WW 29th October 2025

Surprisingly mild at the car park, hardly a breath. All looked calm with no snow expected this time. A nice half moon shining guided us up Gutter Tor. And there, faintly glowing, red and green stick lights and soft voices. So quietly round and down and on to Ditsworthy Warren House when big lights approached, just what could it be? A lone cyclist heading out to star gaze. Down over the brook and up to the menhir with stars all around and even a bright shooting star. Up to Giant's Grave, always a nice spot for a cuppa. With stars shining brightly should be no problem finding the way round. So, of course, the cloud came in. Steadily on to seek out Drizzlecombe Brook which gently bent us round to find the main track. Down, down to the Scout Hut where there emerged lots of quiet, dark soldiers on a night navigation exercise. Goodness me they are looking younger and younger. Either they are getting younger or we must be getting older. Back to the cars and on to a quiet and most tastefully decorated Burrator Inn. Even Halloween can be done nicely.

TWW 21st October 2025

Mists and gentle rain greeted us at Norsworthy and the gritty, scoured out cobbled lane led up to the old farm ruins of Nosworthy. Here the thick moss hides many buildings and smaller features.

Following the track above the Meavy we crossed via Leathertor Bridge. Up past the potato cave and then successful guided hunt for the fogou (more common in West Cornwall, this is the only one in Devon).

The ruins of Leathertor Farm towered castle like. A possible apple press base explored behind but no conclusions yet.

Along to the leat next we followed it's course to the complex remains of several farms at Stanlake. 

A longhouse hunter's delight, there may be five here! With structures preceded by Bronze age huts it is a village fossilized  through the ages of many thousands of years.

No records of who lived here until miner Richard de la Stentlake in 1281. The older buildings and circles even had glimpses of the sea from their higher vantage point.

Along the leat now, past the replacement Indian head and on up the Raddick Hill section, seemingly no one's favourite section but better to go up rather than down!!

Past Crazywell Pool and veering on to southerly track now,  Cockle Gate and Roundypark ahead. Not enough time for Classiwell and Kingsett although in view.

Ralph Cockle commemorated his longhouse building by carving 

RC 1648 on his entrance lintel (now safe at Burrator Discovery Centre in Wembley Walk). 

Hut circles cleverly repurposed at Roundy Park, an intriguing  multi century settlement like Stanlake.

Downhill now along the abundant "fungi walk" track within the woods and into the once backyard of Norsworthy Farm.

Perfect timing to a local hostelry where pre-ordering is a tricky hoop to jump through. Especially if you are a crab. !!

Anne

WW 15th October 2025

 

This turned out to a magical mystery tour. Magical because it became full of promise, we may have seen fairies, elves, maybe even a goblin or two.

Mystery....  I made it up as I went along !

So, the track to Grenofen Bridge is getting rougher, the underside of my car took a bashing, perhaps it's the way I drive it! Off back over the bridge, no salmon to be seen, through the gate that leads  to the wonderful Gem bridge. The swing is still  there ,but looking in need of some TLC so no swinging tonight. Everything has an ethereal quality in our torchlight. On and over the skew bridge, quite difficult to build, something to do with angles and things, you know. Up to the Down, to take in the familiar treeline and down the long long track to Bucktor .

This is where the magic begins, we spotted wonderful creative fungi, different sorts of honey fungus I think, glowing in the torchlight, taking on an out of this world experience. And it gets better, but first a little sit down and refreshment at Double waters and watch the dark, sparkling waters racing by. Watching midges and dragonflies by torchlight, myriads of tiny fish ( sticklebacks, minnows??) in the sheltered shallows. 
I didn't want to leave.

On round the lump of rock and up the track and down again to the river, past the waterfall bit, so beautiful that bit and on towards the chimney stack.  We stood open mouthed, gasping..... No not for a beer this time........but for a truly magnificent castle of glistening fungi surrounded by smaller settlements. We took photos which really didn't do it justice, before reluctantly moving on back to the parked cars.

Back to the Whitty where an old hasher was enjoying a wine. A nice chat and a beer  was enjoyed.

So a very pleasant end to our magical mystery walk !!

Brenda

TWW 14th October 2025

 

Today the sun shone, the temperature was good as we set off from Cox Tor car park so an acceptable picnic stop was possible!

Following a dry path up towards the Staple Tors our walk began, starting with Little, Middle and finally Great Tor gently increasing in height as the warm-up act to the rest of the walk.

Next to be scaled was Roos Tor. Nothing to do with a lost Aussie back in the day, but it is believed this name may possibly be from Rhôs or Rôo, signifying, in Welsh or Cornish, a healthy mountain. Out of the wind it was a very suitable place to stop for a healthy cuppa / snack and a panoramic view.

Refreshed, we set off for Langstone Moor and the ‘rearranged’ stone circle that was nevertheless still worthy of a view or a welcome seat. Still talking of stone, from the circle we continued to a stand-out Dartmoor menhir (apparently a French noun for standing stone!). The stone was re-erected in 1893 by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, shot at by Americans in WW2 for D-Day prep, but is thankfully still standing, for modern day exploration by the TWWs.

We could see our picnic stop from the menhir, that being White Tor, glinting a welcoming flickering orange light caused by sunlight reflecting off the chimney cowling of the observation hut. More super views from our stopping point, plus providing the bonus of the peaceful sound of silence to accompany our food.

Peaceful reflection finished, heading down to Wedlake was next, missing Stephen’s Grave on this occasion. During this section, and in fact during the whole walk, hundreds of sheep were being gathered by modern day shepherds on quads or even a 4x4 pick-up – sadly no horses these days.

Crossing Wedlake’s small stream we had a long steady climb upwards, keeping Cox Tor to our right as we approached the Dew Pond to await the last two of our group to catch-up, who, as they approached, seemed to take on the look of two of the von Trapp family as they were silhouetted against the distant ‘hills were alive’ backdrop horizon. Only the singing was missing in this scene!

Now dropping down to our start point, we all jumped at the chance for a group ‘Willy’s Ice-cream’ - a very good way to end an autumn walk in the sunshine.

Although a very observant walker noticed a (one) squashed insect on the front wing of my car meaning hours of cleaning for me when I got home, still at least I had a lovely walk!

Charlie

WW 8th October 2025

 

After rather a cloudy day the promise was for the clouds to clear and the Harvest Moon to appear.

So, out from Norsworthy Bridge and up the fungus trail. Lots and lots to see and the slugs were having a feast. Out to the track and a change of plan as the wonderful moon started to appear. Passing Raddick Lane and down through the fields to Kingsett (dating from 1330!). Over the wee bridge and steadily up to Down. Barely a breath of wind so the summit made a good spot for a cuppa. The Harvest Moon shining brightly and the Eddystone winking away. Over to Hingston Hill where the moon provided a fine backdrop to the stone row. Across to Combeshead and on to Cuckoo Rock shining in the moonlight. The neat track easily took us down to the main track and back. On to the Burrator Inn in good time for a nice pint. All very, very quiet and we were the last to leave at 1010.

A most pleasant evening to be out on the moor.

TWW 7th October 2025

 Prewley Moor

A good turn out this week, eleven walkers + Huey, best for some time. Across Prewley Moor with another group silhouetted on the skyline, obviously examining the iceworks. Past the north facing ‘corrie’ and up to Shelstone Tor, no heroics on the Logan stone today. A steepening down, down to the weir and footbridge over the Okement where there were lots of rocks to sit on for a cuppa. On round Vellake Corner past the lovely old bridge to nowhere. From there it was simply a case of following the track round Meldon Reservoir, which is back to full again, but not yet overflowing.

Leaning on the gate next to the car park were two farmers looking at their heard of Shetland Ponies. They were rather cute and I am sure if Brenda had been with us we would never have got away. On up the bridle way across South Down to eventually merge with the West Devon Way and so through the gate near Prewley Water Works and the cars.

It was good to find out that The Fox And Hounds is still in the hands of Frank's family and being run by his offspring. But dear me it was quieter than anyone had ever seen it, maybe a sign of the times.

      Mike

WW 1st October 2025

 

Two Bridges car park - no not that way - up the road a bit and through the deep dark wood - could have done with torches early - lots of trip hazards - up past Beardown Farm with all its new camping signs - past a couple of campers sat by their fire - on up through the plantation - following the track uphill- try and find Beardown Tor - simple follow on uphill - ground getting a bit rough - time for torches - suddenly enveloped in thick mist - not so simple now - a bit of a wander round - then there it is flagpole and all - compass out to take us down the valley to the leat - my goodness some of the grass has reached excessive heights this year - along the leat to the weir - an easy peasy crossing - not much water - a stop for a drink on the wall - over the stile - up a bit to find the track along the valley - past Wistmans Wood - goodness the track goes on forever - suddenly there is Crockern Farm - a short walk along the drive back to the cars- late - all the pubs firmly shut with lights out - never mind - good to be out!

    Mike