Friday 17th February Down Tor

Not all of the tors are where you think they are and some of them don't even look like tors but I am trying to follow the instructions in the book!

A short drive to Norsworthy bridge and a very short walk to the remains of the Middleworth Farm - abandoned when the reservoir was created.  Turn left up a gentle slope to this fine looking tor - Middleworth Tor (50).

A little further on through the trees another tor even more prominant tor - Snappers Tor (51).

Across towards Down Tor with Little Down Tor (52) on the left...

 ...Little Down Tor viewed from the other side.

 Down Tor (53)

An old tinners gully looking down to Deancombe.

Not a tor just an interesting rock!

Burrator reservoir from Down Tor

Combeshead Tor from Down Tor with Eylesbarrow in the background.

 
Combeshead Tor (54)

Down to the track and up the other side to find Click Tor (55).  This one doesn't look like a tor at all just some rocks on the side of the valley....

 
From Click Tor across to Down Tor.

 
A short distance away in an area dominated by trees some more rocks and boulders in the undergrowth - this must be  Rough Tor (56).

Wednesday 15th February Sheeps Tor

A mild evening and nine of us starting from the Arboretum for a gentle walk around Sheeps Tor (49) and then up to the top with the Plymouth lights in the distance.  Then over the other side to the multiple stone circles for the break.  Across to Deancombe where on the way back some time was spent observing the clear night sky under the guidance of Keith.  Tom (back after six months with a newly repaired foot) could see the lion in the stars but I couldn't. On to the Royal Oak where John, standing upright and smiling, was waiting for us with his newly repaired hip. Walking tonight Mike, Sue, Keith, Tony, Tom, Anne, Jon and Katie.



Note for Ceri
Thank you for your lovely comments.  So nice to hear from you and good to know you are keeping well.

Tuesday 14th February Rippon Tor

Today we started at Hemsworthy Gate which is just below Rippon Tor.  From here Rippon Tor looks like just any other Tor but for me this Tor more than any other dominates the sky line from a large part of the moor - it always seems to be visible.

Time to blow away a few cobwebs with the walk to the top of Rippon Tor (42) where the triangulation point has been almost surrounded by a wall.

The view across to Haytor Rocks...

...Hound Tor and Easdon Tor in the far distance

From Rippon Tor down to Cold East Cross.  Roger had gone lame at this point with his ankle not working properly so decided to return to the cars.

The rest of us continued to the disused quarry on Welstor Common...

...where Rosemary produced some goodies in celebration of Amber's birthday.  Our resident fireman tried in vain to light the candle but the wind was too strong.  The flap jacks and mini chocolate cakes were delicious. We decided to give Amber 'the bumps' but somehow didn't get around to it!

Then the short walk around to Welstor Rock (43) shown here in the foreground with Buckland Beacon (44) in the background.

Welstor Rock from a different viewpoint.

The view from Buckland Beacon towards Rippon Tor.

The Ten Commandments Stones on the side of Buckland Beacon. These were completed in 1928 and more details can be found here:

http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/ten_command.htm 

Buckland Beacon from a different viewpoint

Back over Buckland Common and through Blackslade Ford to Tunhill Rocks (45)

From here we contoured across to Hollow Tor and in the middle of nowhere this perfect  granite trough.

Hollow Tor (46) with Chinkwell Tor in the distance.

Next up to Pil Tor (47).

From Pil Tor with Rippon Tor in the background

Finally across to Top Tor (48).

Lunch today in the Rugglestone Inn and this being half term it was very busy.  There appeared to be no space at the Inn but Roger having got here early had reserved a table for us.  Charlie finally lit the candle and we all sang to Amber.  Bud and Chris joined us at the end - they couldn't get a table either when they arrived and had their lunch in another place.

Walking today Amber, Colin, Charlie, Harry, Terry, Rosemary and Roger.

Wednesday 8th February Four Winds

Ten of us for a wonderful atmospheric walk. Cold with a very heavy frost and the moor bathed in silver moonlight.

From Four Winds to the stream (one slipped into the water).  Then up to the railway track below King Tor.  Around to Leedon Tor for a break and back via Foggintor.  On a another night some of this would have been soft and boggy - not tonight - very firm under foot.

On the walk Irving, Mike, Pete, Jon, Stella, Mike, Charles, Jim, David and Dr Tom in the Whitchurch Inn.

Tuesday 7th February North Bovey

The idyllic village of North Bovey was the start for our walk.  A frosty start at home with sunshine but a grey day on this side of the moor.

Down a little path beside the church..

over the stream...up the hill and into a private woodland...with lots of snowdrops

Just as we were coming to the end of the woods some deer were spotted in the next field but they were much too fast for my camera.

Into the hamlet of Neadon to see a deer of a different kind.

Hunter's Tor in the distance at the end of the ridge we would walk along later.

Past a picture postcard at Foxworthy.

We followed the path through the woods which the map indicates will take you to Sharpitor

In fact the map is wrong, the actual path brings you out at Harton Chest Tor (38)

Up to the ridge path and then just me and Huxley scramble through the bracken to Raven's Tor (39).

Next to Foxworthy Tor (40).  Not so much of tor this one, just a scattering of larger rocks.

Then a short walk to Hunter's Tor (41)...

...with a view across to the unmistakable Bowermans's Nose in the far distance.

Down the track then and into more of a farming area with the very large bales loaded up for moving...

...past the pigs...

...and the geese (there are two - and not one with two heads!)

The cows with the relatively new born calf...ahh!

Back to North Bovey...

...and into the Ring of Bells

...and lunch was good

Walking today Bud, Rosemary, Terry, Charlie, Roger and Carol