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