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