WW 26th November 2025

 

It was thick mist at the top of the hill so glad we weren’t heading for the Moors. It was clear as we started along the river in Bere Ferris.  Just three of us, me, him and great to catch up with Liz.

A familiar route along the muddy path by the river and on into the woods. Wet underfoot and wet from above but a pleasant 10 degrees, quiet except for sound of the stream. Grass sparkling in our torch light.

On up to Hole Farm and out onto the road to find the path through fields of clover and the rocky lane back to the river. We decided against the extra planned loop up to the station. The Old Plough was calling.

Short and Sweet.

Stella

TWW 25th November 2025

 

Well obviously the prayer to the sun god had worked – very cold but beautifully sunny with crystal clear views.

We assembled to head off for a search for……… new longhouses!  Well it wouldn’t be my walk would it without at least one!

Off up the path passing the remnants of Wheal Caroline, California or was it merely Statts to the Farm which also goes by the same names- sadly no longhouse here, a bit more modern – ish.  Onwards up across the Moor with our destination coming into sight. 

Well, not really a Longhouse – probably more wooden house, one sided and missing large bits of it, being held down by large ICBs full of water!  But there were two of them with outbuildings – Desolate Farm and Sheep Farm……….  Hmmm…… well yes it was a film set!  Not interested in signing up any TWW extras though.

So after a good poke around the walk was resumed.  Down the hill, past the D stone surrounded in lights – ready to take a starring role maybe?  Into the gloomy forest and to seek a patch of sunshine for a cuppa with a wonderful view of the Assycombe Stone Row.  On down and round stopping for a chat with another security guard, guarding another posse of trucks.  Then up along the Assycombe Glow – presumably these Actors need to have their route lit up in case they get lost. 

Out onto the Moor again and a beeline to Water Hill.  Then down and back past the Farm again to return to the car.  Walk was cut a bit shorter than intended due to the urge for stardom or was it just the lure of the pub!  Whichever way the usual good prompt  meal was had at the Warren House.

 Jane

WW 19th November 2025

 

The first snow walk of this winter!

And what a lovely evening to be out.
The snow was soft, the air clear and the stars were trying to outdo each other in their brightness.
The military sent up multiple flares to also light our way, but I think they got the grid ref. slightly wrong!!

No problem finding the right path tonight, you know my kind of night.
Following the boundary stones to South Hess and following a rather, long haphazard track over variable ground conditions straight to the trig point, golly, golly we are getting good!
Trig still surrounded by a snowy wetness, still standing guard over a lonely, desolate part of the moors.

No problem finding the sodden track to Cramber, though longer than expected, the snow trying it's best to..,...er...,.snow!
Nice warm drink on one  rock that had room for four bottoms...,..some rock. 😆
The army helicopter was flying from Beardown to Plymouth, hovering awhile before flying back again.
Oh well, each to his own!

Down the track towards Hartor, crossing the Hartor Brook. Easy peasy though not quite so easy as in the summer. Punk man was looking decidedly grey, he never moves you know!

Nearly to my favourite tor, no time to stop , down the  rifle range towards Devil's Bridge, over the road on the track to the railway track. Phew nearly home, but will the Prince of Wales still be open?

Thanks back door was locked  NO!!!
We pleaded but no the dratted till had finished for the night.
The front door was open, many people still drinking and making merry, but the barman was having none of it, so went to the Plume who welcomed us warmly with hot chocolate and beers.   So nice.
Oh and  an interesting chat with the Weather Chasers.

All's well if it ends with beer and hot chocolate !!☕

Brenda

TWW 18th November 2025

 

Off we set from Lowery Cross, the nine of us, initially following the route of the old Yelverton to Princetown railway branch line. On first reaching open access land we struck up through the mist on a bearing to barely recognisable boundary work, and this we more or less followed up to Leeden Tor and a coffee stop in the rain.  At this point the clouds parted, providing some fine views reminiscent of Scotland and removing any need for compass use.  From Leeden we dropped down to cross the road and pick up the track below Black Tor, leading to the Devonport Leat acqueduct - a piece of 18th century engineering well worthy of admiration.  One of our number commented that having dropped down the hill to the acqueduct the leat appeared to be gaining in elevation as it heads away towards the forest.  Not so according to the Ordnance Survey.  What does happen to the energy gained in dropping more than 70 metres?   Perhaps a topic for discussion on a future walk.   On then, a pleasant walk along the leat through the forest in emerging sunshine and back to the cars for a short drive to the Burrator Inn.

Peter C

WW 12th November 2025

 

All was calm, all was warm, all was just fine.

Out from the dam expecting the water to be tumbling down - but not a drop. Over and round and down to the muddy track. A quick check and the reservoir must be very nearly full, full, full. Some odd lights and woofing dog by the bank - better not investigate. Over Sheepstor Dam and out to the road. Up Joey's Lane and round where the bikers ensure a muddy way. To the end and the track just disappeared into a pile of fallen timber. Somehow we made our way through and into the arboretum to the very nice bench for a cuppa - goodness me it is warm. Out to Norsworthy where a very nice man, somewhat incongruously, was sitting in his car with a tiny, proper wood burner merrily burning and a video playing on his phone. Ready to dip into the reservoir track but just what is that? South West Water have launched 'Operation Leviathan' - I kid you not! So it must be that there is a really huge primordial beast lurking in the water ready to leap out and devour passing walkers. But NO! it is just they are a tiny bit worried that people might be illegally catching and cooking up fish! I wonder what name they will use when a really giant primordial monster appears? 'Operation nothing to worry about' I suppose. So muddily round and back to the cars. And as we bimbled the rain started to pour, so suitably wet time to don waterproofs.  On to the usual welcome at the Burrator Inn and very nice to see some youngsters shooting pool - proper pub.

A nice evening.

TWW 11th November 2025

A little “bimble” around my back yard

There was a fresh breeze, but it wasn’t actually raining as we assembled at the RV.  Up Gibbet Hill by the most gentle route I could find.  Sadly, the views of the western tors extolled by William Crossing were absent.  The tors all had their heads in the clouds!  Heading down hill in a northeasterly direction, we squelched along at a good pace till we reached the old mine test pit.  Beside the pit is a small girt, an ideal place to get out of the wind for a brew and our 11 O’clock 2 minutes silence.  Suitably refreshed, we headed across the A386 onto Kingsett Down.  The rain came down, quite heavily for a while, driven by the wind, but we strode on to Wheal Jewell Reservoir.  With leaden skies above, and a surface whipped up by the wind the water looked a lot less inviting than it had been the last time we were there.  Westward to Cholwell Brook, up the track to the A386, then past Higher Springs and back to the cars.  In no time we were at the Mary Tavy Inn for a fine lunch.

Phil

WW 5th November 2025

 

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.

Kevin

TWW 4th November 2025

 

Wet Woods in Autumn Colours

Off we set, no time to look at the Church or the Cake stall, we have to be back before the Pub stops serving lunch.

So on on, up up to Manaton Rocks. Why do the places you haven’t been to in a while get steeper?  Still the view was worth it even though it was shortened by the misty rain.

Then down, down, down through the bracken to find the track leading to the ever beautiful Foxworthy.  I do hope someone actually lives in these lovely old houses.

No time to go up to the Tors today, anyway it would have been very wet and windy so turning right we started the very pleasant up and down path through Lustleigh Cleave.

It is a beautiful old wood, old trees and funky fungi. Eventually we met the path from Sharpitor and the Nut Crackers.  Nice of someone to put up sign posts at the path junctions.  So on down to Clam Bridge over the rushing river Bovey. Jon wanted a photo on the Old Bridge. “Is it safe? I said.  “I don’t know” he said!  So us old ladies braved it while most younger members opted for the new sturdy bridge.

Layers were stripped off for the inevitable up, up. And still it rained, at last civilisation I thought when we reached the old barn but there was still more up till finally we came to the aptly named village of Water.

And to the Pub on time. The Kes Tor is a very nice Pub warm welcome, warm fires and good food.

It may have been wet but it was good!

Stella