Wednesday 13th November Bennett's Cross

The first frost of Autumn, sunshine and a glorious morning for our walk as we set off from the car park by Bennett's cross.  We usually do a circular walk but our leader for the day informed us that we were going on a figure eight walk.  This is an area with many old disused mines.

We took the path which leads directly up to Birch Tor through the old workings.

Soon we were on top of Birch Tor when we had a call from Tom...

 ...who had just parked up on the road below with David.














We headed into the mine workings  between Birch Tor and Challacombe Down.  John provided detailed information about these.

Down through the workings  - heading for the woods at Soussons Down on the top of this photo. 

Passing more workings and here is one that Tom took.

 Into the woods...

...where work was obviously going on...

...and down again...

...into the valley.

To the Golden Dagger Tin Mine...

...where John again explained how the buddles worked to extract tin ore.

Next was the steeper bit as we headed for the top of Challacombe Down.

The view back across to the Warren House Inn.

These ponies ponies came into the middle of the group.

Along the top of Challacombe Down to the Stone Row - Birch Tor in the distance.

With views over ot Hookney Tor and...

...Grimspound.

Crossing our original track...

...taking the path down to the Vitifer Mine and finally back up to the cars.

Lunch in the Warren House Inn.  With John, Jon, Ian, Bill, Pete, Anne, Terry, Peter, Tom and David.

Tuesday 7th May King Tor

Another glorious morning for a Dartmoor walk.  Starting from the car park below Shapley Tor we walked gently uphill.

Fernworthy forest to the left and Cosden Hill on the right.

On to Hookney Tor with Grimspound below.

From the same place but looking across to Soussons Down.

Then across to King Tor and a group photo.

So many tor are visible from here with ridge line of Haytor Rocks, Saddle Tor and Rippon Tor in the far distance.

 
We made our way down to Heathercombe...

...to follow the Mariners Way.

Across to Easdon Tor.

The Mariners Way was an ancient trackway between Bideford in North Devon and Dartmouth in South Devon along which sailors would travel between the two ports when moving from one ship to another.

Now at a much lower level in lush meadow.

Then through a really traditional farm yard - this could be the seen from a 100 years ago - except for the gas bottles.

Next to this is an old Ash House.  In traditional thatched buildings the ash would be taken out each night from the farm reduce the risk of an overnight fire.  The ash was stored for later dispersal as a fertilizer on the land

Much more about this here:-
http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/ash_house.htm

Looking back with King Tor in the distance.

Finally past this very ramshackle old caravan.  Not quite sure why it is being propped up - would probably be better if allowed to fall down!

On to the very busy Warren House Inn to join Bud and Brian.

Tuesday 17th January 2012 Grimspound

A proper winter's day for a change, with heavy frost in places and making it firm under foot again with a misty, moody moor ahead of us.

Past some of the remaining posts erected during the second world war to prevent German gliders from landing.

 

On to the memorial dedicated to the Royal Air Force bomber which crashed here in 1941....

 

...where we were joined by a group of walkers from Exmouth - you come out here to get away from it all and this happens!

Next up to Broad Barrow on  Hameldown  and time for a short break and a team photo.

A short walk then to Hameldown Tor (28)...

...with a view across to Hookney Tor (29) and Grimspound in the valley below...

...and down to Grimspound a Bronze Age settlement - one of the 24 hut circles














Then up to Hookney Tor (30)...

...where Charlie pointed out there is a face in somewhere in those rocks.














Across to Shapley Tor (31), which is not so much of a tor as a few outcrops of rocks.

With the car park in sight the sun at last started to break through.

A short drive to the Warren House Inn for lunch.  On today's walk Carol, Roger, Amber, Colin, Rosemary, Terry, Linda and Charlie.