Today’s walk had a hidden theme of structures through the
ages. A small group assembled in the
forest car park at Postbridge and immediately lost two members – it really is a
good idea to remember to bring your coat at this time of year!
Off across the road and a quick pop in to the Visitor Centre
then down the road across the bridge and a quick wave at the wonderful clapper
bridge. Then on to a meander round the
back lanes of Postbridge – it always amazes me how much there is hidden behind
the main road through the village. A
brief pause at the Cemetery and then onwards past the lovely but slightly weird
(or spooky) Lower Merripit. The house of
course started life as a medieval longhouse and you can still see where it
would have had a thick thatched roof!
Onwards up the bridleway to cross the road and the lower
slopes of Merripit Hill to the next road.
Across again then up the grassy track pausing to find the remains of the
probable accommodation building and then the bomb shelter before reaching the octagonal
concrete base of the High Frequency Direction Finding station. It would have been a wooden building constructed
in 1942 part of Operation Pipsqueak but was never operational being succeeded
by more advanced systems. It made a good
bench to perch on for a cuppa!
To the top of Merripit Hill and follow the wall to its end
and round past the Vitifer Mine Leat (disused) twice to find the stone row –
well it is allegedly there buried under the rampant Molinia grass – “one of the
least spectacular on the Moor”.
Following it up to the virtually non-existent cairn “and it is just
possible that the internment remains undisturbed “.
Contouring round to visit briefly a wonderful Bronze Age
settlement and then down to a medieval enclosure and …….. you’ve guessed it…….
the remains of a Longhouse – well it is my walk – unusual in that if runs
across the slope rather than down. Some
got really excited about this …… well to
be honest……. just me 😊.
Up then to Stannon Tor to find a bit of shelter from the
breeze to enjoy the view and picnic.
Beautiful views all the way north and south. On the final leg now. Down to admire the 18th century
Sheepfold firstly built for a potato growing starch venture possibly before the
sheep moved in. Along the ridge, over
Hartland Tor down to the river and back to the starting point via an ice-cream
stop for some of us.
A walk that was pretty wet underfoot but in the end not wet from the sky!
Jane