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 13th November Sousson Down

Another grey Dartmoor day and a walk through the woods on Soussons Down.

Not been to this part of the forest before.

Birch Tor in the top right after this path which is always wet.

Looking back to the forest from Birch Tor.

At Challacombe this array of minature buildings which none of had ever noticed before.

 A lovely sign on a shed door.  This what being a Dad is all about...





















A brand new bit of kit for feeding the animals from just for one bale.

A very well stocked wood pile and a large solar panelled roof - someone is determined to save money on their energy bills!

Mud, mud glorious mud...

Looking across to Hamel Down....

...and a finely preserved stone circle on the edge of the woods

After a bad experience on our last visit it was with some reluctance we decided to try the the East Dart Hotel again as everyone deserves a second chance.  This was as dismal and unwelcoming as previously. Unbelievably the landlord decided to apply paint stripper to the radiator in the gents toilet while we were waiting for our food.  This produced really bad fumes throughout the bar - so he opened door to get rid of these and  as a result we began to feel the cold!  He then delivered our food to the table.  As a gesture on his part he didn't charge us for the coffees but we will not be back - there are other pubs within a ten minute drive who offer genuine customer service a warm welcome and much better food.

With Terry, Rosemary, Charlie and Linda.