Tuesday 22nd December - Long Ash

A very wet morning as we set off from Long Ash.

Down the slippery path to.....

Gem Bridge.

The plan had been to follow the river to Magpie Bridge but there was too much water where we were meant to walk so we went up to a higher path.

On to my house for mulled wine and mince pies and then out towards Yelverton through more slippery mud.

Back along the top.

Lunch was in the café at Long Ash as the London Inn had too many for Christmas lunches.

With Bill, Jane, Colin, Amber, Charlie, Terry and Rosemary

Tuesday 15th December - Mary Tavy

On a dull grey day we started from the church in Mary Tavy.

It is here that William Crossing is buried. His famous Guide to Dartmoor was published in 1909. He is considered to be one of the best known authors on Dartmoor and it's antiquities. It is believed that he was responsible for the modern activity of letterboxing. There is a memorial to him on Dartmoor at Cranmere Pool and also at Duck's Pool.

We followed the footpath through a couple of fields and then came to this listed building known as Miners Dry, Wheal Friendship Mine. This was used by miners to dry their clothes and apparently is the only surviving example of this type of building on Dartmoor.

Through another field where there was a huge pile of timber next to this log splitting machine.

On the other side of the field a variety of free range chickens.

We continued past the first of two small reservoirs which are used to power the Hydro Electric power station in Mary Tavy.

Out through the very wet green lane and on to Horndon where we followed the road before cutting up across the moor to........

Wheal Jewell Reservoir. This is the other larger reservoir which provides water for the power station in Mary Tavy. Originally the leat bringing water to this reservoir was used to service the mine at..............

.......Wheal Betsy. This is the site of an ancient silver and tin mine. In 1806 the site was reopened and mined for lead, copper arsenic and silver. The shaft here was 900 feet deep. The chimney on the mine is famous for the fact that it curves out slightly at the top.

The mine is just below the A386. We headed up across the road and up to....

....Gibbet Hill. Very heavy rain at this point and the wind was so strong that the raindrops felt as if they were hailstones as they hit.

From here e it was down to Mary Tavy and we followed the relatively new permissive path which took us to the Mary Tavy Inn where we had lunch.

On the walk today Ian, Jon, Bill, Charlie, Brenda and Stella.

It was dull but it didn't rain and very wet under foot! The Gutter Tor car park was full with the military. 

We headed out up the track and the military group ahead of us turned to the right as we turned off to the left.

Towards Combeshead Tor. There are lots of old mine workings in this area. Jon found an adit.

The view towards Sheeps Tor

A very boggy patch below the stream.

To the stone row....

...where Jon demonstrated the magical nature of the reversal stone.

Then up to Combeshead Tor for the coffee break and Brenda pulled out a very old letterbox from under the rock.

Down to the magnificent Cuckoo Rock...

...and off across the stream to find two potato caves.

Down through Deancombe and up the steeper slope past the Roughtor Plantations which had been thinned out a bit and a short walk back to the start.

Lunch in the very busy Royal Oak. With Brenda, Ann, Jane, Jon and Bill

Wednesday 25th November Pew Tor

An unusual start from Oakley Cottage as we followed the lanes for a while through Sampford Spiney before picking up the footpath that brought us back to the moor below Pew Tor. On to the track by Heckword Tor where we had a coffee stop by the large crafted rock.

Through the wet bit by the stream alongside the wall guarding the forbidden area and then across to the leat and the wheelwright's stone.

 Along the leat to the bullseye stone where Raz spent some time speeding up the flow.

Nearby Windy Post looked a little ghostly when lit up by my head torch.

Over Feather Tor and on to Pew Tor where some always have to climb to the top.

















The Whitchurch Inn was quiet.  With Jon, Mike, Stella, Viv, Ann and Kevin

Tuesday 24th November Four Winds

Another wet morning for our walk - we are seem to be having a run of these at the moment. Up from Four Winds and across to the quarry just below the Yellowmead track.

Upwards to Hollow Tor.

Hollow Tor with Great Mis Tor in the distance.

It was decided not to continue to North Hessary Tor but to cut across the moor to the bridge on the railway track.

Then into Swelltor Quarry.

For the coffee break.

Then past the London bridge corbels and up to King Tor

Down to the little stream and back to Four Winds.

Lunch was meant to be in the Prince of Wales but the kitchen was out of action so it was into the Plume of Feathers which was very busy but the food was good.

With Tom, Dianne, Darren, David, Colin, Brenda, Stella and John.

Tuesday 17th November Branscombe's Loaf

Very wet again for our walk. As we got higher the wind got stronger. Starting from just below Prewley water works we set off towards Shelstone Tor.

On Shelstone with Black Tor in the distance.

Then it was up the steep and boggy bit to....

...Branscombe's Loaf where the wind was much to strong to consider stopping for the coffee break.

So it was down to Sourton Tors where we managed to get out of the wind for a few minutes.

From here it was around and down to the Granite Way for a more sheltered walk back to the start.

Lunch was in the Highwayman, a most unusual pub and not one which anyone had visited for some time. It is very different but the beer and food were ok. With Tom, David, Jon, Bill and Dianne.

This map shows our approximate route.

Wednesday 12th November - Merrivale

The approximate route is shown below - Click Here to display the correct map

Warm and very wet.  Out from the car park below Staple Tor  and across to the edge of Merivale quarry. Northwards following the wall and then down across the leat to the Blowing House. From here a direct line up to the cairns and over to the wall junction where we took our break. Across to the footpath which goes through Wedlake and then the steep climb up to Roos Tor. Along the ridge line and back to the cars. As we got back to the cars the rain stopped and the sky cleared. A longer walk than usual which meant we didn't arrive at the Dartmoor Inn at Merrivale until 10.25 - fortunately it was still open.

With Terry, Mike, Stella, Viv, Jon and Pete