WW 27th November 2024

 

It's back -  and a jolly fine evening for a sighting. So swiftly up to Yennadon to get a clear view to the west. And there it was, soaring over as bright as ever - brilliant. Down to Burrator Halt and along to check on the leaf catcher - doing a good job. Along the leat and down the road to the track round the reservoir. Hoping to catch a glimpse of the signal red crayfish or even the splash of an otter - no luck. So, popping out at Northsworthy and up the track. All quiet with stars aplenty. To the always wonderful Lethertor Bridge and round. Up past the cave and back to the leat. The track now has to divert as a huge tree has come down - last weekend I guess. So, steadily back to Lowery Cross. A fine evening to be out on the moor.

TWW 26th November 2024

 

We set out across the ford and past the Scout Hut to the entertainment of some young troops being put through their paces.  Up across to Whittenknowles rocks and settlements that sport the very first terraced ……… yes you’ve guessed…….. medieval longhouse!!!

Up the hill and across the Thrusselcombe brook to Higher Hartor Tor.  Wonderful view. Down out of the breeze to lower Hartor for a cuppa and then down through the most wonderful Drizzlecombe with stone rows, cairns, cists and standing stone galore  oh yes and the Giants Basin of course!

On past Ditsworthy Warren House – no rabbits or war horses around today. Round by the path to search for and find a lovely vermin trap, half an apple crusher, an unfinished cross and ……. Hurrah……. Another medieval longhouse.

Over the top of Gutter Tor and back to the cars – oh yes and more sightings of troops running around.

On to a lovely lunch at the welcoming Walkhampton Inn – despite them claiming to not know we had booked – we did honest!

Jane

WW 20th November 2024

 

This evening walk was sprung upon me.! So where to go, snow was expected. Help !!

So, Princetown chosen, now what?
A chance remark made, gave me a "eureka" moment, so........
Meeting in the carpark, three of us set off down the Two Bridges road, turning off to the Devonport Leat path over a dodgy wall. As it had been snowing during the day, this walk was becoming just a bit more difficult, but, hey ho, when the going gets tough, the tough get going !!!!!
Reaching the gate going onto Prison property, still following the leat, we veered off piste, crawled under a gate and found a wonderful clapper bridge over the Blackabrook River. Gingerly over that to find the famous Eleven Arches, 84 metres in length, now listed and which originally carried the 'waste' from the prison to the underground tanks.
Over that, very carefully to find the path next to the leat again.
On through at least two more gates onto the main track that leads to Waldron farm.
Tracking left towards the prison farm, we came to an ominous sign
"You are being watched".
Sent a shiver down my spine, Who. What. Why?
The prison farm was closed in 2004 after a succession of awards for their cattle especially the highland cattle they bred.
Before that in the 1850's, after draining etc of the land, around many crops were also grown for prison consumption. Among them were "mangel wurzels!".
What be they then?
These farm buildings hide a sad tale. Some of the American and French POW's that died were hurriedly buried where the new farm buildings (where we were standing) were to be built. In doing so their bones began to surface. The governor of the time had them all collected up and split between the American and French cemeteries!!
Here endeth your history lesson!!
On on through old woodland and out on to the main road. On up to admire the phone box and up the track towards the radio station and North Hess. Standing atop we admired the views before slipping and sliding back to the always welcoming P of W.
As always great fun.

Brenda

TWW 19th November 2024

 

A classic Dartmoor day for a walk, grey skies and driving rain that held us in our cars until the last five minutes before start time. The rain was coming down sideways and in ‘cats and dogs’ which at least suited my furry walking companion today who couldn’t wait to get going to chase raindrops.

 

Skirting the Kings Oven he headed up to and across Hurston Ridge, that although very wet under foot, at least provided us with some long distant views, and a bonus of decreasing rain, but not wind. Our target for this section being the Fernworthy Reservoir car park that was to be the gateway to the below dam trail and the rest of the walk.

 

As one or two of our group, no names of course, were already feeling thirsty, so not to be cruel, we decided to refresh ourselves with a cuppa at an adjacent hut circle overlooking the choppy water and to some extent our stone seats were out of the wind.

 

Setting off once again, we could see the water cascading down the overflowing dam and into the stream below. Water that was no doubt cold enough to freeze the vital parts off a brass monkey, so a dip was off limits!

 

Eventually we came out onto the tarmac road that surrounds part of the reservoir and then up and into the forest to Assycombe and the stone row found set amongst the trees, a stone row ‘tided up’ by past Victorians, they did mean well though!

 

During our time in the forest, we were sheltered from the effects of the strong wind. This was to drastically change when we were again on open moorland heading up to the cairn on top of Water Hill, by now the weather had once again turned back to driving rain and hail, so we all decided to go straight to the Warren Inn, seeking shelter, a warm fire, and a few calories before returning to our cars and home.

 

Charlie

WW 13th November 2024

 

Still no rain - a beautiful, dry, mild, calm, moonlit evening to set out from Joey's Lane.

Steadily up to Sheepstor with views far and wide, down the back and along - lots of activity at the Scout Hut. To a very peaceful Deancombe Farm where the fallen tree is making a remarkable recovery. Up through the rapidly vanishing bracken to check on the tin - nothing there. And round under Down to lift a snuffling badger going about its business. Up to the tor and a sit to try and spot the taurid meteors. Little chance with such a bright Beaver Supermoon. So, toward the reservoir gleaming clearly. Over Little Down, Snappers and Middleworth to the road. All very, very quiet. Along a bit then round the track back to Joey's. 

A very pleasant evening to be out on the moor. The forecast is for it to turn cold this weekend with the first bite of winter - we will see.

TWW 12th November 2024

 

Another “Two Castles” walk.

As we gathered by the Fingle Bridge Inn, the air was cool, but the sun was shining.  We set off over the bridge, then eastwards along the riverbank. The track then climbed steadily through the trees of Butterdon Ball Wood till we reached Wooston Castle, an Iron Age hill fort with wonderful views of the Teign Gorge. Here we stopped for an early coffee to enjoy the views.  Suitably refreshed, we headed up hill to the car park then along the road to Willingstone Cottages. Through Butterdon Woods, past the Running Deer School (for children with special educational needs) and onto Butterdon Down.  As we approached the summit, we startled a herd of about fifteen deer, including a stag with a fine set of antlers. On reaching the cairn, which is presumed to date from the Bronze Age, we paused briefly to take in the 360-degree views. The breeze was quite fresh, and we were soon on our way heading down to the standing stone. Along the path to Cranbrook and the Castle.  We stopped to admire the triangulation pillar that was moved from the ramparts of the castle in 1993 when it became redundant and was adopted by Moretonhampstead Parish Council.  Up to the castle and its views of Castle Drogo then down, down, down through Charles Wood to the river and a well-earned lunch at the Fingle Bridge Inn.

Phil

WW 6th November 2024

 

Dunnabridge pound.

It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to! The moors were clouded in thick mist, it was raining that fine rain you get with mist, and of course it was very dark.

The track up towards Laughter Hole Farm was easy enough to follow, then left up the wall towards Laughter Tor. A momentary lack of concentration (these seem to be more frequent as age creeps on) meant we followed the wrong wall for a bit. Back on track the path across to the Tor was obvious. After wandering amongst the various tors we started downhill towards the main gate into the forest. What started as a small but clear path deteriorated into something much less obvious and very slow going. When we did eventually get into the woods and followed the main ride round to the steep steps up towards Bellever Tor time was getting on. So no visit to the tor, just a slog along the wall, past the Marine's memorial, to the gate in the corner which is now thankfully unlocked. Again handrailing the wall we got back to the cars in time for a pint.

Not the cleverest of walks but good to be out in some real Dartmoor weather.

Mike

TWW 5th November 2024

 

I do love it when an objective is achieved,  Two Brothers Adit!!!
What a great find, shame we couldn't climb into it, water rather deep at this time of year.
So...,.. we set off from CP below peat cot down the long muddy track to the lonely, spooky Nuns Cross Farm, good place to have a party,👻
Taking a rough path following the devonport leat to the left over several clappers before leaving the leat and following another rough and muddy path and turning roughly north to find the  Headless cross at Whealham bottom. What intriguing name eh?
Turning north up the hill to find another tiny cross with an intriguing history!!
A lesson on using map and compass by the group's elders 😂  set us on the correct course. You try keeping on course when all there is to go by are clumps of grass.
In the meantime flocks of wonderful golden plover gave us a wonderful show.
Finally down towards the great and interesting Eylesbarrow tin mine, Plym Ford  in the distance.
In amongst all the workings seemed a nice place for much needed coffee stop before setting of to find THE ADIT !
Reaching the end of old buildings looking towards Deancombe, Sheepstor and that old favourite Drizzlecombe, we started searching for my desired objective, made it more difficult because a lot of workings were fenced off.
But I knew Two Brothers wasn't.
We all spread out in the search, but again the elders found it first. Yay, it's beautiful, the water was so clear but a little too deep to venture in.  Rather dark too, pitch black I'd say.
So all the excitement over it was back to the cars by various ways, my way, following an old wall back to Eylesbarrow rock and the cobra and follow the boundary stones back to the cars.
The Plume was full, (makes a change) where most of us had something different from our much loved baguettes. The service was very quick and we were made welcome.
I must find more adits !¡!!!

Brenda