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