WW 30th April 2025

 

How does an ordinary walk become extraordinary !!

How does a "so so" walk  take on a very different outlook? It was the eve of Beltane, so maybe the change of seasons made a difference.
'Twas a beautiful evening to be out walking, blue sky, magnificent sunset, far reaching views..... but NO birdsong, nothing, total silence, no birds. No skylarks twittering their warnings above their nests. No sheep either.
We did see an awesome army helicopter, very loud,  passing BELOW us in the valley  the late evening sun glinting off the gun metal body.
Sometimes it pays to be up high !
Short drinks break taken before making our way down to inspect  the ethereal Wistmans Wood, 
Darn it I've given the game away !
No signs of illegal BBQs, partying or weeing on the sacred moss this evening., just one solitary song thrush singing at the top of its voice.
The track seems to have had much repair work done which made it somewhat easier to walk back to the cars.
All this without getting headtorches out of our rucksacks.
Welcome drinks at the Two Bridges, served as always by po-faced staff . I don't think they really like their jobs.
Sometimes evening walks are just different!!

Brenda

TWW 29th April 2025

 

A beautiful day to explore another patch of the Bere Peninsula and  treats in store at Rumleigh House.

A late start from the station with some of us becoming diverted and delayed by Denham Bridge's closure and a parade of giant agricultural vehicles in narrow Pound Lane ! 

Nine folk (including our member from Gloucestershire) and two dogs departed the station and up around New Road to join the footpath across the fields into Bere Alston. There, a shop stop worked well, then through the park and along the footpath at The Down. An ancient stone stile to climb and soon the path began to descend. 

What a view ! Tors and more ! Our path now a track curved past young orchards down into Leigh Farm's spacious yard and more (more elderly) fruit trees.

Leigh's long lane led us to Hunter's Oak and we continued along that flowery lane, and over a milestone marked crossroad. Our track was now a bridlepath and a pile of weathered logs formed a hasty snack stop with a superb view over the Tamar Valley. 

Down to Little Gawton and left for the somewhat sketchy footpath through Slymeford's horsefields to follow a narrow, nettley edge of field path running parallel to a nice driveway. Not wanting to find the gates at the end locked we persisted through nettles but next time....

Rumleigh's high roofs now seen and the driveway swept us round to the graceful view of Georgian/Victorian slate hung genteelness.

Our visit (in aid of St Luke's Hospice) surpassed all expectation. At this point we were joined by our "walking wounded" members, so good to see.

Our hosts were delightful and generous with their time and efforts. We learned of previous owners wealth sources and ventures, explored the walled garden, had "light" refreshments including sandwiches, savoury tartlets, chocolate brownies and Victoria sponge.

 We were led through meadows on mown paths. Ghosts of greenhouses loomed through tangles of vegetation, by the river we stood on the site of an old Quay, "found" a limekiln, an overgrown and silted up dock and the remains of a summerhouse. Lovely trees framing views and spring foliage and flowers all around.

Soon, with goodbyes and thanks, we left to return to the station through steep lanes and a total of over 7 miles recorded.

Anne

WW 23rd April 2025

Driving to the RV via Denham Bridge the banks and woods were carpeted with bluebells. Early? I don’t know, I don’t keep a diary.

Setting off across the dam at Burrator and over the wall into the woods we were going to be in for a treat. But no, not a bluebell in sight, lots of leaves, amongst which Brenda spotted a solitary flower poking its head up.

So along through the beautiful oak woods, over the Sheepstor brook cascading down to the Meavy and on to the stile in the corner where there were indeed a few flowers but they all need more time.

On down to the lovely Yeo Farm, over higher Meavy bridge then following the footpath across a couple of fields with a stop for refreshment sitting on a granite roller. Back into the woods following the wall in the direction of Dousland until the wood almost ran out. It was then a matter of crossing the old leat and the road to pick up the dismantled railway in a world of bright yellow gorse glowing in the fading light.

Back to the cars and on to the Burrator for a pint. (No over priced steaks on the board tonight.)

First night walk without the use of torches- is that a contradiction?

Mike

TWW 22nd April 2025

 

It was good to visit The Range again today in promising weather, no not that Range, Willsworthy Rifle Range of course in quiet mode for the month of April allowing six TWWs and furry friend to take on a beautiful route.

Following the tarmac access road, we made our way upward to White Hill where two people on horseback walked past, furry friend ran over to say a personal up-close hello, riders smiled, horses were unmoved all was well on this occasion.

Doe Tor was our next point to reach via the Wallabrook Head that was pretty dry for this time of year. The Doe Tor summit provided the perfect spot for our cuppas out of the breezy wind, with spectacular views to boot.

Refreshed, we went upward to the peak of Sharp Tor. At 519m a warm up act to Chat Tor at 542m. A Tor not the most scenic, but how could we not make a visit to it having come this far!

Hare Tor followed for a picnic with yet another view not to miss, each of us sucking in the outdoor occasion whilst munching our chosen foods, perhaps thinking it was so good to be able to be there.

Down from Hare Tor, Ger Tor was next on the visit list, easy to get to via a bone dry and well-trodden path.

Leaving this Tor we were on the homeward stretch, back to the firing range. Our route though was not the easiest under foot, but no problem on this fine day. The path would eventually take us to the ford over Willsworthy Brook, but before the stepping stones of the ford we passed through a gap in a stone wall adjacent to a protruding and upright stone that actually looked like the head of a cat, well for some of us it did! Some even wondered how far the stone went underground, who knows? We do know though mystery surrounds such thoughts!

Crossing the ford safely, furry friend decided to ‘find’ the bottom half of a lamb’s leg – with hoof and wool still attached, a snack for later he must have thought. By the time I got home it was magically gone, to a dark warm place no doubt!

Anyway, up from the ford we soon came ‘full circle’ on our walk as we were back on the outward access road leading back to our cars, another walk completed across glorious Dartmoor.

Charlie

WW 16th April 2025

 

Just, one of those sublime evenings. Where I suppose in reality nothing much happens; it is all so, so subtle. To spend two hours enjoying the sunset is fabulous.

Out from Oakley Cottage in bright sunshine and wanderingly to the quarry. Despite all the rain of the past 24 hours almost empty with green algae. Last time we visited there were 30+ smallish goldfish and now there seem to be one or two great big ones - how can that be? Hope they survive. Up to Pew and down to the dew pond which was quite healthy. Onward to Heckwood as the sun gently eased and down. Up round Vixen Tor - of course we did not go in. To find a really super benchlike rock for a cuppa and to gaze at the light show. Up to the leat and round a bit before taking the old track to Windy Post. On back to Pew when discretion led us to don torches. To the cars and to the Whitty - which was rammed. It was quiz night.

And; if we had got there two hours earlier and if we got all the questions right, then the jackpot decider question would have netted us £245. Wow.

So, another really super evening walk - thanks Dartmoor.

TWW 15th April 2025

 

When we recced the walk it was a lovely day. Since then it has been both dry and, sunny & warm but today started  with a heavy rain warning which ended the summer of 2025. We started off in the rain from Cadover but still had visibility to admire the china clay works! Along the way we came across several bronze age settlements, stone rows, pillow mounds & even the round remains of an unused flag pole base supposedly for Devonport but still in good shape & intact. The rain eased during the hike until the final section of uphill towards the cars. Lunch was at the Burrator inn & better than a wet sandwich on the moors.

Colin & Amber  

TWW 8th April 2025

 

A bright warm day and low tide at Cotehele Quay as we wandered slowly past primroses and reedbeds before crossing the bridge over the river Morden. After pausing a while below the limekilns we continued up the hill, turning sharp right on to a broad track, gaining height through the woods. 

There were stunning views across the Tamar as we skirted a lush field before reaching Bohetherick and the first of several roadside stalls. Flowers, eggs, vegetables and first purchases were made. A coffee stop at the Who'd have thought it pub, and not far until more temptations at a roadside stall where even leeks were purchased. 

Through St Dominick to another stop, this time at the beautiful Grade 1 listed church of St Dominica.

(She was daughter of an Irish king, and landed at Halton Quay with her brother Indract in 689. He was murdered near Glastonbury whilst returning from a pilgrimage to Rome but Dominica stayed, having founded a religious settlement near Halton, marked as "Chapel" on OS map.)

Moving on, an elusive footpath to be found, and then down the steep track to Radland Mill, the ghosts of daffodil fields still amongst the trees. A choice of routes back to Cotehele Quay, so along the Morden Valley, over Boar"s Bridge and past Cotehele Mill to hot pasties and good company back at the quay side.

Anne

WW 2nd April 2025

Postbridge.

An old classic we haven’t done for a while. Classic walks are classic because they are usually good!

Leaving Postbridge on the steady climb up to Broadun Rocks the usual mud and squelch seemed to have completely disappeared, how often can you say that at the beginning of April?

On to the waterfall hoping for a spectacular sunset but the sun rapidly dropped behind the hills and the lack of cloud meant no reflected rays. A short stop for a drink by the much diminished falls. Following the old leat for a while we dropped down to find the gate which led us toward beehive hut. A short hunt for the track up through the furze bushes to gain the ridge to Heartland Tor and a pleasant bimble back to Postbridge.

Initially the East Dart looked hopeful, all lit up outside, but in darkness inside. So on to the ever faithful Prince of Wales which had the door locked despite the activity inside. Brenda bless her managed to blag her way in - she does seem to be good at that!

Mike

TWW 1st April 2025

 

“The answer my friend is blowing in the wind” ... .and it certainly was blowing on today’s walk, a strong easterly to accompany the TWWs; the answer, an effective kit layer was essential as we set off!

Our walk today was a pretty basic ‘route one’ walk, starting from Princetown up the marked track, past South Hessary Tor. With distant views to the right of Hart and Black Tors, we progressed to the site of Whiteworks, the disused tin workings of a bygone industrial age. The real bonus as we walked down the road to Whiteworks for me was the view to our right of Fox Tor Mire and the distant Fox Tor itself, both crystal clear in the morning sunshine – an outstanding view for all.

We used the Whiteworks ruins as the seated stop for our cuppas, carefully avoiding the fenced off deep former mine shaft that must have led to a place none of us want to end up!

Refreshments finished we continued upward and across the small Strane River and on the now dry grassy path that would take us nearly past the former Swincombe intake works site and to the Dartmoor Way where we turned left, again on the clearly defined path that gave us sight of the distant TV mast on atop of North Hessary Tor.

Although the wind was as keen as ever, the sun tempted us to delayer, but still too cool for that. With Royal Tor now to our left we looked for a ‘sheltered’ spot to have our picnic. The best we could find was what looked like a girt at Cholake Head, at least it was dry and slightly out of the wind!

Now we were on the home straight after our picnics, aiming for Bull Park and the rocky path up to New London and the main road in Princetown, a path seemingly getting hotter with each step as we neared the village. However, before the village there was an opportunity for a glance into the ‘Crock of Gold’, an ancient cist just off our path below Royal Tor. The cist, so it is said, once contained a chieftain’s gold robbed out long ago, but we nevertheless still glanced in hope!

Charlie