They do say it’s a good idea to recce a walk before the
actual day. Well for once this had been
done and a goodly chunk of the proposed route was discarded – well actually
sank without trace in an impenetrable bog.
So on the day we set off from the Old/New Inn car park at Widecombe
forewarned with some ideas of where to go to make up for the lost section. Well the old adage came back to haunt me – no
I hadn’t recced these bits. Oh well.
Back to the beginning.
Up the road, stopping to admire the ‘Miol’ stone marking the distance
the French paroled Officers were allowed to go from the centre of Widecombe. Then up onto the open moor – and yes it was
‘up’, lots of it and very steep – sorry it wasn’t just an attempt to kill off
the group, honest! Finally the heights
of Honeybag Tor were achieved with magnificent views on this cool but occasionally
sunny day. The unrecced idea was now to
head to Hedge Tor however viewing the down and then up the leader decided to
abandon this.
On then down and up to Chinkwell. And yes, the idea was to try and find the
unrecced DS stone marking Slades Well. A
bit of wandering around and then this too was abandoned, though one intrepid
explorer did manage to find the marker and provided photographic evidence once
they caught up. A welcome coffee stop on
the top of Chinkwell and then on.
Down past Bell Tor, across the road to visit Bonehill Rocks
before heading on to cross another road.
The next point was Top Tor to admire more views then to Pil Tor. Skirting back above Hollow Tor and viewing
down on to the previously abandoned route of the impossible bog. Picking up the road down into Widecombe,
passing the lovely restored Northway Farm looking mighty fine – I can remember
when it was a true Dartmoor farm complete with brood of puppies in the barn. 😊 And I’m sure it was originally a Medieval
longhouse!
A welcome drink and lunch at the Old/New Inn – one day I will remember it’s name and find out why I get it confused. There was a little wait as an unexpected coach party had arrived. And yes, I will try to remember to recce everything in future, honest!
Jane