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