Wednesday 10th April Staple Tor

Another gloomy day as we set off from the car park below Lower Staple Tor.  Just in front of us was a new foal -  the first one I have seen this year.

We walked across to the...

....disused quarry at Merrivale.

Up the hill to one of the sett makers banker and Keith demonstrates how they were used.

Then up the Walkham Valley...

...across the leat..

...and down to the old Blowing House which was used for smelting tin.  The wheel pit can be seen. The water wheel was used to operate the bellows.  Just right of centre is the mould stone - used to cast the tin ingots.

Nearby is a broken mould stone

Great Mis Tor behind

 The Walkham valley

Next up to the  Bronze Age settlement and the remains of a hut circle.

Up further to the Stone Circle before...

...heading back to Roos Tor.

Near Roos Tor we stopped at the boundary stone and John pointed the original stone in the ground just to the right of the later addtion.

Looking across to the Pew Tor from Middle Staple Tor

With John, Pete, Kath, Keith, Sue and Tom in the pub.

Tuesday 9th April Bere Peninusla

A gloomy cool day but this is a beautiful area to walk - we started from the Bere Ferrers.

A talk about Lady Thatcher on 14th April.  Very topical with her passing away the day before - I wonder if it will now be sold out?




















Through the village..

...and on to the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail with a fine view of the River Tamar.

Posts in the mud at low tide.

On to Weir Quay

Through the woods and up to a higher level for the return.

Past the very traditional railway station.

On route there was much evidence that spring is waiting to spring - now if only it would warm up a bit nature could get on with it.

And then into The Old Plough Inn where it took and hour to produce the food and some of it wasn't worth waiting for!!

With Colin, Amber, Charlie, Rosemary, Terry and Harry.

Tuesday 2nd April Black Lane Post

We set off from Peat Cot on a clear sunny day with a bitterly cold wind heading to...

...Nun's Cross Farm.

Fox Tor in the distance to our left.

Across the leat and up to....

 The little cross on the stone...

 Two crosses now!  Thanks Charlie.

As we changed direction we met this Ten Tors Group from Torquay Grammer School - obviously they don't feel the cold like us!

The post on Cater's Beam came into view.

The post is an old railway sleeper and was put up as a navigation aid.

This is a bleak, remote and desolate place.

 We headed over to Fox Tor Girt along the edge of Black Lane.

Fox Tor Girt

 
It was decided that most of us would go back on the footpath which runs through the west end of the Fox Tor Mires.  The cottages in the distance are at Whiteworks.  Of course, there is no defined foot path because it is so wet. In we went...

... and arrived at the little bridge in the middle...

...and then out through some very wet stuff but, most of us didn't get wet feet!

Lunch was at the Prince of Wales - Amber who was feeling hungry went for the fish and chips! Also with Colin, Terry, Harry, Rosemary, Charlie, Brian and Bill.  And Bud and Brian in the pub.