A select group of four met at the Two Bridges car park to
start the walk. After a short delay to lock Mike’s van and redirect a lost
member of a local search team we set off on the gravel track to Crockern Tor
farm. A familiar looking toad caught our eye in the dampness, crawling back
onto the grass as we stopped to admire her. After crossing a few new granite blocks we
took the track to Wistman’s wood, stopping at the Buller stone to read the
carving one more time. A small brown beetle caught Kevin’s eye, Nebria
brevicollis, not surprisingly very active on the warm damp night. Passing
the woods in poor visibility we took a promising looking track uphill to our
right, towards the ridge between Littaford and Longaford tors. The track soon disappeared and group members
too, as we looked for the best line to reach the crest. Reuniting near Bee tor we continued North on
the soggy ridge track, up and around the lower tors of Longaford. A lively fika pause was taken on the West
slopes of Longaford Tor near a rock that resembled a whale. The group returned
South along the ridge to Littaford tor and the wall corner that marked the
diagonal descent to the Crockern tor farm.
The promised Beaver Supermoon struggled to show through the clouds and
the distant crackling of fireworks occasionally broke through the silence.
Returning along the gravel track the toad greeted us and helpfully rolled over
to clarify our doubts over her gender.
On reaching the cars the Two Bridges Hotel, so often closed, was open and welcoming to a small group of non-resident
walkers. We enjoyed a fine drink in a lounge with a rather a lot of clocks.