WW 31st July 2024

 

Now that really was most pleasant - the perfect spot after yet another hot, hot day.

Out from the Scout Hut. All very quiet as the jolly soldiers are on their hollibobs. Round Edward's Path to Ditsworthy Warren admiring all the pillow mounds on the way. And, down, down to the weir to enjoy the wonderful, relaxing pool - a true infinity pool. Just why do folk jet all round the world when we have this on our doorstep. So, so refreshing and a nice place for a cuppa. Then it started to rain - or did it? It was certainly raining on the river, we could see the plops but didn't seem to be raining on the land - how curious.  Out along and up to the stones. A nice path led us by Thrushelcombe Brook to the leat takeoff. Then somewhat wanderingly to the main track and back to the cars - still feeling the benefit of our dip. Onward to the always welcoming Burrator Inn.

A super evening to enjoy our annual swim.

TWW 30th July 2024

 

The sky was blue, with a big yellow thing shining down, the air was warm – was it just a dream?!

 

From the rendezvous at Zoar, we took the road and track past Creason and Chilly wood to Hill Bridge.  The River Tavy was quite low, but the force of the winter spate was apparent from a large tree trunk perched upon the weir.

We took the path beside the leat, as brown trout dated back and forth in the water, and myriads of water boatmen cast amazing shadows on the leat bed. Over the first stile of the day, and up the track to Horndon.  Down the footpath behind the long-closed Elly’s Nest to a rather empty Kent’s Tor reservoir and a stop for coffee, or something cooler, while suitably entertained by a herd of cattle not sure what to make of the knee-deep mud.

Returning to the footpath, we crossed the fields (and more stiles) to reach Bennet’s Dry, from where we took the footpath back to the Horndon Road.  Down the road, across Cholwell Brook, then along the footpath to Axna.  Over the tenth stile of the day (a rather tricky set of “witches teeth”) and onto the road.  Up the road to Kingsett, then more up to Kingsett Down, and a bit of open moorland.  Along the boundary wall, then onto the track back to Zoar.  Sadly, not enough time to visit the Wheal Jewel Reservoir on this occasion.

 

A short drive to the Mary Tavy Inn, and a fine lunch in the garden.

 

Phil

TWW 23rd July 2024

 

A pleasant day, overcast with just a bit of haze to obscure the distant views from our elevated route. Starting from The Fox and Hounds as we haven’t been there for a while.
Up to the old railway track that carried the peat from Rattlebrook to Bridestowe station, all done with horses until near the end in 1937 when a petrol engine took over and finally removed the scrap from the peatworks and then lifted the lines.
We followed the track to the foot of Great Nodden then up over the hill for great views in all directions. Down the other side to join the track again for a short way before joining another old way that followed the Lyd to get us to Gren Tor for coffee.
The wet and soggy sunken track to Hunt Tor now seems to have quite a good track alongside it. Lots of fun on the Logan stone here - a real good one. Concentration needed now to find the rather indistinct paths to Great Links.
That lovely bimbling decent down towards Arms Tor cutting off at the last minute to miss all the clitter, through one of the Lyd's fords and back to the pub just as Great Links disappeared in cloud.
A pint and lunch in the ever welcoming Fox, just what was needed after a fine walk.

Mike

WW 17th July 2024

A short and straightforward walk. Just three of us as the birthday boy was quite rightly celebrating with his beloved granddaughters. (he did manage to get the cake we had for him due to a chance meeting in the supermarket.)

So it was up the track to Deancombe then Cuckoo Rock, a bit of a circuitous route to Combshead Tor as the bracken was obscuring a lot of the paths. A leisurely coffee amongst the rocks in the sunshine then on to admire the wonderful stone row - is it straight? It looks it from one side of the huge terminal stone but not from the other!

Probably the finest stone row on the moor.

Off to Down Tor where we met the only other person of the evening he was all set up with his camera on the summit waiting (in vain unfortunately) to capture the sunset.

Off to the Royal Oak which was very welcoming but eerily empty, we were the only ones there - no Morris men and no cribbage players - most unusual.

Mike

TWW 16th July 2024

 

Roborough Down was our starting point today for ‘the five’, not exactly the Famous Five, but still five up for a good walk nevertheless.

 

Crossing the remaining footprint of the Iron Age fort we soon went past the entrance gate to Charity Bickham to pick up the footpath across open fields that would take us down to Milton Combe. It was mentioned that we hadn’t seen too many butterflies this year, when low and behold, we saw many as we progressed ever downwards!

 

In Milton Combe, it was suggested that we might be able to get a coffee in the village pub, but who would have thought it, the pub didn’t open until 1200, so we had our DIY drinks at the bus stop near-by instead.

 

Suitably refreshed we set off on the main and very narrow village road to pick up a footpath that runs through South Wood, part of the Maristow estate. The path wasn’t exactly maintained or marked as a public path, but we hacked our way through to Lopwell Dam – ‘manchette’ Anne would have been proud of us!

 

At the Dam, it was decided to have our picnic, albeit early, but a very scenic place to stop at to watch water flowing over the dam, passed Swans and a group of people determined to go for a paddle. From here our journey was along the river path adjacent to the mighty River Tavy, although today it looked pretty dormant between tides. We eventually came out on the Potter’s Bridge Road before picking up the shaded path through Blaxton Wood. Very pleasant and welcoming on a hot afternoon.

 

Until now we had been walking downwards or on the flat, now the sting in the tail of this walk – upwards was now the order of the day, up across steep fields, up a long muddy farm track, past Pound Farm, past Pound Cross to the path leading to Higher Park, its fields of thriving barley and the road back to our cars.

 

Charlie

WW 10th July 2024

 

Gunny Car Park

Nice to welcome Brother Mike and Alfie again. We headed out of the car park past the Surgery where you can get drugs at any time, day or night!

Up steeply to Lower Dimson. Someone had the bright idea of cutting through a housing estate to reach the footpath down, down, down to the river. Just a few brambles and we were there but only three and a dog. “Where are you?” Came a plaintive cry.

On along the shady path but too much chat and not enough concentration- check back!

The old mine works and chimney now almost buried and the rustic but beautiful artisan fence put up by the AONB gently rotting away. Shame!

Up through the wood to rejoin the main path then down and up again. I had thoughts of going on up to have coffee in Peter’s field for the sunset but our feet just wouldn’t take us past the White Hart pub in Chilsworthy. Looking a bit sad and the promised ‘stunning views over the Tamar Valley’ obscured by dustbins and overgrown vegetation. Shame!

Then down, down, down through North Dimson, then Middle Dimson missing out Higher Dimson. Enough of these up and down Dimsons.

Stella

TWW 9th July 2024

 

Some real nice proper Dartmoor weather to set off from Four Winds. Up by West Mead Quarry with its crane stands and gloopy pool to the wonderful tree at Red Cottages. Over the track and up to seek out Hollow - just why does it seem a long, long way? Eventually it decided to appear. Then on, finding the track as and when, to North Hessary. A nice spot for a piccy then down the wall past our third group of Duke of Edinburgh Silver girls, all looking very happy with their shining braces. Down, down to Princetown for a most pleasant coffee in the Fox Tor Café. Quite hard to drag ourselves back out into the windy gloop. Over the cattle grid and the wide track to Hart. Always nice when the tors gently choose to appear and then hide themselves away. By the rifle range up the Meavy. But just what are those bell like things the cattle are wearing? All the timber the heavy horses heaved into the juvenile river seem to be slowly having the desired affect of slowing the waters. Across the road to the railway. Round, and the short cut by Foggintor to Yellowmead where the new gate was firmly locked. Lumpily back by the powder store to the cars and on to the Prince of Wales. They managed quite a warm welcome despite us being an hour late.

Lovely weather to be out on the moor, if a bit unseasonable for July.

WW 3rd July 2024

 14C, soft rain, cool breeze, mist - all back to normal.

Up to Lowery Cross past Te-Whare; up for sale for £1,115,000. Out to the wood on the beautifully manicured track. Through the perpetually muddy, now dry, gate to the leat and along. Down into the amazing 'field'. Just how can such an unpromising patch of land be so wonderful? So much to see; orchids galore, tall valerian, soggy bog cotton, bog asphodel shining, lots of succulent horsetail, foxgloves galore, labyrinth spiders, sundews glistening, lovely slugs, spiky thistles, selfheal and even the bracken looks brilliant. Down to the reservoir and along. Always seeking the red signal crayfish - no sign but certainly there. Out at Norsworthy and up the track to Lethertor Bridge. Round by the fairy cave and up past the farm. Now what was once a most pleasant track has a big, 'orrible barbed wire fence. To the leat for a sit and cuppa. Up and out to the col between the tors. A few folk enjoying the rocks. Along to Peek Hill and down to Lowery Tor. Round to the tall stile and back.

And then the sun decided to appear just in time to set - which was nice.

TWW 2nd July 2024

 

Six hardy souls met at the small car park below Yar Tor.  Some even hardier than others, sporting shorts, ….  oopppsss….. did I forget to mention there may be prickles!

Off we sent down the hill pausing to investigate the ruins of longhouse (this is one of my walks after all!) – ruined due to ‘sheep stealing proclivities’.  Up to Sharp Tor to see the hawthorn hanging on in there, to rival the sycamore gap tree.  Back along, viewing lovely existing medieval longhouse in the distance, towards Bel Tor corner.  Passed a group of DofE lads, who were very polite and completely took on board the idea of ditching the music and listening to nature instead. 

Oh yes, and did I forget to mention the prickles!, onwards trying to pick a path that didn’t prick, well not too much anyway. Gently up the slope to the lower reaches of Corndon Tor for a cuppa and to admire the view towards Haytor – it gets everywhere you know.

Up a little more to investigate the cairns and then along the ridge to find the elusive Cathanger Tor – was it really the place where the last wild cat on Dartmoor was killed???  Hmmm……..  Then onwards and downwards, past the rather posh tree house and more longhouses to pick up the path across fields and out on to open moor again to Yar Tor itself.  A quick look round the “unusual little enclosure” on the summit and then down and back to the cars. 

Off to the Two Bridges hotel for an enjoyable lunch ….  well we are no longer casual drinkers.  The weather had been kind, dry and a gentle breeze a bit of occasional sun – ideal walking weather 😊.

Jane