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 9th October Great Mis Tor

Much cooler and fresher tonight as at last the weather seems to have changed to match the season.  Up from Four Winds along the track to Little Mis Tor and then on to Great Mis Tor.  Then along the ridge towards North Hessary Tor stopping for a while at Rundlestone Tor for the coffee break.  Next down to Hollow Tor and back to the start. 

With Raz, Jon, Kevin, Charles, Tom, David and Anne

Wednesday 2nd October River Plym

Another typical Dartmoor day - more mizzle and drizzle and some showers.  We left the car park near the scout hut and headed out along the track to Ditsworthy Warren House.  So  what was this post with two strands flying? Almost certainly military.

Ditsworthy Warren House.

The plan was to cross the river at the weir but there was too much water...

 ...so it was decided to follow the in spate River Plym - past this swirly bend...

 ...and upwards.

If we get the forecast three inches of rain on Thursday then this will be a raging torrent on Friday!

 

Stopping for a break opposite Plym ford.

Then headed over Lower Hartor Tor and on to Higher Hartor Tor.

Back through Whittenknowles Rocks and the threshing bed.

We returned to the car park to find it  had been taken over by the Royal Marines who appeared to be having a short break during their training exercise. Driving back we went past two other groups - so maybe the flag shown at the beginning was a marker.

On to the Royal Oak which was full to overflowing. Lunch as usual was good.

With John, Jon and Anne.

Tuesday 1st October Fingle Bridge

Another gloomy day but we didn't get the expected really heavy rain.  Unusually mild for the time of year.  All the way to the other side starting at Fingle Bridge.

An easy walk for the most part following the River Teign.

Past a charcoal furnace...

...and the wood cutters.

Crossing the river on the bridge that links the fields for the Chagford show.

Returning to the little bridge.

We took the track up to Hunter's Tor...

...and on to Sharp Tor.

After this we took the footpath to Rectory Wood and Drewston Wood before returning to the Fingle Bridge Inn where the lunch was good.

With Brian, Rosemary, Terry, Chris and Roger.