WW 30th July2025

 

Another perfect evening for a comfortable walk.

Just two met up at Gutter Tor CP, where some potholes have been filled in. A new temporary car park made up and signposted. Bright pink signs you know!   Orange fencing to keep the sightseers out.
Get my drift?   All in the cause of making a new film !!

But first, on to the very stony and uncomfortable track towards Eylesbarrow or even "Gyllesburgh" one of the larger tin mines eventually closing in the 1852. So many industrial remains......
Water wheels, adits, many shafts, lines of flat rods, the smithy house, the side wall of stamping mill no2.
What a place it must have been!

Turning off to Higher Hartor pausing to wonder whether dark clouds gathering in the west would empty their contents on us or pass us by.
Lucky us, they passed to the north of us.

Down to the large cairn known as Giants Basingstoke, sadly ravaged by trophy hunters many years ago but now a very pleasant place for sustenance.
Off again on the track to Ditsworthy Farm. Woweee, changed by film makers into a very desirable residential property!
Unfortunately stopped from taking photos by a lone security guard from London.  Stays awake all night, sleeps all day in an hotel.
Some of the filming of Jane Austin's "Sense and Sensibility" will be taking place here. There was a new tiled roof complete with moss, lovely new windows and door complete with ivy etc. There was even a little garden made up in the grounds.
I could live there!!

So, over back down Edward's Path, no military today, just a couple of bright green tents in the near distance.

The Royal Oak was clearing up as we arrived, no other customers, so we enjoyed our drink and chat about gardens and flowers.

All very pleasant, it was.

Brenda

TWW 29th July 2025

 

To misquote Mick Jagger - “you can’t always get where you wanna”:- sometimes you just have to go where the paths take you.

A murky and rather damp start from Shilstone Tor. It really is not one of the spectacular Tors of Dartmoor - diminutive enough even before the stonemasons got their hands on it.

The original plan was to visit Scorehill circle and the tolmen stone but loads of gorse bushes got in the way combined with a few bad path choices. (None of which seemed to go in the right direction.) Maybe a compass would have helped. Anyway the murk started to lift and we reached the stone rows under Cosdon Beacon. A stop for coffee then on the long track to the stone circle beyond Little Hound Tor surprisingly dry compared to its usual state. Just past the large White Moot Stone we turned off on a one sheep track to the top of Kennon Hill. At last a huge motorway of a track taking us off in the right direction, this soon deteriorated back into another one sheep track but this time through about a kilometre of waist high bracken where it seems some people managed to pickup a few ticks! Just a matter now of finding a good track back to the cars, unfortunately even now the track disappeared at times into the previously mentioned swathe of gorse. Surprisingly we arrived at the cars dead on time.

On to the Northmoor Arms (now apparently open all day every day) where the inside had changed little except for the tall landlady who was pleased to cook our lunches and didn’t seem to mind if we moved an odd chair- that was a change! A shame the Thai Fishcakes had all gone.

    Mike

WW 23rd July 2025

 

Well, the school holidays have started and we all know exactly what that means. Absolutely guaranteed wind and rain for at least six weeks. But NO!

So, out from Four Winds on a beautiful evening. A few clouds, the sun still high in the sky and a most pleasant breeze. Out along to check on the stone rows and the menhir - all well. Down to easily cross the Pilla Brook and steadily up to King's Tor. It really is a super tor and, once again, we speculated what all these tors must have looked like before the granite grabbers got stuck into them. Across to Swell Tor and round exploring all the signs of little buildings, small quarries and the sett makers. Nice to be there on a bright sunny evening. To the Blacksmith's Shop; always a nice spot for a cuppa. Then round the tracks to Sailors' Home Quarry - now that will be a drought when the pond dries out. The steady track taking us across to Foggintor and along by Yellowmead. The sun had been hiding behind a bank of Cornish cloud but decided to pop out for a brilliant sunset. By the Red Cottages and another very pleasant track back to the cars: lots of campervanners enjoying their evening.

Up to the Prince of Wales in good time. We only just got a pint as tidying up and closing time was rushing along.

Such a lovely evening, the nights are definitely drawing in, all the more opportunities for fabulous sunsets.

TWW 22nd July 2025

 

Ten of us set off under overcast skies & like Old King Cole, when we were up, we were up & when we were down… Everywhere was overgrown with bracken so it became a bit of a challenge to get anywhere. We had coffee by the river then a long humid climb up an old drovers' lane at West Shallowford to lunch in the breeze on the open moor where we had a tiny bit of drizzle. After lunch the bracken began to give way to a dazzling display of yellow gorse intermingled with purple heather. Beautiful as it was, the short trouser brigade ended up cut & bleeding. Charlie was heard to mutter ”I didn’t realise that I was donating blood today". 

Good walk Colin but you may not be asked to lead again!

Amber

WW 16th July 2025

 

The plan was to see the Hares again.

Back to typical Dartmoor weather when we arrived at Cox Tor Car Park. Donning full wet weather gear we watched a little girl chasing around on roller skates enjoying the rain.

We set off into the mist towards Prowtytown Rocks and on down to look over the field walls but no hares were out to play tonight. Probably snuggled down in the undergrowth. Along and up - the grass decked out in raindrop diamonds. At last to skirt round Pew Tor Quarry and on to the Tor itself. The rain eased and no wind so a pleasant coffee stop.

We threaded our way down through rocks to the big track to Vixen, safely through the boggy bit. No trespassing tonight.

So many paths none seemingly going in quite the right direction, however we arrived neatly over the little stream by a boundary stone and on over the leat, time to inspect the wheelwright’s stone then, lead by the old man of the Moors, back to the cars.

Wet but nice.

Stella

TWW 15th July 2025

 

Seven TWWs on the day and “the Barking One” set out from our High Down RV, helped by a strong tailwind. We soon easily crossed the diminished River Lyd and followed a flexible route skirting Great Nodden, navigating thick summer foliage and old mining waste heaps along the way we soon had a cuppa break further along that brought clear “top of the world” views for us and, luckily, no rain as forecast by the weather experts.

Our group then ascended to the WWII B-17 crash site at Tiger Marsh, crossing wet ground near the Lyd Head. A new granite memorial stone now honours the five crew members who died and the three who survived the tragic crash on Christmas Day 1943.

After paying respects, we continued uphill to Gren Tor, skipped Kitty Tor, and met a well-equipped group of young walkers heading the other way aiming for Hunt Tor. The weather and dry ground made for ideal walking conditions for all of us today.

We picnicked at the ruins of Bleak House, once home to the Rattlebrook Peat Works manager, and then moved on to Dick’s Well, where the Barking One had a spirited encounter with a defiant black sheep – still a work in progress for him I feel!

The walk finished with a descent past Brat Tor, thus completing a circular route back to our original River Lyd crossing and parked cars soon to be reached.

 Charlie

WW 9th July 2025

  

What better place for an evening walk, beside the River Tamar starting  at Lopwell dam?

Many others it would seem, paddle boarders of all abilities, swimmers, picnickers.
Just a small hold up getting there. Dozens of young pheasants crossing the road in their usual panic. I have advice for you lot, fly, fly, fly as far as possible, as fast as you can!

Walking back the way we came and off into the woods to the left (only open at certain times of year) a beautiful fritillary butterfly settled on a branch showing off it beauty. The trees giving us some shade from the still very sunny evening, passing over roads , more woods, and on to the long path reminiscent of the jungle at Dunsford.

At Pounds Cross taking the road off right and shortly after, right again on the track to Blaxton Quay, the old oaks of Blaxton Woods leaning further and further  towards the river. The views of the opposite bank with Bere Ferrers are stunning, always worth a stop to take it all in.......and have a drink and snackette, of course. Not many birds on the mudflats,  a few egrets, and a flock of ducklings without Mum.

Walking past the quay the boathouse was looking a bit posh with its new roof and two lads fishing and crabbing. We watched and chatted with them, so nice to have the time to do that. Over a very rickety stile on to another overgrown path full of the herb meadowsweet apparently good for your joints, stomach problems and all manner of ailments. Also used for sweetening mead hence another name for it, meadsweet.

The much extended Who'd of Thought It at Milton Combe made us welcome, where we perused the rather nice menu.
Just for future use you know.

Brenda

TWW 8th July 2025

 

An ideal day for a walk, a bit of sun, a bit of cloud and a pleasant breeze.  From the Fox and Hounds, we set off along the track to Nodden Gate, and then up to Great Nodden.  A pause to take in the views of Sourton, Arms and Gt Links Tors along with the farm land stretching west across Devon and into Cornwall. After posing for the obligatory photo, we headed on northwards to the old tramway.  At the bridge over the track to Southerly, we stopped to survey a number of large pieces of granite that appeared to have been worked but apparently rejected by the masons who built the bridge.  Passing through a herd of cows who seemed not the slightest bit bothered by us or Hughey, and on to “the points”, an ideal stop  for a brew.

Suitable refreshed, we continued along the tram way to Lake Down, and then descended to the viaduct.  Passing under the viaduct, we stopped to marvel at the workmanship of those who built the viaduct in 1864 -74 to carry a single railway track, and then widened it in 1878 to accommodate a second track.

After crossing the A386 at Lake, we picked up the West Devon Way, and headed south.  Thanks to the recent dry weather, crossing Cranford Brook was no problem.  Looking to the east, we had fine views of the early part of our route.  On reaching Station Road, we had a gentle up hill section back to the pub for a well earned lunch.

A shortish, flattish walk with a pub at the end.  Hopefully this kept the troops happy.

Phil

WW 2nd July 2025

A most pleasant cooling northerly to head out from Lowery Cross. The sun so high in the sky and all green, green, green. To where the level crossing was and over the style. Down through the woods and out of the always muddy gate to the leat. Along, along to drop down by the fairy/bear cave to the always wonderful Lethertor Bridge. Up the Meavy to cross at the planks with hardly a cloud in the sky. Up the wide track back to the leat and over. More up to the wall corner - but what is that? It was a raptor of some type - seemed to have red legs and a barred tail. It must be a sparrowhawk as it dashed away behind the wall. More gentle up to the main road and across to the old, old bridleway heading for Rundlestone. Back along the railway track with the soft bells of Sampford Spiney ringing out.  The sun seemed very reluctant to set. Surely these long, long, warm, sunny evenings will go on forever ...

TWW 1st July 2025

 

Evening all

The walk was long, very long.
The blog will be short, very short (Wimbledon is on).

This was a walk hampered by misfortune.
1st. Road closures with enough lorries and equipment to  resurface  the M5.
2nd. Redirected to Mardon Down. That's fine no problem there.
So off to the uninspiring giant's grave and that underwhelming headless cross.  Something about anything headless, I'm not  sure about.
Down through cool, calm woods, right down to the river, lovely serene place for refreshments.
Over Clifford Bridge to the place where millions of daffodils grow, but not today, was well covered with the all consuming bracken, shame!
Still following the very tame Teign river, but showing the signs of very turbulent past. An early lunch was peacefully taken before arriving at our original destination Steps Bridge.
3rd. Then things started to a weensy bit wrong. Trying to get back to the cars the track became narrower and narrower until we were in a head high jungle of bracken, brambles slapping you in the face and low branches attacking your head  then through ancient unnamed packhorse lanes. In fact I think we discovered them!!
Finally out on modern roads to Doccombe, pretty village.
The up some more lanes and back to the cars.
What was supposed to be approx. 6½ miles was nearer 10 !!!!

Never mind .... Challenge done. X
PS
     Tina Turner was phenomenal
      "Simply the best"
And I danced all evening in my seat
Yay !!!!! Just like all the rest.

Brenda