Taking the opportunity of a ‘no firing August’ we set off to explore part of the area surrounding Willsworthy Camp without fear of being used as handy targets.
Following
the tarmac access road from our RV, we walked up and past the many rifle
ranges, still fit for purpose even though they are from a previous era and
onward past a couple of inactive diggers (not Aussies) the mechanical type
waiting to start work, diggers which seem to be such a common sight on the moor
these days.
Skirting
White Hill, examining a range with a railed target system along the way, we
came across more workers with their tool laden vans partly blocking our trail,
we soon crossed the Walla Brook to progress up a not quite gentle slope to Doe
Tor for a well deserved cuppa stop, a sit down and an admire the view moment.
The weather was picking up and the view clear.
Sharp Tor
was our next objective, a tor standing proud at 519’ with equally spectacular
360 views. I originally decided to move on to Chat Tor next, but not being the
most scenic tor, we turned to the path for Hare Tor and our proposed picnic
spot for today where we met up with Stella who had been walking in reverse to
the planned route to join up with us. This tor was a great place for a picnic,
with views, a sheltered rock to sit on in lee of the prevailing wind, so what
more could we ask for on a summer’s day walk.
Suitably
fuelled up from our picnic goodies, Ger Tor was next on the list then down a
tricky decent over clitter of varying sizes to the crossing point over
Willsworthy Brook. By now the sun was blazing as we ascended the path to return
to the top ranges and the original tarmac returning us to the start RV.
We got back
unscathed from the ranges, not seen as expendables in an alternative film
called Bullet, we were just glad to look forward to another walk next week.
Charlie