Wednesday Evening 12th July 2017 - Branscombe's Loaf

Starting from Sourton and the usual track up towards the tors. We went to the right and underneath to take the.....

...the track which goes around the south of them.

Along the top of the tors to view the beautiful crepuscular rays and the reflected sunlight on the sea off Cornwall.

Toward Yes Tor and...

...Meldon Reservoir.

Next the steeper bit  to get us up to Branscombe's Loaf. Much cooler with the breeze as we stopped for the coffee break.

Then around and down to Shelstone Tor.

As the sun got lower.

Across to the Ice Works  and down the track as the sun finally set.

On to the Fox and Hounds for a proper drink. With Mike, Stella and Pete.

Tuesday 11th July 2017 Burrator

The forecast for the morning was wet and so it was. Typical Dartmoor weather.

The view from inside the car at Burrator quarry car park.

Across the dam and up to Berra Tor.

Then it was through the bluebell woods (most dull when the bluebells are not out) through Sheepstor and on towards Sheeps Tor.

We found some shelter on the top for a coffee stop.

Then down through the Arboretum, over Norsworthy Bridge and up to the leat. Back down through the boggy bit where these big beast were taking a rest.

Down to the edge of the reservoir....

...finally up the track to Claig Tor and the cars.

On to the Burrator Inn where the first orders for hot food arrived on the table everyone was seated.

With Jon, Terry, Charlie and Brenda.

Tuesday 4th July 2017 Moretonhampstead

A warm, humid and sunny morning for a walk from Moretonhampstead to a corner of the moor we don't normally get to.

Through the town....

To the cycle path which leads to Budleigh Farm and then through Stewards Wood.

Gently up to Pepperdon Down.....

....for a coffee break on Pepperdon Rocks (a tor not marked on the os map)

We continued through some of the longer stuff on Pepperdon Dwon and through the lanes to Blackingstone Rock. This is a huge granite outcrop, detached from the main part of Dartmoor and most unusually has a set of concrete steps up to the top,

Not far away (in the centre of the photo) is Heltor Rock a similar but slightly smaller tor,

On top are a number of rock basins.

The steep steps down.

Back across another part of Pepperdon Down.

Along the track to Lewdowns Cottages where nearby is an old bulldozer which has seen better days - very strange that it should have just been abandoned here.

We took the road and a track down to Wray Barton - the old railway line ran under this bridge.

On to the relatively newly opened cycle path. This is adjacent to the old railway line which we followed back to Moretonhampstead.

With Terry, Mike, Stella, Jon, Charlie and Jane

Tuesday 27th June 2017 Shilley Pool

On a warm, humid day with very little breeze we starting from South Zeal, a place most of us have driven past but never actually been to. Eventually, everyone found the car park. We went into the village and then out on a footpath past this interesting door

Then up, through the 'in' land on to the open moor. There are lots of footpaths in this area all leading to the moor.

South Zeal below.

We didn't go up to Cosden but contoured in a southerly direction to Cosdon Row, a the triple stone row. 

And, then across to....

...one of the boggy areas (Cheriton Combe)  to explore....

...the wild flowers.

Down to cross Blackaton Brook which....

...flows down to Shilley Pool...

...where we stopped for lunch and some had a dip in the water.

The route back took us over Ramsley Hill.

Where there is a brick capped chimney. This marks the site of Ramsley copper mine which operated between 1860 and 1880.

Good to walk in an area we don't get to very often.  With Stella, Mike, John, Terry, Jane and Charlie.

Tuesday 20th June 2017 Hapstead Ford and Ryder's Hill

On one of the hottest days for walking on Dartmoor but there was some relief with a cooling breeze.  From Combestone Tor and gently up to Horn's Cross.

Past the boundary stone and through the girts.

The sheep were all sheltering from the sun under the only tree  - very clever and not nearly as stupid as they sometimes appear.

Through the bog cotton....

To Hapstead Ford for a coffee.

Up the valley stopping to look at the orchids....

...and bog cotton.

Past Mardle Head....

...to Petre's Boundary Stone on Ryders Hill. At least we beat the other rambling group from Newton Abbott to the top. Another view of Red Lake in the distance.

Then very gently down to Hooton Wheals.

An old wheel pit and the ponies.

We avoided the tussocky stuff by contouring round and following an old leat and then gently back down to Combestone Tor.

An excellent lunch at the re-furbished Forest Inn, at least it is open on a Tuesday during the summer. Afterwards some went for a paddle and a swim. With Jon, Mike, Charlie, Anne and Jane.