Tuesday 12th February Four Winds

 A dull cold day and just a touch of frost underfoot.  We set off from Four Winds and up to Hollow Tor.

The view across to Great Mis Tor.

The dominating mast next...

...North Hessary Tor

Then down past Princetown to...

...the railway line.

We cut over to Swelltor Quarry....

...and one of the large holes left behind.

The view across to Foggintor Quarry.

King Tor was our next stop.

Then down to cross the stream and up to the large standing stone...

 ...and over to the stone row before returning to the cars.

Lunch was in the Darmoor Inn which was OK with Amber, Linda and Charlie.

Monday 7th May Quarries

We started from the track entrance to Yellowmead Farm and walked towards Foggintor Quarry.

Once a thriving community just a few ruins now and one big hole in the ground.

 The entrance to Foggintor Quarry (145)...

...and one of the large quarries.  There is no tor here - I assume there was once but it was taken away as the quarry developed.

A short walk to Swelltor Quarry (146).  This single rock pile is all that remains above the moor....

 ...maybe these rocks are the remains of the original tor.

The entrance to the quarry - another huge cavernous hole in the ground...

  ...and the remains of the offices

 ...where there was this nice friendly lady who thought she was on the telly.













Just along from here on the are the unused corbels for the original London Bridge.  These corbels were intended for the widening of the bridge which took place 1902-04 but were not used.  (The bridge was relocated to Lake Havasu City in 1971).

We rejoined the original railway track and went over to Little King Tor (147) - in the foreground with Vixen Tor in the background.

Then around the railway track.  Looking back at King Tor (148).

Lunch was in the Merrivale Inn - which was only OK.

Back home the woodpecker was attacking the nuts.

Wednesday 8th February Four Winds

Ten of us for a wonderful atmospheric walk. Cold with a very heavy frost and the moor bathed in silver moonlight.

From Four Winds to the stream (one slipped into the water).  Then up to the railway track below King Tor.  Around to Leedon Tor for a break and back via Foggintor.  On a another night some of this would have been soft and boggy - not tonight - very firm under foot.

On the walk Irving, Mike, Pete, Jon, Stella, Mike, Charles, Jim, David and Dr Tom in the Whitchurch Inn.

Tuesday 13th December Yellowmead Farm

A night of storms, gales and high winds.  A heavy shower turning to snow and sleet on the drive to Princetown and Roger delayed by a fallen tree.   So some concern at the start about walking conditions but the sun was shining at the car park at the begining of the Yellowmead track.

Along the track to Foggintor...

 To what remains of the little hamlet that existed during the quarrying days.













All that is left of the lower walls of the stables set against the huge spoil tip behind.

On to the disused railway line that leads around King Tor (looking back at Foggintor)

  From the railway line down to Hucken Tor.

Looking across to Vixen Tor

Then along the track to the farm at Withill. Our path was blocked for some time as the farmer was using the track as pen so that the calves could be seperated. Eventually the task was completed and we were on our way.

Looking across to Ingra Tor with Leather Tor in the far distance.

On the road for a while before turning left at the cross roads towards Criptor and then back up to the railway track by Ingra Tor.

The short cut to take us back to Foggintor Quarry and return to the cars.

Across to Merrivale quarry and Staple Tors

Whilst we could see rain showes all around during the walk it didn't rain on us!!

Lunch in the Prince of Wales, but war broke out when we tried to leave.  Henry the cat was trying to come in as we were trying to get out.  Now we all know Henry is in charge and he wasn't moving for anyone including Huxley or Mackie - drawing blook on Huxley and going for a full bodied attack on Mackie.  Fortunately they all lived!

Walking today Charlie, Roger, Terry, Rosemary, Paul and Bud.