Wednesday 4th September Around Lydford

Yet another glorious day for a walk - the summer has been good this year!  Starting from the Anglo-Saxon town of Lydford - one of four fortified Devon towns in the Saxon kingdom of Wessex.  This was the site of an Anglo-Saxon Royal Mint and over a million pennies were struck in the town during the reign of King Ethelred II (978-1016).

Down the hill past the castle...

 ...and over the bridge looking down into Lydford Gorge - which is owned by the National Trust. It's a long way down!





















We turned left under the old railway bridge and took the green lane out to Watervale.

 
Soon we were walking out towards White Hill  on the narrow sliver of land between the edge of the moor and Willsworthy military firing range where we could hear the rat-a-tat sound of firing.

The view across to Great Nodden, Arms Tor and Brat Tor...

...with Doe Tor ahead of us.

 

The cows looked as though they were having a committee meeting.

 On the range boudary we went down to cross the Walla Brook with this view across to Hare Tor.

Just below Doe Tor and we headed over Doetor Common to the remains of Doe Tor farm...

 

  ...for a short break.

The route back around the edge of High Down.

 Just across the ford on the river Lyd an old Tinner's hut with Brat Tor in the distance.

The quilted pattern of the fields.

Across to Hare Tor.

The Gorse...

 ...and the route back.

Into Lydford and the ancient spring which was once of the main source of water for the inhabitants over many centuries.















Past the converted chapel, complete with a washing line and sun flowers.

Finally into the pub where the food was served within minutes and very good it was too!

With Anne, Jon, John and Linda

Wednesday 7th August Hare Tor

Another perfect day for walking on the moor and a good group assembled at Lane End.  Ger Tor was our first destination.

Up to the leat.

The view back to White Tor.

At Ger Tor.

Great Mis Tor in the distance.

A lady sitting on the tor finds an empty flare case, talks about it and picks it up - what about all those warning signs telling you not to do that.

The view across to Hare Tor, Sharp Tor and Great Links Tor.

We loop around to Tavy Cleave Tors...

...and Jon of course climbs up to the top!

Then a slightly indirect route across to Hare Tor where we met Peter, a very nice young man on holiday from the Netherlands who offered us all a chocolate biscuit. We stopped for a while to enjoy the fantastic views in every direction.

Sharp Tor and Great Links.

Fur Tor and the upper Tavy valley.

 Doe Tor and Brat Tor.

Back to Ger Tor.

Eventually down to Sharp Tor past the cairn and a view back to Hare Tor.

Hare Tor from Sharp Tor.

Gently down to the Willsworthy firing range.

Past the rifle range and...

...back to the leat.

With a heron nearby after the abundance of fish in the leat and these two ducklings.

On to the Mary Tavy Inn which served  excellent food.

With Sue, Keith, Helen, Ian, Jon and Tom