Sunday 13th October Staple Tor

A gloomy day, strange lighting and rain forecast for later.  A local walk today starting below Pew Tor...

...first up to the quarry...

...then around to Little Pew Tor and a there was  little bit of sunshine on North Hessary Tor.

I headed over to the right hand side of Pew Tor.

Below to my right there was sunshine lighting up King Tor....

...and also on Barn Hill Rocks ahead.

I went down to the track which goes around Heckwood Tor.  More sunshine here and I like the contrast with Great Mis Tor in the background.

Over below Swell Tor the sun was still there - but that was the end of it!

I followed the track around Heckwood Tor.  In the centre is a perfectly crafted slab of granite which was never used.

Ahead Vixen Tor....

To which the public are no longer allowed - all the more naff is the graffiti the land owner has painted on the granite wall which says 'no public access'

On to the disused quarry at Merrivale.

Then up to Great Staple Tor - in the foreground is the track used to remove the granite from the hill.

The ridge line along to Middle Staple Tor...

...and Roos Tor the other way.

Across to Brent Tor

Down to the dewpond and up to..

Cox Tor.

Looking back to Roos Tor, Great Mis Tor and Great Staple Tor.

The route back to Pew Tor and Pork Hill car park below - the ferns have all died off.

Windy Post and the Bullseye stone.

Pew Tor Ahead.

Looking down to the start.

I was lucky a few minutes after finishing the rain came down - in abundance.

Wednesday Morning 18th September Staple Tor

Rain first thing and an angry sky at the car park.

Not one but two German coaches stopped for five minutes.  Everyone gets out, walks all round the car park taking photos  and then they all get back on again and off they go to do the same thing at the next stop.

The appointed walk organiser didn't turn up so up to Middle Staple Tor we went.

By now the sun was coming out and we had fine views in all directions.

Down there was where we did yestedays walk.

Great Staple Tor was the next stop...

...from here we could just see Fur Tor teasingly looking much closer than it really is.

On to Roos Tor and what did we find - Dr Tom on his own walk with David. They didn't have time to continue with us.

It was decided our next stop would be Great Mis Tor... 

...and down the valley we went stopping at the bottom for a break.

Then a phone call came through for Anne who needed to return urgently so we all went back.

A good lunch in the Whitchurch Inn.  With Terry, Jon, Keith, Sue, Pete and Anne

Tuesday 6th August White Tor

After the heavy rain of the last two days we had perfect walking conditions, bright sunshine, not too hot, not too cold and a gentle breeze.

Starting from Pork Hill car park we took an indirect route up to Cox Tor to avoid the steepest part.

Across to Great Mis Tor.

Then over Cox Tor and down to the enclosed land and...

...the footpath through the middle.

Up the other side to...

...Stephen's grave.

Up again to Little White Tor and on to...

...White Tor.

Past the ponies...

...with excellent views into the moor and....

 ...time for some refreshment.

Across to Roos and Staple Tor.

We went down toward the Standing Stone but as the farmer was herding cattle towards us we were forced to change direction and that....

...took us through a very boggy area but...

...soon we came out on the ridge which was a lot firmer under foot.

 We nearly trod on this little chap!

















On to Roos Tor for lunch.

The walk was to continue along the ridge and over Staple Tors but we had to leave early and...

...cut down past the dewpond and back to the car park which at this time of the year is always something of a honeypot.

With Roger, Chris, Brian, Amber, Colin, Charlie and Linda