Monday 28th November Child's Tomb and Black Lane Post

A solo walk starting from the little car park that leads to Peat Cott and then across to the main track from Princetown to Nun's Cross Farm. Very cold with a bitterly cold wind.

Nun's Cross with the old farm behind.  Good to see that the cone as now gone.

Around to follow the wall which runs south of Foxtor Mires and north of Fox Tor.

Looking back to Nun's Cross

Childe's Tomb

With Fox Tor behind.

I headed across to the girt this looking back across Foxtor  Mires

Fox Tor was on my right.

Through the girt towards Black Lane - looking back towards Fox Tor.

Black Lane post. This is the new post which was put in place earlier this year. More info about this http://www.tavistock-today.co.uk

Originally it was put here as a navigation aid - this is a remote and featureless part of the moor,

Over Crane Hill with Nun's Cross farm just coming into view.

Wednesday Evening 16th November - Peat Cot

A strong cold wind as we set off from Peat Cot down the track to Older bridge. Along the leat for a while and then into the deep gully of the old tin workings. Across Newleycombe Lake and up the steep bit, through the tussocks and on to Eylesbarrow.

We found a small gulley to get out of he wind for coffee break. Back then along the main Eylesbarrow track towards Nun's Cross. Lots of work going on to upgrade the track and on to Nun's Cross with the warning signs about the work. Now who would put the cone on top of the cross.

Back to the very busy Prince of Wales. With Mike, Stella, Gill, Brenda and Kevin.

Tuesday 8th November Rippon Tor Rifle Range

Starting from Hemsworthy Gate on a dull but cold day we headed across to Top Tor.

Looking towards Haytor Rocks with Saddle Tor on the right.

Bonehill Rocks, Bell Tor and Chinkwell Tor

On a short distance to Pil Tor which overlooks Widdecombe in the Moor.

On through Blackslade Ford to Buckland Common where we turned east and down to the road. This was new territory for everyone.

Then on to the road which leads up to Rippon Tor Rifle Range - this was the troop shelter and....

...nearby is the old toilet block.

On to the stop butt for a coffee break.

Back down to the road and then up to Rippon Tor.

Past the Nut Crackers.

To the top with a different view to Haytor Rocks and Saddle Tor.

The trig point at the top.

 

Lunch at the Old Inn in Widdecombe. With Jon, Terry, Colin, Charlie, Peter, Brenda, Anne, Jane and Stella.

Wednesday 3rd November - Rippon Tor Rifle Range

A most unusual utilitarian construction and certainly built to last. Unusual in that it is built of red bricks when almost everything else on Dartmoor is built from granite. Built in 1942 as part of troop training on Dartmoor during the second world war. It was built to form a huge bank behind the target to catch the bullets which missed the target. Last used in the 1960's

The building where the targets were stored.

 
Remains of the mechanism for raising the target.

Tuesday 1st November - Fernworthy

A group walk to visit the reservoir.

The really well preserved (and normally hidden) stone circles.

The water level has gone down further since I was here a couple of weeks ago.

The water under the two revealed bridge is now just a small stream.

These bridges haven't been seen since 1995 so a good opportunity for a team photo.

 

The cist beside the old track out to Teignhead Farm

Fungus on an old tree stump and....

...in the grass verge.

Then it was out into the forest to find this stone circle.

Finally out on to the moor and up to

Thornworthy Tor for a short break and an opportunity to admire the view.

Back to the other side of the reservoir where these old gate posts have been revealed.

The Dam.

Around and below the dam and on to the Warren House Inn for a very disappointing lunch. With Stella, Brenda, Jane, Anne, Charlie, Terry and Tom.