Tuesday 24th September Top Tor

Well it wasn't meant to be like this.  We left home as the sun was breaking through but by the time we had got to Princetown we were in thick fog and so it continued all the way to the other side of the moor.  Usually it's the other way round with brighter weather on the east side but not today.  We set off from the car park below Top Tor and a few minutes later Top Tor appeared out of the gloom!

On to Pil Tor,  Tunhill Rocks and down to the ford which crosses the stream coming out of Blackslade Mire - now looking a little brighter and...

...we could see the path ahead of us.

Past the Darmoor Ponies and on to...

Buckland Beacon and the Ten Commandments stones - looking much worse than we could remember and now impossible to read all of the text.

Around us the sun began to tease with little splashes of bright sunshine.

We stopped here for a break.

Then continued on to Welstor and turned to come back - Rippon Tor on the right was still in cloud and our next destination.

We stopped at the Nut Crackers...

...where Terry went looking for the Logan Stone.

Across in the distance we could now see Top Tor clearly.

On to the top of Rippon Tor for our picnic.  One moment Haytor could be seen and the next it had gone again as the cloud and mist swept in and out. Rippon Tor is one of those dominating tors - it can be seen for miles around but when you are on it, it doesn't feel at all significant.

Bright sunshine on the way home left me thinking we might have seen more if we had delayed the walk to the afternoon - but that is not the way we do it on a Tuesday!!

With Linda, Terry, Rosemary, Chris and Roger

Tuesday 14th February Rippon Tor

Today we started at Hemsworthy Gate which is just below Rippon Tor.  From here Rippon Tor looks like just any other Tor but for me this Tor more than any other dominates the sky line from a large part of the moor - it always seems to be visible.

Time to blow away a few cobwebs with the walk to the top of Rippon Tor (42) where the triangulation point has been almost surrounded by a wall.

The view across to Haytor Rocks...

...Hound Tor and Easdon Tor in the far distance

From Rippon Tor down to Cold East Cross.  Roger had gone lame at this point with his ankle not working properly so decided to return to the cars.

The rest of us continued to the disused quarry on Welstor Common...

...where Rosemary produced some goodies in celebration of Amber's birthday.  Our resident fireman tried in vain to light the candle but the wind was too strong.  The flap jacks and mini chocolate cakes were delicious. We decided to give Amber 'the bumps' but somehow didn't get around to it!

Then the short walk around to Welstor Rock (43) shown here in the foreground with Buckland Beacon (44) in the background.

Welstor Rock from a different viewpoint.

The view from Buckland Beacon towards Rippon Tor.

The Ten Commandments Stones on the side of Buckland Beacon. These were completed in 1928 and more details can be found here:

http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/ten_command.htm 

Buckland Beacon from a different viewpoint

Back over Buckland Common and through Blackslade Ford to Tunhill Rocks (45)

From here we contoured across to Hollow Tor and in the middle of nowhere this perfect  granite trough.

Hollow Tor (46) with Chinkwell Tor in the distance.

Next up to Pil Tor (47).

From Pil Tor with Rippon Tor in the background

Finally across to Top Tor (48).

Lunch today in the Rugglestone Inn and this being half term it was very busy.  There appeared to be no space at the Inn but Roger having got here early had reserved a table for us.  Charlie finally lit the candle and we all sang to Amber.  Bud and Chris joined us at the end - they couldn't get a table either when they arrived and had their lunch in another place.

Walking today Amber, Colin, Charlie, Harry, Terry, Rosemary and Roger.