Tuesday 26th March Cranmere Pool

A dull grey day and bitterly cold as I set of through Fernworthy Forest from the end of the road.

I took the track that exited opposite the ruins of Teignhead Farm and went down....

...to the clapper bridge to cross the North Teign River.

Looking back to the forest.

I went up Manga Hill through these old gate posts.

Looking east to Kestor Rock.

South around Walla Brook Head with Watern Tor in the distance.

Evenutally the range hut on Hangingstone Hill came into view.

Over towards Cosdon Hill there was just a flicker of sunshine but that was it!

The range hut on Hangingstone Hill.

There was a very heavy frost on this part of the moor. All the grasses had a feather like frosts attached in the shape of a long flag.












In the distance to the west I could just make out the familiar shapes of

Fur Tor                          Hare Tor                       Great Links Tor                     Yes Tor

 

From here I headed west to Cranmere Pool.  The interesting thing about this area is that raindrops falling on the right of the picture will eventually return to the sea at the Taw Torridge estuary near Barnstaple on the north coast of Devon and those falling on the left will return to the sea at Dartmouth on the south coast of Devon.

The letter box at Cranmere Pool

I left my mark in the visitors book. It is surprising how many people visit this remote place.

There is much more about this here:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranmere_Pool

and here:-
http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/cranmere_pool.htm






Looking back

I back tracked and headed towards White Horse Hill.  Normally this is a very wet part of the moor but the heavy frost and frozen ground made it much easier than would normally be the case to get across.

On White Horse Hill is this cairn (now reconstructed) which was opened up in 2011 to reveal the first organic remains found on Dartmoor and about 150 beads - approximately 4,000 years old.

Much more about this on these links:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-14468394
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-15727960
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-21442474

From here I followed the ridge line to Quintin's Man...

...crossing the stream here...

...and then headed up to Sittaford Tor...

...and finally past Grey Wethers before returning back into Fernworthy Forest.

Wednesday morning 30th January Assycombe Hill

A much better day. Strong winds, but no rain and just a hint of sunshine.  Starting from the little car park by Stats Bridge.

Up to the old mine working just behind the Warren House Inn.

The view towards Hamel Down...

...and Soussons Down.

On to the Cairn on Water Hill before going over to....

....the D stone on the edge of Fernworthy Forest....

...and into the forest.

Wandering about along this track and then that track until....

 ...we came to the Assycombe hut circles...

 ...and next to it something a little newer.















Then through the trees and out in the middle of the forest by the double stone row where a man was hard a work strimming the grass around the stones....

...very tidy job!

Out and back into the wind on the moor..

...and back to the cars.

Lunch in the Warren House Inn, with Jon, John, Jim, Ian, Bill and Terry

Tuesday 8th January Kestor

Another gloomy day with low cloud and drizzle for all of the walk.  A long drive through narrow lanes to the start at the end of the road in Fernworthy Forest.

Up through the forest and...

...out on to the open moor...

...at Long Ridge.

Then across to Stonetor Hill.

A man, horse and his dog in the distance below as we headed over to...

Kestor  Rock.

Along the ridge to Middle Tor...

...and on to Frenchbeer Rock...

...next turning across to Thornworthy Tor.

Looking back at Frenchbeer Rock...

...down to the stream and the really muddy bit...

 ...followed by the boggy bit.

Then back into the forest and on to the Warren House Inn with a nice warm fire and good food.

With Carol, Amber, Colin, Roger, Chris, Charlie, Rosemary, Terry and Brian