie Castle. 

Lunch later by the newest bird hide and the reed beds engineered to soon be reclaimed by the swirling tides. Cattle egrets already spotted and many more new avian guests are expected to join the increasing insect, bird and bat populations.

Leaving the reserve there was a long climb up to Hewton where mine manager Johnson once worried about the failing health of the silver lead miners. And then we were winding our way down through more mining activity at Cotts to Weir Quay and the old silver lead factory where those furnaces roared and, in more recent times, a jam factory processed a kinder harvest from this land of riches.

Anne

WW 4th October 2023

 

It was so good we did it again only backwards plus those that did it last time couldn’t this time and those who didn’t, could!

So off we set from Bere Ferris Harbour. The river was still, no wind again but dark set in much quicker after only two weeks. So along the footpath by the river into the woods - torches on - finding the crossed paths - left - up up up to Hole Farm. Two green eyes followed us through the farmyard. Out onto the road, the lights of Saltash so close. Down to find the footpath around the Maize fields. Different again, the maize had been harvested, only stubble left. Lots of Daddy Long Legs, bats in pursuit. Then joy of Joys - a Barn Owl perched on a gate. He silently flew away as we approached.

Down the old lane festooned with Hips, Haws and Holly berries.

It’s always different even when it’s the same.

Stella

TWW 3rd October 2023

 

What a determined bunch we are!

No matter what "highways" throw at us, grit, determination, and a satnav will always get us to the right car park.
Just a little late and the car park filling up with other walkers, we set off to the picturesque Haytor quarry.
Must have been such a busy noisy place, but so tranquil now, bathed in sunshine. Some of of the old machinery still gradually rusting away, our main man unable to resist his inner child, decided to crank the old cog wheels around. They creaked and cranked much to his satisfaction, but not before one foot slid into the clear quarry water. Did he not know the leeches were waiting and desperate for their morning break.
Up and out to Haytor rocks for OUR morning break, fab views and on to Holwell Tor, more views. We could see our path below but how to get there. Two of our group found the easy way down, while the real toughies took the challenging way down. It certainly was too.
At last into small wooded valley where the Beckabrook meandered. It was so peaceful . It was warm and sunny. Someone suggested lunch.
No one disagreed. So we had lunch basking in a mini semi-tropical zone.
Sadly lunch finished, we had to leave going upwards towards and skirting round Greator Rocks. Wonderful chunk of rock with views towards Houndtor medieval village. Back down again, over the Beckabrook again coming out and up again to try and find the famous Duke of Somerset boundary stones, or at least some of them. There are about fifty of them I think.
Up and up, looking here and looking there.
Where are they? damned elusive things.
Again, some got bored and found they're own way. (I wonder what Misty would would have made of that? She liked us to keep together)
Jon found a small track amongst the dozens of, actually I think it might have been a reeve, makes sense as we were looking for boundary stones, all with rather royal names like Prince of Wales, Albert and Victoria.
Before we knew it we were back at the cars, meeting up with the breakaway group who very cleverly found rows of what looked like megalodon teeth.
They just love to take the Mickey, love'm  xx

Brenda