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.

Saturday 8th September Nine Tors to Finish

Starting from Belstone for another long walk.  Down to the East Okement River...

...and up the other side with a view across to Belstone Tors.

On to  Ottery Tor (299) - with Steeperton Tor in the distance.

The view back to Belstone.

Then across some difficult ground to the top of Cosdon Hill (300) and...

...to the East of Dartmoor and the spectacular temperature inversions - with the mists bubbling out of the tops of the valleys.

Along the ridge line to Little Hound Tor (301) - not so much of a tor as a few rocks on the surface.

Nearby is the White Moor Stone Circle.

The ridge ahead of us - Hound Tor, Wild Tor and Hangingstone Hill.

Hound Tor (302)

Wild Tor (303)

Then east to Watern Tor (304)

The very weathered granite stacks of Watern Tor.

Further east again to Magna Rock (305) - shaped like a giant Jelly Bean.  A stop here for lunch overlooking the North Teign River.

Then a bit of a slog around to get to the top of Hangingstone Hill (306) with the range hut next to it.

Down towards the final tor - Steeperton Tor...

...and then up again to the top.

Steeperton Tor (307) and that's it!!!

Terry produced a small bottle of bubly to celebrate!

 The Ford at the bottom of Steeperton

Looking back to Steeperton Tor.

A walk of thirteen and half miles and  lasting seven and half hours - with thanks to Terry again for making it just that bit easier - just by being there.