My Dartmoor Walks: Coffin Stone

Dartmeet was the start and in season is a real Dartmoor 'honeypot'. Today there was just us and a little doggy and he decided to spend three hours joining us on our walk. We took the footpath up by the side of the visitor attractions.

Trying to find the marked footpath to the west of Yar Tor wasn't easy as we rose up above the valley of the East Dart River.

Soon we came to the enclosed land and went down to the small stream...

...and out through a really wet boggy bit.

Next through the small hamlet of Sherwell and on to the path to the most northern point of Corndon Down.

We split at this point with Terry and Charlie following the edge of the moorland whilst...

...three of us took the slightly easier route up along the ridge line on Corndon Down

Soon we came to Cathanger Rock and at last the sun came out.

Onwards and up to very large cairns to wait for the other two to rejoin us...

...and then up to Corndon Tor.

Haytor Rocks and Rippon Tor in the distance...

...and over the top of Corndon Tor.

Looking down over Sharp Tor with Venford reservoir in the distance.

Then down to the war memorial to Lieutenant Evelyn Anthony Cave Penney who died in Palestine in 1918 aged 19. The memorial is inscribed 'Look up and lift up your heads' and here nothing could be more appropriate.

We set off down to the road.

This was the doggy that followed us - he had a collar but no tag so we didn't know his name but he had a good time and when we got back to the start he just disappeared so I guess he probably lived there!

The split 'coffin stone' where coffins were placed while the pall bearers took a rest going up the steep hill. More about this here:
http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/coffin_stone.htm

We retired to the Tavistock Inn at Poundsgate which had a warm welcome and good food. With Linda, Charlie, Terry, Rosemary and Roger and Chris in the pub

A murky misty day with the sun struggling to break through. Very warm and humid out of the wind and it felt like a spring day. Parked on Yartor Down just up from Dartmeet.

Downhill a little to find the 'Coffin Stone' - a convenient resting place to rest the coffin on this steep climb up. In the Middle Ages a coffin was always carried on mens's shoulders. More information here http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/coffin_stone.htm

Next across and up to Yar Tor (62) - a really good place to get an excellent view of the moor but not today.

The small hamlets of Sherwell and Babney in the distance.

From here down to the road and the kistvaen - this one is also know as the Money Pit - for more about the legend go here http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/money_pit.htm

Just across the road from this is the memorial to Lieutenant Evelyn Penney who died on active service in Palestine in 1918 aged 19.

From here to Sharp Tor (63) - easy to understand why this one got its name. Sharp Tor is the most popular name for tors on Dartmoor - there are 10 in total.

The view south west down the Dart valley from Sharp Tor...

...back to Yar Tor...

...Combestone Tor on the other side of the valley

Next due south but going around the enclosed land to find Lucky Tor.

Down the steep valley across this little stream...

Eventually Lucky Tor (64) came into view - heavily camouflaged in trees. There doesn't seem much to it from here...

...but it goes back a long way and stands high up above the river - which I couldn't see but could hear clearly.

If you want complete solitude with just the sound of running water then there can be no better place than this.

Now it was time to climb out of the valley and if it felt steep going down then it most certainly was going back up! Over Yartor Down to return to the car.

A short drive to the other side of the river through Hexworthy to Combestone Tor (65). This has got to be the easiest tor to get to - there is a car park right next to it!