Sunday 8th December Yes Tor

The forecast was bright sunny spells but driving to Meldon for the start the rain gods had the upper hand.  The rain soon stopped and took the path down from the car park the old quarry area near the Meldon viaduct.

Across the bridge...

...then past the quarries....

...and the uphill bit.  Looking across to Longstone Hill which would be my route down.

On to Black Down with  West Mill Tor on the left and Yes Tor on the right hidden in the cloud.

Looking down the valley of the Red-a-ven Brook.

I went across to the military track which leads up to Yes Tor.  Looking back here to West Mill Tor.

I went round to Yes Tor and this was the only sunshine on my walk. A clear view over to Belstone Tor in the middle distance with  Cosden Hill behind.  I paused here for a drink and then went about twelve feet higher to the other side of Yes Tor....

 ...where the weather was completely different.  The cloud had rolled in from the west and there was no view.

It was cold in the strong wind.

I followed the ridge along to High Willhays and then turned to go down to Black Tor.

Eventually the Black Tor emerged out of the cloud.

 Past the warning signs on the firing range.






















From Black Tor looking across the West Okement valley to Corn Ridge hidden in the cloud.

The view down to Vellake Corner.

I took the track  over Longstone Hill pausing here to look back at Black Tor.

A little bit of blue sky but no sunshine - this is looking up the valley for Red-a-ven Brook.

Finally down to Meldon Reservoir.

An exhilarating walk.

Wednesday 5th December Two Bridges

An evening walk where we took exactly the same route as on the day walk on Tuesday last week except we went around the other way!  It is strange with 365 square miles of Dartmoor that the two different walking groups end up on the same part of the moor within days.  We probably won't come back here for some time!

A super clear evening with a heavy frost forming making the going under foot good. The Ashburton section of the Dartmoor Rescue Group were having a training exercise from the same place so it was busy at the start.  Jon had brought out some satellite co-ordinates but we weren't able to see any of them.

We set off towards Crockern Tor before changing direction and going directly towards Longaford Tor. Then on to Higher White Tor and we followed the wall down....

...to cross the river at the weir where a brick had been placed in the water to create this effect.













Then the steeper bit up to the top of Beardown Tors and back past Beardown Farm.

On to the Prince of Wales in Princetown where the decorations are up....

....and as always a warm welcome. 

With Pete, Jon and Raz

Wednesday evening 27th November Drizzlecombe

A relative mild evening - we set off from Ringmoor cottage taking the track which leads  directly to Ditworthy Warren House where this tree is.

Then almost at battle speed we headed over Eastern Tor through Drizzlecombe to the disused mine workings where the military had left their yellow 'Task 2' box with a golf ball by the side.  Taking our break here.

Returning along the Eylesbarrow track past the scout hut, over Gutter Tor to the Triangulation point with the memorial to the Plymouth section of the Dartmoor Rescue Group.

Back to the cars and on to the Royal Oak at Meavy.

With Tom, Mike, Anne, Peter and David.

Wednesday morning 27th November Pew Tor

Much more gloomy this morning with a heavy layer of cloud.

Eleven of us set off to the little quarry near Pew Tor - Terry pointed out he goldfish that live in the water here.

A morning for finding things. Firstly this golf ball just sitting on top of a rock - presumably someone had been practising their golf strokes up here...

 ...then a metal plug left in this granite boulder. The purpose here would have been to split the boulder along the line where the weeds are growing but this was abandoned and the plug left in the rock and it has probably been here for more  than a hundred years!

On to Pew Tor and of course some always have to get on top.

The cloud rolled in below us...

 ...and we were engulfed by the time we had reached this little dewpond.

But, by the time we had reached Heckwood Tor, where this gorse bush was coming into bloom, the cloud had dispersed again.

Down past Vixen Tor.

 Where we found a dog collar and...

 ...shortly after a horse whip.














Next into the disused quarry at Merrivale now filled with water....

...and the derelict buildings left behind...

...the quarry ceased excavating and working its own granite in the 1970's but continued to process imported stone until the 1990's when it closed.

Jon helps Terry across the busy main road - or was it the other way round?

On to the ford below Barn Hill...

...and the old smithy nearby.

Following the leat to Windy Post and the Bullseye Stone.

Next the Logan stone by Feather Tor - and this one really rocks.

Followed by an excellent lunch in the London Inn with Jon, John, Pete, Cath, Ian, Jane, Terry, Peter, Anne and David.

Tuesday 26th November Beardown Tor

A heavy frost and a bright start. Starting at Two Bridges.

In along the footpath which follows the Cowsic River.

Just below Beardown Farm.

Through the woods on Beardown Hill

Sonny didn't want to go through the gap in the gate.

On to Beardown Tor - the military were firing on the nearby range and the flag was up to warn against going into the range area.

We stood on top with the flag above us.

The view across the valley to Longaford Tor - with Higher White Tor in the far distance.

Down to...

...the weir (which was icy in places) to cross the West Dart River...

...and then back up again to...

...Higher White Tor to follow the ridge line back.

Past Longaford Tor.

By now the sky had clouded over...

...as we returned to the cars.

With Terry, Rosemary, Brian, Roger, Chris and good to have Charlie with us again on a day off.  In the pub was Bud, Brian, Chris and a lovely little puppy called Frank!