WW 28th February 2024

 

Another gloopy day. Just how much rain have we had in February? Out over the misty moor to Dartmeet. Not actually raining here. Up the muddy track by Badgers Halt; no more nice cups of tea - gone all corporate. And round to meet the rushing Dart. No sign of sodden children this evening. Muddily up to the Walla Brook, all Ok, the stepping stones just peeping over the river. Up to the wonderful clapper bridge and down. Can you remember when this was a really good track? Washed out many years ago, now all tree roots and puddles. To the stepping stones and splish splash splosh we were all on the other side. Down, down and out into the fields. Dolly's Cot looking rather forlorn this evening. Up to Brimpts, no sign of the wonderful Clydesdales; hopefully they will be back soon.  And back - wonder if the mud will ever cease.

TWW 27th February 2024

 

A SLIGHTLY SHORTER VERSION OF A SLIGHTLY SHORTER VERSION.

  It starts in my head, often the day before the actual walk. Then I plan it on the iPad. WRONG:- always check the firing times first not after. Well I didn’t so Sharp Tor and Chat Tor were out. Plan B follow the range posts over Rattlebrook Hill to Dunna Goats. But oh dear we are running out of time, so it was on to Dicks Well and Great Links.

The weather was the best we have had for weeks, we arrived at the pub dead on time and the food was excellent.

So it all turned out perfect.

Mike

TWW 20th February 2024

A grey, slightly murky morning but dry for us as we wandered off to the South of the village and the footpath through the churchyard of the 13th century St Michael's and All Angels.

It was open and a quick nosey inside revealed the surprisingly large and airy interior. Many tablets and memorials and plenty of signs of a large and wealthy parish supported by manors such as Slade,  Blachford, Cornwood (now Delamore) and more.

On through the churchyard and across the field to join the Lutton Road, past the pink tree and bearing right up the fork, on up through the village and right again towards the moors, past the perching chicken flock.

Along the righthand track and Gibb Forest and there on our right the red flashes of poppies, and a memorial stone marking a blocked off access to the crash site amongst the trees and carved beech. Seven aircrew were lost in the Stirling R9329 August 1942 here whilst returning from Bordeaux. Some research sources suggest that, sadly, anti aircraft defences were the cause of the crash.

Solemnly on downhill to Quickbridge and the Sheraleer Woods for coffee break and then through the woods to Cornwood, the edge of the Blachford Estate and looping back around to a place of cold chips, and off beer.

Following an otherwise okay ish lunch some of us indulged in a snowdrop stroll around the Mount. Not such a good display as previous years but more than made up by the sale of newspaper wrapped snowdrops in the green...cheaper than chips!!!

Anne

WW 14th February 2024

 

Same Old - Same Old

Wet Wet Wet but a different wet - warm wet in the sheltered Tamar  Valley.

Leaving number 10, after donning full wet weather gear we headed up.

Turning left through the gate which used to say PRIVATE KEEP OUT in a loud voice but now some kindly soul has written PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY in blue chalk.

This is another of those paths that are less well traveled. Sorry Bren!

Leg grabbing brambles tried to dissuade us but Raz went ahead with his trusty snips and little saw to clear the way.

Down the hill on the ankle bending track to meet the river on Dukes Drive. It would be difficult for him to get along to his summer residence at Endsleigh House  these days. Walked by locals for hundreds of years but now, the hunting, fishing fraternity have decide that lesser mortals like us need to be kept out.

The next gate also inscribed with blue chalk PROW was bound round with barbed wire and the posts topped with sawn off screws!  Dangerous, vindictive, illegal.

We found a way to continue along the track to the Weir for a coffee stop. The river was thundering over, the noise scary in the dark. We retraced our steps to take the long steep climb up, having to negotiate another barbed wire topped, chained and padlocked gate to meet the track back to Morwell Rock and down to the village.

The pleasure has been taken out of wandering these woods that I’ve been walking round for the last 30 years. The concept of sharing one’s good fortune seems to be an anathema to some selfish people.

Stella

TWW 13th February 2024

 

Tuesday’s route had originally been chosen in part for the views it would provide, but, true to form, an incoming weather front was to dash such ill-found optimism.  

Leaving Lowery Cross in the rain, murk and with a moderate southwesterly coming from behind us we headed up through Peekhill Plantation and over Peek Hill to Sharpitor.   Visibility was at times down to a couple of hundred metres. Down we went, across the Princetown road and up to Leeden Tor before heading across some very soggy ground to Black Tor, the lee side of which allowed a coffee stop. Then downhill into the wind and rain to join the leat, where recent work on the aqueduct was closely inspected by one of our number, before we followed the leat back towards our starting point and the warm and dry Rock Inn.  

A man and his dog and some bedraggled sheep apart, we had seen very little life in the 3 hours - wildlife was sensibly keeping its head down.  But, after all, it was mid - February and Dartmoor is enjoyable in all seasons and weathers!

Peter C

WW 7th February 2024

It’s a lovely thing to do on a fine evening to climb up to Boulters Tor from the quarry car park and then head west along the ridge and all those diminishing tors watching the sun set over Cornwall, then down to the Peter Tavy Inn for a pint.

NOT THIS EVENING the thick mist, breeze and rain of the previous day had returned, so it was compass bearings all the way. 1 to find Boulters Tor, 2 to find the wall corner by the track then on to Stephen's Grave. 3 to find White Tor for a coffee break behind one of the big rocks. 4 to find the end of the enclosed land then following the stream and up to the wall corner. 5 to find the small tor and where the wall meets the track. Then back to the cars only to find the Peter Tavy Inn shut at 9.30 so on to Tavy and the Spoons where a couple of fine pints were enjoyed for under £4 not bad.

Mike

TWW 6th February 2024

 

Both car parks were busy, busy, and a huge stack of timber that made it look as if someone was going to fence off the whole of Dartmoor, but it was peatland restoration on Great Gnats Head although one does wonder if all the footfall, vehicle, and machinery damage to the rest of the moor, may negate a lot of the good work.

Proper Dartmoor weather prevailed - thick mist, strong breeze and rain. So off we set and due to a bit of disorientation at a track junction we ended up repeating a bit of last week's walk in the opposite direction. Nuns Cross eventually came into view and it was then off to find Hand Hill Cross, still there thank goodness.

Staying high and then finding the track to Fox Tor, down through the girts to find Sunshine Valley. Things got a bit rough under foot after that but after a location check we found the wall up to Mount  Misery it’s cross standing proud against the elements.

On down the wall with a stop for lunch cowering in a hollow. The old leat allowed us to follow above the Swincombe to the islands where all managed to cross safely. A good squelch to the Strane for another elegant crossing and so to the road at Whiteworks.

It was intended to return to the cars through the workings behind Whiteworks but by now everyone had had enough of rough ground so it was back up the road and home to dry off.

Mike