Saturday, April 13
Dartmoor NIGHT 4/5 Sun 2/7/23 WHITE TOR - RETURN; BIRCH TOR - HOOKNEY TOR - HAMELDOWN TOR & A WANDER ALONG BROAD BARROW RIDGE
A.M:
WHITE TOR - RETURN
An easy return in the morning following the wall south back to the road.
P.M: Time for tonight's wildcamp.
I've always wanted to visit GRIMSPOUND, but heard all the usual mutterings about leaving a car in the area/theft hotspot.
But firstly a steak/pint at the ever excellent WARREN HOUSE INN (674 809)Please try to drop in here. Always a welcome greeting and its hard going when you're totally off mains services and so reliant on oil for cooking/electricity. Trade has been slowly recovering, but the heyday of large numbers of coach trippers hasn't returned post Covid and they deserve whatever support you can give.Always a popular spot with the bikers and horse riders.Recommended
(And a chance to take on water for later this evening)
I tucked into the Bennetts Cross car park before heading off for the afternoon
A quick climb onto BIRCH TOR (686 814)
Birch Tor
Back to the junction with The Two Moors Way (TMW) and east to HOOKNEY TOR (698 812)
HookneyTor
Not a very sheltered spot, and still rather too many people around, compared to yesterday. But I'm an old hand at this. Once 6pm comes I mostly have the hills to myself, save the occasional local dog walker or runner.
A drop down to GRIMSPOUND
Grimspound from Hookney Tor
An interesting spot, but it feels so strangely surrounded by hills. Normally these locations like to see danger coming; But it feels like the Grimspound inhabitants were hiding away?
And now the very steep climb up (well with a water loaded pack) onto HAMELDOWN TOR (703 805) Its just a cairn, so no shelter from the wind, not so bad today. 
Hameldown Tor
And as a reward - an easy amble on the TMW track along BROAD BARROW RIDGE to find a spot to wildcamp for the night off the track near BROAD BARROW (705 799)
Plenty of flat spots to pick from with good views all around, and sheltered from the wind by the barrow remains nearby.
Tent pitched (where's JohnHee hiding tonight?)
A quick brew and plenty of opportunity to wander the ridge southwards to take in the panoramic views & examine the wooden poles dotting the area. 
These were placed during WW2 to prevent enemy planes landing. They knew their stuff in those days. Despite the extremely harsh conditions I could see poles dotted all around. Now why do my 'treated' fence posts fall down/break within 4-5 years?
As you can see the ridge track is easy going with fine, fine views. Although I suspect many of the TMW walkers are mostly looking upwards at the long haul from Widecombe. The downhill direction is so much more rewarding. Great views all around.
But boy will that wind ever drop? Its been a constant niggle for four days now, and is now become an irritant.
Labels: dartmoor, wild camping
A.M:
WHITE TOR - RETURN
An easy return in the morning following the wall south back to the road.
P.M:
Time for tonight's wildcamp.
I've always wanted to visit GRIMSPOUND, but heard all the usual mutterings about leaving a car in the area/theft hotspot.
But firstly a steak/pint at the ever excellent WARREN HOUSE INN (674 809)
Please try to drop in here. Always a welcome greeting and its hard going when you're totally off mains services and so reliant on oil for cooking/electricity. Trade has been slowly recovering, but the heyday of large numbers of coach trippers hasn't returned post Covid and they deserve whatever support you can give.Always a popular spot with the bikers and horse riders.Recommended(And a chance to take on water for later this evening)
I tucked into the Bennetts Cross car park before heading off for the afternoon
A quick climb onto BIRCH TOR (686 814)
Birch TorBack to the junction with The Two Moors Way (TMW) and east to HOOKNEY TOR (698 812)
HookneyTorNot a very sheltered spot, and still rather too many people around, compared to yesterday. But I'm an old hand at this. Once 6pm comes I mostly have the hills to myself, save the occasional local dog walker or runner.
A drop down to GRIMSPOUND
Grimspound from Hookney TorAn interesting spot, but it feels so strangely surrounded by hills. Normally these locations like to see danger coming; But it feels like the Grimspound inhabitants were hiding away?
And now the very steep climb up (well with a water loaded pack) onto HAMELDOWN TOR (703 805) Its just a cairn, so no shelter from the wind, not so bad today.
Hameldown TorPlenty of flat spots to pick from with good views all around, and sheltered from the wind by the barrow remains nearby.
Tent pitched (where's JohnHee hiding tonight?)
A quick brew and plenty of opportunity to wander the ridge southwards to take in the panoramic views & examine the wooden poles dotting the area.
These were placed during WW2 to prevent enemy planes landing. They knew their stuff in those days. Despite the extremely harsh conditions I could see poles dotted all around. Now why do my 'treated' fence posts fall down/break within 4-5 years?
As you can see the ridge track is easy going with fine, fine views. Although I suspect many of the TMW walkers are mostly looking upwards at the long haul from Widecombe. The downhill direction is so much more rewarding. Great views all around.
But boy will that wind ever drop? Its been a constant niggle for four days now, and is now become an irritant.
Labels: dartmoor, wild camping
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