My Dartmoor Walks

Tuesday 16th October Beardown Tors

A cool strong wind and lots of sunshine.

Starting from Two Bridges - this is one of them.

Up through Beardown Farm and an area set a side from farm stuff no longer required - some of it has been here for a long time.

Up to the ridge line and a view across to Higher White Tor and Longaford Tor.

There are three large tors which make up Beardown Tors and we decided to visit them all - this shows the most northerly with Crow Tor in the distance.

Now on the most northerly looking towards West Dart River.

Towards Longaford Tor

Looking back to the most southerly Beardown Tor

Next down to and across the river...

...and up to Longaford Tor

Back towards the start...

...and some Dartmoor ponies.

With Brian and Charlie and Terry and Rosemary in the pub

Saturday 13th October Leeden Tor

So with James and Jess on a flying visit an opportunity for a family walk - with sunshine and lots of showers. We started at Leeden Tor car park and went over Leeden Tor.

Towards Swell Tor quarry and Great Mis Tor

Down the other side to the railway line.

A military helecopter over North Hessary Tor

Looking back to Ingra Tor.

The view back home.

By the unused London Bridge corbels

Around King Tor and another shower behind us.

Pew Tor

Cox Tor and Staple Tors

Nearly back at the car park.

Wednesday 10th October Eylesbarrow Tin Mine

History in the making. The Wednesday Walkers first morning walk. Six of us for this inaugural walk with a mixed bag of weather, a little sunshine, a little rain and quite a lot of hill fog.

Out from Gutter Tor car park (and what a busy place that was) and over towards Deancombe.

Looking back to Sheeps Tor with the rainbow.

Through the old workings....

...and across to this pig pit which 160 years ago housed a giant water wheel to provide power for the workings on Eylesbarrow. John produced a diagram and of the area and explained how this huge water wheel was powered by water.

Next across to Higher Hartor Tor..

...and back on the ridge with the standing stones between Drizzle Combe and the Giant's Basin.

Then for a tasty lunch in the Royal Oak. With John, Ian, Helen, Anne and Irving.

Tuesday 9th October Yennadon Down

With four away on holiday there was just Charlie and Bud at the start in Walhampton where the rain was hammering down. Up the hill we went...

...to the Church...

...and the view back to home.

Bud returned to Walkhampton from here and the two of us went on around and up to the railway line where this little cute calf was waiting with those adorable ear rings!

By now the heavy rain had stopped.

A bit further on amongst the heard was a bull. A big fine fellow and we didn't want him argue with him.

We crossed the main road continuing on the old railway line until Burrator reservoir and Sheeps Tor came into view....

...and followed the railway line to the dam and then up on to Yennadon Down....

...where the mist (which looked almost like smoke) was swirling around in the wind.

We returned to the Walkhampton Inn where Bud and Chris were waiting. The pub looked better and lighter following the refurbishment and the lunch was good - and good value too!

Wednesday 3rd October Brisworthy Plantation

No one could remember having ever starting a walk from here before. Most of us survived the treacherous gully on the entry to the car park and off we went along the road to Brisworthy which had a very strange smell but the dogs which our leader had encountered before were not there. Then on to the moor. To a perfect stone circle before going through the boggy bit of Legis Lake where one person managed to find a big hole. Up to Legis Tor and across to the film set of Ditsworthy Warren House. Along the track and up to Gutter Tor for a break - with a military tent nearby - but they kept their distance. We found several glow sticks in different places and this one was on the trig point by Gutter Tor with a small red led. The military were on manoeuvres. They were well hidden and we didn't see them. Next along the boggy track and back to the start. There was a lot going on in Meavy with cars everywhere - some sort of meeting for the squeeze box people but at least we didn't have to put up with them in the pub.

Tuesday 2nd October Bellever Forest

Three of us today with four of the team on holiday. A mixed bag of weather - better than forecast with just one shower before the heavier rain later in the day.

Starting from Dunnabridge Pound just inside the gate is a canopied seat made from a large piece of granite. It is believed that this was moved from Crockern Tor where it had previously been used as a table at meeting of the Stannary Parliament.