Tuesday 23rd July Harford Moor Gate

It was supposed to be the day after the heatwave and to be fair it was a bit cooler at first and a moody mistiness as we set off from the car park taking the foot path up to...

...Spurrell's Cross as the sun started to break through off the moor.

We followed the path up to Beacon Rocks on Ugborough Beacon.

Our next destination was Butterdon Hill and Western Beacon but first we went over to...

...the Cairns and then down to...

...Creber's Rock.

On to Butterdon Hill and the view north towards Sharp Tor and Three Barrows.

Roger and Chris coming up  Western Beacon with Butterdon Hill behind.

We had our picnic in the quarry on Western Beacon with this view over Ivybridge. By now the mistiness had gone and the heatwave was back - it was hot in the sun!

Then down...

...past some very, very black sheep...

...with the ridge line of Penn  Beacon and Shell Top in the distance.

We picked up the old rail track for a short while before cutting down to...

  ...Butter Brook below the reservoir in the trees...

...to the ford.

With Charlie, Roger and Chris - Terry is on his charity walk around the Cornish coast.

Tuesday 28th August North East Dartmoor

Missed my usual chums today to walk with James on the north east corner of Dartmoor. First a detour from Okehampton on the road up to the military camp and then across the side of East Hill with this view across Okehampton.

To the edge of the East Okement valley to find Ashbury Tor (285).  This is all that is visible of the tor on the ridge...

...just below in the trees is the rest of it - a cliff like formation.

From the ridge there is this view across to Belstone Tor.

Then a drive around the top of the moor to Shilstone Tor (286).  This one is next to the road and easy to get to.

 ...from Shilstone Tor with Haytor Rocks in the far distance.

Another short drive to Gidleigh Wood...

...and along the path to Gidleigh Tor (287).  The tor is in private woodland and coincidentally the owner was clearing some of the bracken around the tor.  He told me that he is always under pressure from  Dartmoor National Park to keep the tor clear of vegetation.  This one is quite good compared to many others.

Near to the tor are the remains of this little building.

The view across to Cosdon Hill

Another very short drive to the open moor and over to Scorhill Tor (288) with Kestor Rock in the distance.

Then around the boggy bit to get to Rippator or Rival Tor (289) - with Fernworthy Forest in the distance.

From here to Buttern Hill (290) with Cosdon Hill in the background

Back to the car to Skaigh and into Belstone Cleave to follow this track next to the River Taw.

Over this relatively new foot bridge

and a little further along the path is Ivy Tor (291).  Which has some ivy growing out of it and a lot more bracken on top.

Back to the car and through the village of  Belstone and back to the valley of the East Okement River and on to Cleave Tor (292).

This tor is on the opposite side of the valley to Ashbury Tor where I started this morning.

That just leaves 15 tors to visit.

Tuesday 11th April Western Beacon

Harford Moor Gate was the start today.  A horrible very narry road up from Cornwood.  The forecast was for sunshine and showers and it was spot on with a cool breeze.  

A direct line took us up over the Redlake Tramway - this was built in 1912 and used to transport men and materials to and from the clayworks at Redlake...

 ...and on to Spurrell's Cross - the cross marks the spot where one track crossed another one running north-south.  The base of the cross was replaced in the twentieth century.

A short distance away is Hangershell Rock (110)

 

 Across the valley to Ugborough Beacon and Beacon Rocks (111)

... looking across to Beara Common

 
Then we went in search of Creber's Rock (112) - not so easy to find coming down the hill but easy going the other way.

Then up again to  the trig point and cairns on Butterdon Hill.

...looking north to Three Barrows and Sharp Tor on the left.

Due south to Western Beacon past Black Tor (113)  - seen here centre left...

...and into this quarry on Western Beacon (114) for lunch and to shelter from the next storm coming over us.

Another quarry on Western Beacon and you can just make out the top of the tor.

Back to the Redlake Tramway when the heaviest storm of the day came in and then as it moved on the sunshine came out again.

On to Tor Rocks (115)

 ..and just before the car park a little stream to cross.

With Roger, Charlie, Terry and Rosemary.