tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315942652024-03-07T13:59:57.669+00:00Walkabout In The UKWalking, backpacking and wildcamping in the UK's wilder landscape, as well as a bit of local stuff. "No dross. Some drivel" - 'A cracking read' (The Outdoors Station Podzine Dec 2007)John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.comBlogger942125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-50191715807368748782023-05-10T17:24:00.014+01:002023-05-10T17:33:55.791+01:00Dartmoor Tors 5/5/23 - Bonehill Rocks, Bell Tor, Chinkwell Tor and Honeybag Tor<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Now where was I before I went off on that last post ...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The area around Haytor Rocks, as I've said previously, is one I've tended to avoid. But with low visitors around, and poor weather this was a good time to explore further.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After a little mapwork, a quick recce of car parking spots, and some on-line camping map access (Note:Haytor Rocks phone reception was dire for my usually good network) I had a few options to play with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ignoring the more mainstream choices (nope - I'm not saying where they are - do your own leg work matey) I parked up at <b>Bonehill Rocks</b> car park (730 774)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Pack loaded from the car boot for an overnighter, with plenty of water onboard I explored the rock outcrop before descending to cross the road and work my way up around the east side of <b>Bell Tor</b> (730 788) and up onto <b>Chinkwell Tor </b>(729 782)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With the wind continuing to blow strongly, and rain intermittent enough to demand full waterproofs, I mooched around for a while mentally marking potential wildcamp spots. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But oh that bloody wind. Howling unceasingly from the south west.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Blow you bugger blow - a</span><span style="font-family: arial;">nd did it just!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A steep descent from </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Chinkwell Tor</b><span style="font-family: arial;">, and then back up to </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Honeybag Tor</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> (728 786) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Signs of a recent fire outbreak on the vegetation to the left of the path. Heather now gone for the bees and their summertime honey making?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It took a good 15 minutes to find a spot sheltered enough from the full force of the wind, but there are quite a few choices here. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Tent up, coffee on, watch the world go by.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_TEFICKUewBRe73sNzFwVbfubaOfNE7K7BsmiWc40MbgPoyZjL-T6spfLoEOzuYTMm0OWDNOL8kCW1SDJZDXFnbO54jIndYnkj2stSuaMtO4dBIHFCLuizzdkVoa40IKAY2Qm__eWh4mI2jU-uMpslnBOpMjgKHShqusA479qda3e5meFhY/s4128/20230505_155625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_TEFICKUewBRe73sNzFwVbfubaOfNE7K7BsmiWc40MbgPoyZjL-T6spfLoEOzuYTMm0OWDNOL8kCW1SDJZDXFnbO54jIndYnkj2stSuaMtO4dBIHFCLuizzdkVoa40IKAY2Qm__eWh4mI2jU-uMpslnBOpMjgKHShqusA479qda3e5meFhY/w405-h540/20230505_155625.jpg" width="405" /></a><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Honeybag Tor</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Occasionally I would explore the Tor surroundings, but I regretted not going back to Chinkwell Tor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The views on offer were better, even if the wind protection was a little more elusive.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf1STrhK2GtTvuVrHNzor2IDc1eFSkC2j6h96sCystPnCKW9hOCOowEYFGFlAqXpgGdT4ijM6mJ5pqlA_LnukN0c24Zu7icMDbQIftY5rc2qHH7QCw6X8ypiE60qcT7rUcufcjovxwk_lNDA1bLU9qMJgY0JjUGXouGzAPDkLzH93ivQ4neI/s4128/20230505_155750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf1STrhK2GtTvuVrHNzor2IDc1eFSkC2j6h96sCystPnCKW9hOCOowEYFGFlAqXpgGdT4ijM6mJ5pqlA_LnukN0c24Zu7icMDbQIftY5rc2qHH7QCw6X8ypiE60qcT7rUcufcjovxwk_lNDA1bLU9qMJgY0JjUGXouGzAPDkLzH93ivQ4neI/w497-h373/20230505_155750.jpg" width="497" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;">..not the greatest panorama</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Mostly it rained. Occasionally a bee would wander past the tent (hence the Tor's name?) </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The main highlight of the day was watching a farmer in the field across in the valley herding sheep between fields using the customary tradition of sheepdog ... and a volvo estate. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well that was a first - you know the weather is poor when the local farmer prefers to use the family 4x4 rather than their trusty tractor or quad bike.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A quiet night. The sheltered spot worked well avoiding the sleep interruption that comes with gusting wind conditions. The frequent rain showers were just the background song of nature after so many years of camping.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The following morning, as expected, I returned to the car through thick raincloud, yesterday's clear route gone, requiring compass work to stay on track.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Through the murk I spotted my vehicle, solitary in the car park, in such filthy weather.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Not the greatest tor I've ever spent a night on, but a pleasant experience, bedding down my gear for my next trip.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And as I travelled back home, I realised that this area offers a real advantage with a quicker travel time and readier access, rather than the lengthy trip I normally take to the Okehampton or Tavistock to access Dartmoor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Definitely one to ponder for the future.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometime soon.</span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-10200562818209946902023-05-10T16:45:00.002+01:002023-05-10T16:49:15.478+01:00Dartmoor Wildcamping Access<p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was clear that during this trip Dartmoor's weather was just not going to be playing nicely. That's the problem with having to book holiday leave so many weeks in advance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In theory I potentially had a few days free for wildcamping. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In practise the weather forecast was highly erratic, and had been for most of the week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And those who know Dartmoor understand how just how unpleasant that can get at times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But it seemed a pity to bring all the gear without bedding it down ready for the rest of 2023. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last visit had been a night's wildcamp on <b><a href="http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/2023/05/day-5-sat-9722-roo-tour-and-avoiding.html" target="_blank">Rippon Tor</a>. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All of which has diverted my attention away from my planned trip report to reflect on t</span><span style="font-family: arial;">he recent shitshow over access rights for Dartmoor wildcamping.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>For, you see. Rippon Tor, according to the <a href="https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/about-us/about-us-maps/camping-map" target="_blank">DNPA Access map</a>. is now 'off-limits', and it would be an offence to wildcamp there.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hmm...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From local </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dartmoor contacts I spoke to on this trip</span><span style="font-family: arial;">, the wildcamping 'ban' enforcement was viewed as being unenforceable on the ground, and hence effectively being ignored. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Particularly by those experienced wildcampers who understand the ethos and how to carry it out on the ground.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Having been involved in an earlier campaign for wildcamping access back in 2008 most of the arguments I'd worked over years ago in much detail. And now, as then, it was clear that without considerable political support, and money, little would change.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">[Archives about that campaign can be found <a href="https://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/search?q=legalise" target="_blank">here</a> - but here was the final <a href="http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/2008/06/wildcamp-e-petition-government-response.html" target="_blank">outcome</a>:</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial;">"</span><strong style="font-size: 10.2px;">23 June 2008/We received a petition asking:</strong></i></p><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 10.2px;"><strong style="color: black;">"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to legalise wild camping in England and Wales."</strong></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 10.2px;"><br /><strong style="color: black;">Details of Petition:<br /></strong>"Currently without the landowners concent it is illegal to wild camp on the moors, mountains, National Parks and MOD land. It is time to give people the same rights as those given North of the Border in Scotland to allow them to wild camp in these places without threat of legal action."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 10.2px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 10.2px;"><strong style="color: black;">The Government's response<br /></strong>This <b>Government appreciates the potential benefits of wild camping</b> in England and its attractiveness to campers who already have the opportunity to camp in the wild in Scotland.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 10.2px;"><br />The Land Reform Act in Scotland allows for wild camping, but the land issues and the legislation in England are somewhat different. The introduction of wild camping in England would be a controversial issue, which would require both significant consultation and legislative change.<br /><br />On open access land wild camping is prohibited under Schedule 2 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which lists all restricted activities. Therefore, new Regulations would be required to exclude wild camping as a restricted activity. Any change to the current rules on wild camping in National Parks and Ministry of Defence land would require new primary legislation.<br /><br /><b>The Government has no plans to allocate the necessary resources to consider proposals for such legislation at present, and is concentrating on following up the successful introduction of 750,000 hectares of open access land with new legislation on access to the coast in the </b></span><b><a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/marine/legislation/index.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #b4445c; font-size: 12px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 10.2px;">Marine Bill</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 10.2px;">, which is currently going through Parliament."</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></b></i><p><span style="font-family: arial;">[By the way - No idea whatever happened to that last point]]</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/2008/06/wildcamping-e-petition-heartfelt.html" target="_blank">My personal response to that was blogged at the time</a> - and to be honest it remains an approach I would take today if I feel the desire to do so.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Coming up to date....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> post covid camping/party madness on Dartmoor (and across the UK) definitely didn't help build support for 'proper' wildcamping access. As I recall some areas of Scotland suffered clampdowns on existing access rights as a result.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Meanwhile DNPA has been drawn into an expensive legal battle that I personally think they are unlikely to win, using limited funds that they really cannot afford to spend, with likely cut backs elsewhere as a result. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But to stand by is also not a good alternative - they are buggered whichever way they turn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On the plus side its exposed the machinations of one particularly rich and powerful landowner. Well what a shocker!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">More positively it has shown the strong community support from other Dartmoor landowners across the area, especially on the military ranges.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Peversely researching this trip I've spent more time poring over the detail of the <a href="https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/about-us/about-us-maps/camping-map" target="_blank">DNPA Camping Map</a> than I have ever in the past. With the result that I've now spotted some hidden gems in isolated areas, places where before I would never have even considered camping.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">When I look in the mirror these days I see that devilish glint starting to look back at me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It seems to say ...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">'You know exactly who is responsible for the infamous court action.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">You know precise area of empty moorland that they regard as so vital to protect.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Looks like a fun - lets go visit - I feel a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">wildcamp a coming on'</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So that all worked out wonderfully then! </span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-86266667319851674372023-05-10T15:33:00.003+01:002023-05-10T15:38:30.132+01:00Dartmoor Tors 5/5/23 - Brent Tor & Church<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Often, whilst I was high on Dartmoor's western tops, I could see a distant church sat alone on a hill. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Intrigued, a little research showed it to be St Michael de Rupe, an iconic 12th century church perched on top of <b>Brent Tor </b>(470 804) near Mary Tavy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Iconic is right - a pretty unique sight..... and site.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Annoyingly it is also just off the OS Dartmoor Explorer map, so some on-line detective work was required to identify the precise location, but it is </span><span style="font-family: arial;">amazingly easy to access. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A small car park at the foot of the tor leads through a stile, meanders around the tor base and up onto the tor itself. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A quick look around the inside of the church. A wander around the site to take in the excellent views, and back to the car.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i9EF26b3pBuo1IE8bJq3js-q56b6-8HIf6LPmY0skN8jBXR4rRgzuvMu2azAT-70FZnMVyS1TK5Ab67OaaDsnzE7cNLDAKZtD_c3CCLJcYa-CTzEUrJayQmshdfBJbgNAp_wwvMbwBGqha3woe9xQI3ZbvAEgdtRNt-HG1vGY93QSRDCfxA/s4128/20230505_110352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i9EF26b3pBuo1IE8bJq3js-q56b6-8HIf6LPmY0skN8jBXR4rRgzuvMu2azAT-70FZnMVyS1TK5Ab67OaaDsnzE7cNLDAKZtD_c3CCLJcYa-CTzEUrJayQmshdfBJbgNAp_wwvMbwBGqha3woe9xQI3ZbvAEgdtRNt-HG1vGY93QSRDCfxA/w519-h389/20230505_110352.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A 10-15 minute walk, and excellent views.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The car park is quite small, and clearly a hot spot for car thefts - so beware. On the plus side there is a set of public toilets there - always welcome when travelling around.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOoqpOIX74-VlfGIKM6w9XvPNlRnv2bjNbsC84Zknxu9rIMqhlUJF8ybM1cmKOIEdI0P9Zv88Mm5LZ-FjIvR24sziLepjf377LoujsByEkF9csU7hXzm80Uk2ajHv8kFp2qjqKZGPFFPHN4ApYQ84a4HE4mXTVfM2J3U-2L6rHBsRaG8XICc/s4128/20230505_111230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOoqpOIX74-VlfGIKM6w9XvPNlRnv2bjNbsC84Zknxu9rIMqhlUJF8ybM1cmKOIEdI0P9Zv88Mm5LZ-FjIvR24sziLepjf377LoujsByEkF9csU7hXzm80Uk2ajHv8kFp2qjqKZGPFFPHN4ApYQ84a4HE4mXTVfM2J3U-2L6rHBsRaG8XICc/w510-h383/20230505_111230.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some fun facts</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">1. It is the highest church on Dartmoor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">2. The car park visitor information board suggests that all the high-up churches</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> on Dartmoor are called </span><span style="font-family: arial;">St Michaels. (A noticeable example being the one at Princetown)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">3. But there may be a more ancient reason to do with the <a href="https://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/2016/03/18/michael_line/" target="_blank">St Michael's Ley Line</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Whatever the reason, it is a remarkable place to visit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">To wonder at the effort involved to construct such a solid building in such an inhospitable location. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And to have it still standing nearly 900 years later.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Only churchyard I've ever visited where the crosses are supported by stakes & tension wires - must be a great place in a gale.</span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-33746968907431300402023-05-10T14:54:00.005+01:002023-05-10T15:01:23.577+01:00Bodmin Moor Circular 3/5/23 - Showery Tor, Brown Willy, Little Rough Tor, Rough Tor<p><span style="font-family: arial;">A visit to Bodmin Moor has been long on my list of Things-To-Do. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(Very long apparently - m</span><span style="font-family: arial;">y OS Bodmin map is dated 2002)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I was spending some nights camping at the Eden project YHA site. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Glamp, not wild. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I quite enjoyed the luxuries of a woodstove, DAB radio, and watching the English Channel from high on a hill, surrounded by birdsong, without the noise of traffic/aircraft/DIYers etc.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Then, later in the week, Dartmoor wildcamping, weather dependant.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So with variable weather each day picking a reasonable day for a daysack circular on Bodmin felt to be the right call.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A word of caution - getting to the car park nearest to the track to <b>Rough Tor </b>is quite simple. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Unless you are a Satnav device.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In which case every back lane between Bodmin & Camelford seems to be neccessary. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On the return trip I followed Roughtor Road straight back to Camelford before I let the Satnav have any sort of say.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I parked up at <b>Rough Tor car park</b> (GR 138 819) Despite sunny dry conditions the wind was howling from the south-east, gusting to a chilly 40mph. Made for an interesting approach up the well trodden track to <b>Showery Tor</b> (149 813)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Admiring the distinctive rockwork the track led southwards and then sout east contouring around the south of Rough Tor.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARaLOl_SfQQjX882wYFndphT20J49r85G72OW-AFWSjfE7qYuzKAztJqzdwK9SBLVJZPxetQFBe2jNoJzK1NmgtcBVBvN_ASyPIK7oFjGUi5TiqIra2UxT0XAdYGMQRhRG23NNKNDoqfUw0Rk4FmDw97ftdhTVrK0Q3oDGBdUBDBlVvCV-7Q/s4128/back%20towards%20rough%20tor%2020230503_123109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARaLOl_SfQQjX882wYFndphT20J49r85G72OW-AFWSjfE7qYuzKAztJqzdwK9SBLVJZPxetQFBe2jNoJzK1NmgtcBVBvN_ASyPIK7oFjGUi5TiqIra2UxT0XAdYGMQRhRG23NNKNDoqfUw0Rk4FmDw97ftdhTVrK0Q3oDGBdUBDBlVvCV-7Q/w569-h426/back%20towards%20rough%20tor%2020230503_123109.jpg" width="569" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>River crossing (From Brown Willy looking at Rough Tor)</b></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>Warning </b></i>- although it seems possible to head for the easier ridge to the north of Brown Willy, keep to the track, heading for the <b>De Lank River </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>crossing</b> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(153 805) to the right of the fieldwall. Based on the solid construction of the fencing and walls I saw on the route the local landowner has clearly had enough of walkers wandering off at all angles, likely damaging fencing/releasing stock as they go. So play by the rules here please.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Up onto <b>Brown Willy </b>(158 799) the highest point on Bodmin, and indeed Cornwall. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5UKF7bg4jemR-TcXyp_tvz8nXGDZoSFJOEffS9S6ejR7DMEpycpOYRUl7ow6_EeQY6K0qwEiIgl2p3ykm9i7H42KRnzeytS9ZOMLxfEd6iHO4TKEl2iwkOB93_Vf8LXfc1kElOzQvd6ijk_p7bhjBC7a5iCcuAlQCEByvnGIym9eSEc1Wcc/s4128/brown%20willy%2020230503_123058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5UKF7bg4jemR-TcXyp_tvz8nXGDZoSFJOEffS9S6ejR7DMEpycpOYRUl7ow6_EeQY6K0qwEiIgl2p3ykm9i7H42KRnzeytS9ZOMLxfEd6iHO4TKEl2iwkOB93_Vf8LXfc1kElOzQvd6ijk_p7bhjBC7a5iCcuAlQCEByvnGIym9eSEc1Wcc/w468-h624/brown%20willy%2020230503_123058.jpg" width="468" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Brown Willy</b></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Out of the wind it was a nice enough spot to stop for some sandwiches. But, as I later discovered, Rough Tor is an easier walk, with more to offer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Lunch over. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hat blown off. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hat retrieved. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Again. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A feature of the day it seemed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Descending the northern slope of Brown Willy to the river crossing, and then back up to the saddle between Showery & Little Rough Tor. There are alternatives but to be honest a good track is always welcome, and clitter can be a swine to work through. Take the easy path here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">West over <b>Little Rough Tor </b>(146 809), then onto <b>Rough Tor </b>(143 80-8) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSPBFo8RcbBqhL4Myuj7y431U8zTNHWnn9SJeM9-OySxY1prNu8IwYmocrHFcpu_zZkY__pImvV6WtsXTNGmR4U7nKXDe8CPk5bT5WdxkHtccsaERB6ThldwwTvOfBJyjmDBpCBnOBwqJ0togqb5_3eDYRgl2CtipU5fFt47aw-9qWAQ3PKg/s4128/20230503_133254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSPBFo8RcbBqhL4Myuj7y431U8zTNHWnn9SJeM9-OySxY1prNu8IwYmocrHFcpu_zZkY__pImvV6WtsXTNGmR4U7nKXDe8CPk5bT5WdxkHtccsaERB6ThldwwTvOfBJyjmDBpCBnOBwqJ0togqb5_3eDYRgl2CtipU5fFt47aw-9qWAQ3PKg/w492-h369/20230503_133254.jpg" width="492" /></a><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Rough Tor</span></b></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is definitely the most interesting of the group, particularly the memorial plaque.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk7MomcTwAHnwHo7_C8AUAbQcOBSmY1FmWR6zbYTHqjff8R99dh7nsm-qaiAn2LUeDE9s5UyxUfIK7HRJaJrfsaGhax0TRgnw0fXWTQXV6d-r3Zl48wiAALOpg7nGWYvbggxiFKtmbvbT3B43F1ViNhz7m9g_3EsA730W1JobRCv2BaZfyto/s4128/20230503_134045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="587" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk7MomcTwAHnwHo7_C8AUAbQcOBSmY1FmWR6zbYTHqjff8R99dh7nsm-qaiAn2LUeDE9s5UyxUfIK7HRJaJrfsaGhax0TRgnw0fXWTQXV6d-r3Zl48wiAALOpg7nGWYvbggxiFKtmbvbT3B43F1ViNhz7m9g_3EsA730W1JobRCv2BaZfyto/w440-h587/20230503_134045.jpg" width="440" /></a><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Rough Tor memorial</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWNVZMmOO4CMMrIr9GCYdCbulj03gfo83JVhl_1TJd4lIQx1XYBR-1yub3yXHwEYCP-jxpX0SNj7PZ1x0c480x3Sqz02439_FlTX8ECqwuJYQ1S6XfBhV395dp5dC4FDGBwOi6WOOa1CM1IbU_qD8IDke-biCutAy5IMN8SPxGAcX1-8lqsY/s4128/20230503_133751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWNVZMmOO4CMMrIr9GCYdCbulj03gfo83JVhl_1TJd4lIQx1XYBR-1yub3yXHwEYCP-jxpX0SNj7PZ1x0c480x3Sqz02439_FlTX8ECqwuJYQ1S6XfBhV395dp5dC4FDGBwOi6WOOa1CM1IbU_qD8IDke-biCutAy5IMN8SPxGAcX1-8lqsY/w513-h385/20230503_133751.jpg" width="513" /></a><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Rough Tor</span></b></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxK1rGubhnoY4IgkNncowewD6gCo2GulBwLCk43MnHJ-Mj_mrGYoR7yWOiOy-s8os_yPnZO3Ax51hQZ9YvLSWr1bWlj7eily2s_612TLRHIqwsG1-Dsm9vFIIKFdcMXue-cLg3nNe2CY03JDLmE-AHTWBebaA1e2JOf2no54ST2AFfl4Ya1c/s4128/20230503_134117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxK1rGubhnoY4IgkNncowewD6gCo2GulBwLCk43MnHJ-Mj_mrGYoR7yWOiOy-s8os_yPnZO3Ax51hQZ9YvLSWr1bWlj7eily2s_612TLRHIqwsG1-Dsm9vFIIKFdcMXue-cLg3nNe2CY03JDLmE-AHTWBebaA1e2JOf2no54ST2AFfl4Ya1c/w525-h394/20230503_134117.jpg" width="525" /></a><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rough Tor</span></b></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A bit more gazing around, then straight down and back to the car park.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I took about 1 hour 30 min of actually walking covering around 4 miles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTncDqLDuEDmcmh9u89iB5vCSJOPtZDnx__NmoEMPNvSZxCoiffdQaRIxoojm0xD2zLA3IEGtB6mLoqgi7e6M_Nej-i3CcQMt1cqyiFPaRoSF1pFb4W4X43OY5hIquGQU9CLbMfoiPPvQsdHjizM5Unrd6Q1QtvpOZQHJgGvyMVIaqwzfDi40/s1310/brown%20will%20route_Strava_cr.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="716" height="658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTncDqLDuEDmcmh9u89iB5vCSJOPtZDnx__NmoEMPNvSZxCoiffdQaRIxoojm0xD2zLA3IEGtB6mLoqgi7e6M_Nej-i3CcQMt1cqyiFPaRoSF1pFb4W4X43OY5hIquGQU9CLbMfoiPPvQsdHjizM5Unrd6Q1QtvpOZQHJgGvyMVIaqwzfDi40/w360-h658/brown%20will%20route_Strava_cr.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A word of warning:</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For the less experienced access to these tors seems especially simple once one steps out of that nice warm car.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The distance to the tors looks like an easy walk for the day tripper unused to moorland conditions or steepish ascents. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Pleasant enough on a clear summer day, but an area where it is easy to wander off track in poor/foggy conditions. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Back at the car park one local told me of their neighbour, who knew the area, and was caught unexpectedly in sudden moorland fog, whilst dog walking. They ended up calling out the <a href="https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/fact_file/fact-file-6-stay-safe-information/" target="_blank">Mountain Rescue Services</a> who advised staying put so that they could be walked back to the car park. Much easier than playing hunt the walker in fog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On this quiet day I counted around 20 people. About a quarter of them wearing basic indoor clothing. With one person in denim cut off shorts and a vest t-shirt. My friendly observation on the wind strength/chill factor went, like the wind itself, straight over their head. The fact I was wearing a Paramo smock top as I came back from the route should have been their clue. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Not the first time I've seen that blank smile of polite disinterest. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh well. I'll keep on explaining, sometimes it sinks in. And some learn the lesson in their own sweet way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Never a sign of a map, food or even refreshment. After all it was a clear dry day. What could go wrong?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>So take a map and compass. And some warm, better still waterproof, clothing. Please.</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Bodmin Moor was an interesting place to tick off. But I had no sense of that wilderness feeling that Dartmoor offers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ticked off. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Unlikely to repeat.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But a trap for the unready.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p></div>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-74278968852616679682023-05-09T18:02:00.010+01:002023-05-10T15:46:27.987+01:00DAY 5 Sat 9/7/22 Rippon Tour and avoiding the Haytor madness<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Typical Dartmoor, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the sun had arrived, but with a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">vengeance.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u-IVMS_L1xH0W6HgZk7YCBeY3x2HwJJCys5fnRNbF7eMPf8U-nid98ACCA1RHLdutH2LPtEbflPlJFXgPn2-aC6TBKIxqxNugT-FoIPZi2DPKuOy6m_rFPT40iRZHzOLKsHYg0UgKBKh6RzwabFQ59A0tFT5CgAHP4XDH8w9Tt2xWL2KxcA/s3840/IMG-20220708-WA0000.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u-IVMS_L1xH0W6HgZk7YCBeY3x2HwJJCys5fnRNbF7eMPf8U-nid98ACCA1RHLdutH2LPtEbflPlJFXgPn2-aC6TBKIxqxNugT-FoIPZi2DPKuOy6m_rFPT40iRZHzOLKsHYg0UgKBKh6RzwabFQ59A0tFT5CgAHP4XDH8w9Tt2xWL2KxcA/w305-h339/IMG-20220708-WA0000.jpeg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Clearly not a day for long distance pack humping, especially considering the water load that would be neccessary.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some meandering around checking likely spots eventually led me over to <b>Widecombe in the Moor</b> to follow the road leading up onto <b>Haytor Rocks</b> (760 774).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the past this has been an area that I've always avoided like the plague. Especially during the summer months. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Haytor always seems to be teeming with day trippers, and with that comes the problems of noise, late night partying & an increased risk of theft from any cars left unattended overnight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So not my natural first choice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But after speaking with a couple of local people it felt like parking & overnighting away from the main honey spots might work. And to be honest it was just too uncomfortable to carry on cruising around in a hot car.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I decided to keep it simple using the car park at GR 742 761, and following the distinct ascent up onto <b>Rippon Tor (746 755)</b>. That way I could visually check on the car if needed, and definitely hear any alarm going off.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(No idea what I would do then, but the logic made some sort of sense)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sad, but a realistic consideration when wildcamping in remoter places for any pe</span><span style="font-family: arial;">riod of time, when using private transport, </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-2-426tcUVRrfnWQPVboBKlw7lvNhgzJF1s-_bxCNyfV5ovDviqMXZaWmPfBbGhQEaFDut45jX91bz5nBT5vQmbH0fZkj-_0OUyrVZQDnm01eWlpcl7CT5GVyK3c2Gf8RGGEZ5UYib-fM6vP8c0fEsn9npZKxcuA-dIHS_vD_mmJB-zshFk/s7936/DSCF0016.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-2-426tcUVRrfnWQPVboBKlw7lvNhgzJF1s-_bxCNyfV5ovDviqMXZaWmPfBbGhQEaFDut45jX91bz5nBT5vQmbH0fZkj-_0OUyrVZQDnm01eWlpcl7CT5GVyK3c2Gf8RGGEZ5UYib-fM6vP8c0fEsn9npZKxcuA-dIHS_vD_mmJB-zshFk/w493-h279/DSCF0016.JPG" width="493" /></a><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Rippon Tor </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;">Spot </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;">the</span><b style="font-family: arial;"> tent? </b><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;">Click the picture to find me.</span><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjP4kE5m3j90vdhOof-xjDJT-1BriYJe3Kn1hev1DbKY77IeZAzVUIdG1Kh0zlVe282RdWgX4Hm4KiUm0v1VyGWx44ysNOpGsiBgXj7BFfF6uj_mkD79QxInmgXpjMbHYtfWDxeZqWQzmVRY_dM9AGc1MQOYA-uKzX6x0Kh7VqwE3FnQMZpI/s7936/DSCF0018%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjP4kE5m3j90vdhOof-xjDJT-1BriYJe3Kn1hev1DbKY77IeZAzVUIdG1Kh0zlVe282RdWgX4Hm4KiUm0v1VyGWx44ysNOpGsiBgXj7BFfF6uj_mkD79QxInmgXpjMbHYtfWDxeZqWQzmVRY_dM9AGc1MQOYA-uKzX6x0Kh7VqwE3FnQMZpI/w619-h350/DSCF0018%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="619" /></a></div></b></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And there I sat into late evening. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Watching the masses below, soaking up the sun, in a light breeze, enjoying the peace and quiet from on high. A opportunistic wildcamp pitch, but well rewarded.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Just a couple of issues.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The ponies here are highly inquisitive, remaining so until the early hours of the morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't mind sharing, but their wariness of people had clearly disappeared. Too much cadging snacks in Haytor car park I guess - there is a similar issue here in the New Forest each summer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And the ticks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh the ticks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After years of avoiding these little buggers I managed to pick up 5 in one evening! Whilst wearing long trousers and socks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I even sat for several minutes watching a group of them work their way up a sun hot rock, ready to launch onto any unwary passerby.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Overall - an excellent view, but not a tor I'd wildcamp on again. Too much wildlife out to get me it seemed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But I did get plenty of opportunity to look over nearby tors,and tracks, for some interesting ideas for the future.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Another trip over. My wildcamping approach, selecting gear/food/water out of a car boot will not be for everyone. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But it continues to be working well, giving me access to a variety of areas, without restricting myself to water sources. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By increasing my flexibility in this way it means I continue to enjoy something that over the last three decades I've come to understand is an essential part of my make up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Long may it continue.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-74790053531169196842023-05-09T12:15:00.004+01:002023-05-10T09:24:46.980+01:00DAY 4 Fri 8/7/22 Support The Warren House Inn<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> A lazy start, still trying to work out the weekend weather possibilities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My return route crossed over </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Scarey Tor </b><span style="font-family: arial;">(607 924) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">To quote the ever excellent </span><a href="https://www.dartmoor-tors.co.uk/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">"Dartmoor Tors Compendium" by Josephine M Collingwood</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> - "Scarey Tor is not at all alarming"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd say this remains one of the definitive reference works for those wildcamping on Dartmoor, o</span><span style="font-family: arial;">r just looking for choice spots to visit, </span><a href="http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/2022/06/dartmoor-tors-planning-and-list-of-tors.html" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">as I've recommended before</a><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>A year later and I'm still finding it an essential help for trip plans. I can't think of a higher recommendation than that.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Today was becoming increasingly hot & sunny. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact too hot for anything strenuous - </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> so I decided to use one of my bug-out spots behind the </span><a href="http://www.warrenhouseinn.co.uk/history.html" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Warren House Inn</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> (673 809).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A lazy day feel to it - so a chance to get a pint and a meal. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My night's sleeping quarters nearby, one that I've so regularly used I've lost count of the number of nights I've used it. An accessible location, offering an quick bad weather/lie-up refuge, safe from the worst elements whilst I weather watch. And it offers good road access to other parts of the moor with minimal foot traffic interrupting my peace and quiet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So for once I could take in the view, rather than the more usual raincloud/D</span><span style="font-family: arial;">artmoor mist.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(BTW: when I visited </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Warren House was having very tough trading conditions, with the post covid/Brexit impact. The tourist coaches, typically from abroad, had dwindled to few a week. For a pub without any all mains connections the impact of diesel price rises was a hard hit being totally reliant on diesel fuel for power, lighting and cooking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If you do pass by, drop in for a drink - its future is looking increasingly difficult and these type of establishments need our support.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-53363882531157837252023-05-09T11:34:00.005+01:002023-05-10T09:24:57.354+01:00DAY 3 (PM) Thu 7/7/22 Winter Tor, Higher Tor & Belstone Tor<p><span style="font-family: arial;">During the afternoon I spent a little time exploring some of the military roads crossing the Okehampton Army range.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I can 'do' the long walk ins & steep ascents, but these days I prefer to use my brain rather than my brawn.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If there is a way to cut out the footslogging - then I'll take it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I've discovered that it is wildcamping element that appeals most to me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(Although every so often I think about another <a href="http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/2009/04/dartmoor-five-day-walkabout-fri-april.html" target="_blank">long multi day walking trip to enjoy that satisfaction of covering the distance once again. I was 50 then</a>, perhaps a similar challenge for next year when I hit State Retirement Age.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh no- I forgot that particular goal post got moved back courtesy of HM Gov - The Swine)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By the afternoon ever playful Dartmoor was offering up sunshine with a hint that the wind was dropping.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I decided to park up at GR 601 919 at the north western edge of <b>East Okement Farm.</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A rough track down the the stream, crossing <b>Cullever Steps </b>and then a clear track southwards onto Winter Tor (610 915), along the ridge to<b> Higher Tor</b> (612 917), and eventually onto <b>Belstone Tor </b>(614 920) on <b>Belstone Common</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Again a sheltered spot, the wind now west/north west - clearly the weather was on the change (Little did I know!)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNCRM6gTgFO7Jee6S2jNNGU8CAz5hL3lFEKWAe2hu2x4j_kwBsOnjwtC089okblGmSaoEy3MvEHafp2p15HMM0vhFPDyc_euJXs_xohDDwuhMGNnbLPaIfr-tDgyvRB2mmNchV9FCrgbpkWdS7QQ5f3ogduyI2Qhm8bFJm3ANPoKYgNyyT40/s4128/20220707_163900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNCRM6gTgFO7Jee6S2jNNGU8CAz5hL3lFEKWAe2hu2x4j_kwBsOnjwtC089okblGmSaoEy3MvEHafp2p15HMM0vhFPDyc_euJXs_xohDDwuhMGNnbLPaIfr-tDgyvRB2mmNchV9FCrgbpkWdS7QQ5f3ogduyI2Qhm8bFJm3ANPoKYgNyyT40/w513-h385/20220707_163900.jpg" width="513" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><b>Belstone Tor</b></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A scenic spot, mildly popular with the hardier Okehampton locals, out on the saunter on an increasinly pleasant evening, but quieting as the day drew to its end.</span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-33475905660272977112023-05-09T11:10:00.007+01:002023-05-10T09:25:14.928+01:00DAY 3 (AM) Thu 7/7/22 Arms Tor, Brat Tor & Widgery Cross<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Another cloudy and windy day. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A slow start to the day as I waited for the cloud to blow away. Whats the point in a panoramic view if you spend your time in Dartmoor mist? Sometimes a little wait is all that is required.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Back to the car via Arms Tor (540 862), Brat Tor (539 855) and the highly distinctive landmark of<b> Widgery Cross</b> (537 857)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGeBWMdu26kqRIYdC8KkEQrTAu3KCK7i1PZnenkfNo1Nfmakj7jGJIFQ9b6cPeiwD3kcXONaI7uJzmyQKHCTrxJuSgzREWUbUygWLwQxQTqZfytJc2T-tbV55sj67BM9dsRXgroz3fzXl-wK8EQNlFfI-YdPmOFrwrUsbwVtor6HDsy7dMnM/s7936/DSCF0009.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGeBWMdu26kqRIYdC8KkEQrTAu3KCK7i1PZnenkfNo1Nfmakj7jGJIFQ9b6cPeiwD3kcXONaI7uJzmyQKHCTrxJuSgzREWUbUygWLwQxQTqZfytJc2T-tbV55sj67BM9dsRXgroz3fzXl-wK8EQNlFfI-YdPmOFrwrUsbwVtor6HDsy7dMnM/w529-h299/DSCF0009.JPG" width="529" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A steepish descent to Noddden Gate and following a path to the west of the stream - the first track on this route that was less than clear and wide.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Car boot reloaded - off to the next spot.</span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-43182371600632245082023-05-09T10:45:00.011+01:002023-05-10T09:25:23.426+01:00DAY 2 Wed 6/7/22 Great Links & Little Links Tors<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">Predictably normal Dartmoor weather had resumed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I walked back to the car through low mist, using compass and map to finr Gutter Tor, and the short hop back to my car.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Onto the next spot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I parked up at the <b>Fox & Hounds</b> (525 867) on the Tavistovck/Plymouht Rd. I popped in for a meal, and a polite word with the landlord to check it was ok to park up for the night. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>This pub is well recommended - always friendly to walkers and backpackers.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Making my way up the track to Nodden Gate and onto the open moor, I headed northwards passing <b>Great Nodden </b>to my right.The Westerly wind was unremitting all the way, but the track was clear and well made. I stopped to stock up on water for the evening (549 881) Taking a moment to shelter out of the wind, and take in the views to the west</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLm8xYDhUrvuGqGTIz27dHisrVnDuxqFG5ZJTAz0-ICChLVf4bcR0FRyDPHkl0ZTBhLI9ia4HJ-jDsVmVxTOcV_w2tgATTOpsr4pA0iC6r65OixO1RQx3_xeajjwigBQxICAFxYU4S_Y9ZgZ6kI0OpYmUjX6L4V4DRMNyQFeo4o3kgk0SKLI/s4128/20220706_144502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLm8xYDhUrvuGqGTIz27dHisrVnDuxqFG5ZJTAz0-ICChLVf4bcR0FRyDPHkl0ZTBhLI9ia4HJ-jDsVmVxTOcV_w2tgATTOpsr4pA0iC6r65OixO1RQx3_xeajjwigBQxICAFxYU4S_Y9ZgZ6kI0OpYmUjX6L4V4DRMNyQFeo4o3kgk0SKLI/w581-h343/20220706_144502.jpg" width="581" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">and </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">my destination for the night</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn71fQNt4vK2Y8a9Bzz2pIX6ui_TElDNPnKij5sFPmC-h5XxRGKN-QMticpR-HXAysc6HMoScqDY6D6eZAhuI-f6NnHYW5_rCa5uaWIzug2Czxx51Oddh_m42eq6WnNu_6azfCoFs1qZ8pZa4FOryM6sB7mCOFmJdDI2hqDyVYGAHLn3lTo4/s4128/20220706_144636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn71fQNt4vK2Y8a9Bzz2pIX6ui_TElDNPnKij5sFPmC-h5XxRGKN-QMticpR-HXAysc6HMoScqDY6D6eZAhuI-f6NnHYW5_rCa5uaWIzug2Czxx51Oddh_m42eq6WnNu_6azfCoFs1qZ8pZa4FOryM6sB7mCOFmJdDI2hqDyVYGAHLn3lTo4/w471-h353/20220706_144636.jpg" width="471" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><b>Great Links Tor (550 867)</b></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The pathway was good enough to drive along all the way from the pub to just below the tor top.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Which made for a plodding slog really, as the continuous wind had by now become very very irritating.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I found a sheltered spot available to my eyes. Fantastic views, but not a spot to stand around for long when the wind is blowing from the West.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj884BJ_1JuaCcvmif-boD0GOHTREl2kCBW9mFHvR00ATEYerNjJTqCYUXIh6fFtu9IAwxj3JIaeBrJKuTLQDLDBdCMk7T3u5n8YvaMycQbI6Tl42jXCnEU1CQ_YfB0NMbykw28WknPNz7sbrjECqYeC0LEt_0jHPTMC47C37SujKY2VXzE6_U/s4128/20220706_164720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj884BJ_1JuaCcvmif-boD0GOHTREl2kCBW9mFHvR00ATEYerNjJTqCYUXIh6fFtu9IAwxj3JIaeBrJKuTLQDLDBdCMk7T3u5n8YvaMycQbI6Tl42jXCnEU1CQ_YfB0NMbykw28WknPNz7sbrjECqYeC0LEt_0jHPTMC47C37SujKY2VXzE6_U/w547-h326/20220706_164720.jpg" width="547" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmvQXtC_K8s2S20UF5QuVPd2SSBdTIYegxy3NWCeWi-wi50lvHQHWwVx43MMXg_86o_VllmsGfgh72HLXgWAEfrQofK_MPQWd_D1szYlGOYrTDcTOz1OiF65jR9GyE4oCCggbHITyiATcX3nqYSCuP2E0Lcf_WJ1bv_GUEYSeUnGgGZNmLAI/s4128/20220706_164729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmvQXtC_K8s2S20UF5QuVPd2SSBdTIYegxy3NWCeWi-wi50lvHQHWwVx43MMXg_86o_VllmsGfgh72HLXgWAEfrQofK_MPQWd_D1szYlGOYrTDcTOz1OiF65jR9GyE4oCCggbHITyiATcX3nqYSCuP2E0Lcf_WJ1bv_GUEYSeUnGgGZNmLAI/w550-h320/20220706_164729.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryrhW5SkXLoNp3EvEU8jPO9TjqGjT6E9YfO3rwMHA0wXTRBff79G2RHJABAbsrUy142kF6IAbL8QpOPj-30jGQ1WIBtHXi-0bCYJjuGR9kUyUeZ19kuq-xyxGkaGQN9ADa1KoiAiaSqbei9D5HQhb_FmunqA7ifytjU59Sefh2_iiKZvUOds/s4128/20220706_164742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryrhW5SkXLoNp3EvEU8jPO9TjqGjT6E9YfO3rwMHA0wXTRBff79G2RHJABAbsrUy142kF6IAbL8QpOPj-30jGQ1WIBtHXi-0bCYJjuGR9kUyUeZ19kuq-xyxGkaGQN9ADa1KoiAiaSqbei9D5HQhb_FmunqA7ifytjU59Sefh2_iiKZvUOds/w510-h383/20220706_164742.jpg" width="510" /></a><b style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Great Links Tor</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">After a coffee I decided to explore <b>Little Links Tor (545 869</b>) - another tick on my <a href="http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/2022/06/dartmoor-tors-planning-and-list-of-tors.html" target="_blank">Tors-To-Visit List</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiev6KcTw-_Um5UwSO070SyzlhpfD0PFjpAe90Q3-jxTepbHw0QuaNOSxoLrXaFF0b6C48wSY6_bcOos8m0GlNPoWx-ondE6aJBrkwNUFBCcZipxhncmAW6tlgHvi_IwBfCFmqmjxRzcFqtAoNBKwJlkGGYHIfaKTeGqVWmWS7TPWHEYqTq6sU/s4128/20220706_174946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiev6KcTw-_Um5UwSO070SyzlhpfD0PFjpAe90Q3-jxTepbHw0QuaNOSxoLrXaFF0b6C48wSY6_bcOos8m0GlNPoWx-ondE6aJBrkwNUFBCcZipxhncmAW6tlgHvi_IwBfCFmqmjxRzcFqtAoNBKwJlkGGYHIfaKTeGqVWmWS7TPWHEYqTq6sU/w465-h349/20220706_174946.jpg" width="465" /></a><b style="font-family: arial;">Little Links Tor</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MT2B39TmHrDTkAzzs7RLiQfFhyRuq8gzLNCKWFRybAVVPoGaesNfbK_9IF1I_9Hxt03U08qQcKRlf0YegB1Xf96bPcH-KpHMVADgJ_5Tuv2IetKey50260VCpUQdvaRY5DigAynTEuWKIJqzLMT9Y9UHgsnnZ_huw1RcCZQ8lJQJvlhMbxo/s4128/20220706_175015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MT2B39TmHrDTkAzzs7RLiQfFhyRuq8gzLNCKWFRybAVVPoGaesNfbK_9IF1I_9Hxt03U08qQcKRlf0YegB1Xf96bPcH-KpHMVADgJ_5Tuv2IetKey50260VCpUQdvaRY5DigAynTEuWKIJqzLMT9Y9UHgsnnZ_huw1RcCZQ8lJQJvlhMbxo/w297-h396/20220706_175015.jpg" width="297" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">I spotted a well sheltered wildcamp spot here on the northern side - one for the future possibly?</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Q_MZnJLhutqDLyXkhOEW3OJlH0X74iAQ7VLmKFxwc54Q4MXhiMiLsCykuf2SHZ2saJ7lBIyoOXqgq9kvtqb1rhSukTInEKXip9KgU6z8xO7EL_o6ynwwA7RJzZ0ARjZegA99FeDTa2E4Tmd7XoUY3XTfwU4oK1RnceZNLc-ZDLKLAl0iB0A/s4128/20220706_175209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Q_MZnJLhutqDLyXkhOEW3OJlH0X74iAQ7VLmKFxwc54Q4MXhiMiLsCykuf2SHZ2saJ7lBIyoOXqgq9kvtqb1rhSukTInEKXip9KgU6z8xO7EL_o6ynwwA7RJzZ0ARjZegA99FeDTa2E4Tmd7XoUY3XTfwU4oK1RnceZNLc-ZDLKLAl0iB0A/w639-h423/20220706_175209.jpg" width="639" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A quiet night, except for the sound of continual wind buffeting.</span></div><p></p></blockquote><p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-89479724761660037042023-05-09T10:05:00.009+01:002023-05-09T11:39:30.470+01:00DAY 1 Tue 5/7/22 - Gutter Tor, Legis Tor & a hidden gem - a Dartmoor Waterfall <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7OmQurbNZHh58QuuhRk2-xHFeqGfvkGAhp1mqtKkJFLK222t-ygyJ6aKrlAdQJoOBt6n2o4IpJaghn6-lcpLR8dcBZT610tpAw5yIEeHEa6lub2i7ZsgxsPDcMPdWAChvhcKRQCs2yt9Jj31nu3PX207ehA64d9X2eVb9TMJ6pVfqAt-huo/s4128/20220705_140013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7OmQurbNZHh58QuuhRk2-xHFeqGfvkGAhp1mqtKkJFLK222t-ygyJ6aKrlAdQJoOBt6n2o4IpJaghn6-lcpLR8dcBZT610tpAw5yIEeHEa6lub2i7ZsgxsPDcMPdWAChvhcKRQCs2yt9Jj31nu3PX207ehA64d9X2eVb9TMJ6pVfqAt-huo/w494-h658/20220705_140013.jpg" width="494" /></a> <b>A hidden gem</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A quick return trip to take advantage of the excellent weather forecast.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />And the knowledge that this would be my last trip for a while, as after this trip I would be straight into taking on a new position. <br />Bugger - back in employment again. <br />Groan.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I parked up at the ever popular car park at 578 673. Usually it feels like a potential hot spot for car thefts but today the place was full of military personnel on training manoeuvres, so car tampering was definitely not going to be happening here this visit.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Loading my pack up from the car boot, I selected enough for a 1 night trip.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Making my way past <b>Gutter Tor</b> (579 669) I was entertained by military training as I headed for<b> Ditsworthy Warren House</b>, following the track to the east today's objective was to find the hidden waterfall I'd visited on a previous trip.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Good clear tracks all the way. Along the way I passed one of Dartmoor's regular reminder of previous inhabitants - the cairn at <b>Giants Basin</b>.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAIG23CCSwaq1f33Vv7UwcydVLGeRV7bO_3zcXrrRcpnLGAChA4R1nC_K6cZcowrSEcsIfex6P4PWFytfr2aPTks4QlcVhmf8jdIpPVAm71C0zTEmLQRP_SwHwVaUNdVaePnOS2tJ78BBSjq7fGyWq5XR_q6hP6g59zbH7GBBqbLGbI_fc4Y/s7936/DSCF0004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7936" data-original-width="4480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAIG23CCSwaq1f33Vv7UwcydVLGeRV7bO_3zcXrrRcpnLGAChA4R1nC_K6cZcowrSEcsIfex6P4PWFytfr2aPTks4QlcVhmf8jdIpPVAm71C0zTEmLQRP_SwHwVaUNdVaePnOS2tJ78BBSjq7fGyWq5XR_q6hP6g59zbH7GBBqbLGbI_fc4Y/s320/DSCF0004.JPG" width="181" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eventually crossing the<b> River Plym </b>I followed one of the feeder streams eventually finding the waterfall (595 660) - as always well hidden deep in a cleft of the hillside. Using the stream as a guideline is definitely the key here.</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQEXrt6MZZ52hA7NK9Gu88uycKoEA9ZWG8Xnppt2c8FKtvss_kJ2y35tBH7Dj2l3Uj_ImZALMCUAp7bGXpzxWfyRHAOfDnIdjJlM1pP-N478Gnu3u7tw687x9AIe281YMA6UJsFEOkmUb6TGmzs_XxcKtQj-PKClsM1JBNBintBsIjZiTbRg/s4128/20220705_135059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQEXrt6MZZ52hA7NK9Gu88uycKoEA9ZWG8Xnppt2c8FKtvss_kJ2y35tBH7Dj2l3Uj_ImZALMCUAp7bGXpzxWfyRHAOfDnIdjJlM1pP-N478Gnu3u7tw687x9AIe281YMA6UJsFEOkmUb6TGmzs_XxcKtQj-PKClsM1JBNBintBsIjZiTbRg/w488-h651/20220705_135059.jpg" width="488" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Its in there somewhere!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After spending some time enjoying the uncharacteristic sunshine, I picked a track contouring the hillside and back to the the DW House, and then up to <b>Legis Tor</b> (570 655) to pitch for the evening.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Not a very impressive tor TBH. And very few camping spots out of NW wind here.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMGYNSdF-PHmEUBRsVRe4gGu-FwWuYZmKF_AUfTWyNz3IcqOVf2jCvKT_EcAPOzmr-sOmNhkrnLrYE_MQlLhNEwalzXhJRhNywaDOumRPIjhJT2nFoMxgZXM7R5DAtY0gcgwMpP8vhuL2qxz6ZatUfgLibXXY5k6m3DJTQveeI5-Yajsk2Do/s4128/20220705_170055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMGYNSdF-PHmEUBRsVRe4gGu-FwWuYZmKF_AUfTWyNz3IcqOVf2jCvKT_EcAPOzmr-sOmNhkrnLrYE_MQlLhNEwalzXhJRhNywaDOumRPIjhJT2nFoMxgZXM7R5DAtY0gcgwMpP8vhuL2qxz6ZatUfgLibXXY5k6m3DJTQveeI5-Yajsk2Do/s320/20220705_170055.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>Legis Tor</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGFDpXWimrhnfIzjI9KgkN1lfm0XOgiFXfnYiwKPsNqXruMgHS4DIcQaWFnX8N_mkHWddn8uWHPjrgZH-ZchJx5PPkw7_4oyCYxSU4uubvs9eRm9IRxAvzdBInleGlm0zjtWSD2hTiO3vijqkVWi09F-lOnOMZQLIA-Xwo1uFluemMtcFlWA/s4128/20220705_170123.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGFDpXWimrhnfIzjI9KgkN1lfm0XOgiFXfnYiwKPsNqXruMgHS4DIcQaWFnX8N_mkHWddn8uWHPjrgZH-ZchJx5PPkw7_4oyCYxSU4uubvs9eRm9IRxAvzdBInleGlm0zjtWSD2hTiO3vijqkVWi09F-lOnOMZQLIA-Xwo1uFluemMtcFlWA/s320/20220705_170123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Unusually for moorland camping, but quite entertainingly, my late evening was interrupted by Royal Marine officer letting me know that the Tor had been selected as a check-in point for a night exercise.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For the next couple of hours my light sleep would be interrupted by the sound of heavy boot, and a rattle of Serial Number..Name..Sah - as the marines arrived in the dark from all directions, trying to find the hidden checkpoint.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After the first few I found it simpler to quietly tell the tired squaddie where the officer was hiding, so I can get back to dozing.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">An interesting entertainment!</span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0Dartmoor National Park, United Kingdom50.5718857 -3.920688422.261651863821157 -39.0769384 78.882119536178848 31.2355616tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-61118515547149653062022-06-29T11:55:00.008+01:002022-06-29T12:10:31.773+01:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>Dartmoor Tors - Free spreadsheet resource - Trip planning</u></b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-NiRehD9KVZIDzxvMnKrAIWWwCbtTYw3/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112846843119820081356&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank">My List of Tors spreadsheet, mentioned below, is free to download and use here.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm always on the lookout for solid reference material when planning my Dartmoor wildcamping trips. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If you ignore the well meaning, but slightly twee, 'short walks with a dog\pram\kids' type of offering, there are remarkably few books.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I've been tromping the moors over 20+ years, covering the established tracks, the majority of the higher Tors, and a wide variety of one-off locations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Prior to my recent trip I transferred the data from three dog-eared maps and finally added them to a pristine OS28 map. All clean and uncreased. That didn't last long once out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A by product of this is that I now have two of the old maps pinned on a wall, marked with bright felt tips showing all my past routes & wildcamp locations. Now I just stand back and can see, at a glance, where I've been, and more importantly those areas I've yet to explore.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Its also is useful in marking those areas of unwelcoming terrain to be avoided - the south western border path alongside Fernworthy Forest still springs painfully to mind.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tmhg_DL_8ysHdhIDz68T1dC2__gfh9DGVbfRX33YJEkX2G8_AKE9t_rQBqAkWQ8SMMQCe3qjHpK78Jive2ArKEEqHkLA667ASE0gQDMg_CPBscD0LgiwS2MXa5a_40LeUx9T1HvHTQkMchJhkyBvFKyphLsiimNSiqtrGCpjbj01sskxssg/s4128/20220629_120157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tmhg_DL_8ysHdhIDz68T1dC2__gfh9DGVbfRX33YJEkX2G8_AKE9t_rQBqAkWQ8SMMQCe3qjHpK78Jive2ArKEEqHkLA667ASE0gQDMg_CPBscD0LgiwS2MXa5a_40LeUx9T1HvHTQkMchJhkyBvFKyphLsiimNSiqtrGCpjbj01sskxssg/w373-h497/20220629_120157.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Wildcamping in itself is my enjoyment. But I often I feel I'm letting myself down by having no other objective except that night's camp.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Probably my most enjoyable trip was an unsupported walk from Ivybridge rail station, northwards to Okehampton, and then returning via a different route - the 50 miles at 50 trip. <span><i>(For those interested the trip report can be found via the blog Archive Material Search box for <b>April 2009</b> - box on the right)</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the enjoyments of that was having a series of objectives in mind, and covering the moorland between them, sometimes in the less visited places.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But recent trips have been a bit of a make-it-up-as-I-go-along approach.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If I lived nearer perhaps the <a href="https://www.dartmoorwalks.org.uk/resource/dartmoor365.php" target="_blank">Dartmoor 365</a> approach would work, but its a little too much effort for what I'm really after.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last year I picked up a copy of the <a href="https://www.dartmoor-tors.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dartmoor Tors Compendium by Josephine M Collingwood</a>. Normally coffee table books are not my thing, but this book is an exception. It lists the majority of Tors, giving real detail about each tor and what can be seen around it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For me, the true value is in the excellent photos - great for deciding which tors rate a visit, and a good indication of the potential for wildcamping spots.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And that was it, or so I thought, one of the rarer quality reference works on Dartmoor Tors.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I slung it in the car boot on my next trip, and by the end of that I found myself increasingly referring to it when deciding on my next location. (When you live far from Dartmoor you have to become highly selective about where to spend your limited time)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This year I took another look at the book, creating a spreadsheet of the Tors, their location, height and (most importantly) the arbiter score Collingwood gives for each tor. Purely subjective on her part, but mindful of the scope of Tors she covers, probably better than many other opinions. I've used free location mapping tools in the past, so feeding in the spreadsheet co-ordinates I've now graphical maps for Tor locations via rank, such as this below, for those scoring 8-10.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGBSVuzaVwB00HsntIrK-sWoUHLMHFzoUyqkIOdN8Z0NUlZ-lOsUmyRLfRHzBAEdfbaJ6MWhfV1dPzpa62rI9rEHxCuUjfyjTMO5Y3pydy7B5OUuvLuL55INewiImbf0DlO-du-br_a9UCsBPMIgVye-uFKHYn2CANn_cevGrITXZTFGyfac/s1360/tors%2010-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1360" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGBSVuzaVwB00HsntIrK-sWoUHLMHFzoUyqkIOdN8Z0NUlZ-lOsUmyRLfRHzBAEdfbaJ6MWhfV1dPzpa62rI9rEHxCuUjfyjTMO5Y3pydy7B5OUuvLuL55INewiImbf0DlO-du-br_a9UCsBPMIgVye-uFKHYn2CANn_cevGrITXZTFGyfac/w572-h297/tors%2010-8.jpg" width="572" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Planning for the next few years is now a case of working my way down the list of those higher ranked tors, ideally joining them up into somewhat random routes, as and when the feeling takes me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If you want to know more about the mapping tools - leave a comment and I'll get back to you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The book is highly recommended as both a reference work, and an insight into the appeal of each Tor. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And a lot easier to consume than <a href="https://www.devonperspectives.co.uk/williamcrossing.html" target="_blank">William Crossing's Guide to Dartmoor</a>, however important his seminal work remains.</span></p><p><br /></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-90383180392542188192022-06-27T12:04:00.006+01:002022-06-27T12:08:04.295+01:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><b style="background-color: white;">Dartmoor Wildcamping Trip 14-19 June 2022 - Washup</b></u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Lessons learnt & tips</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">1. During trip preparation I marked all my dry bags with a Sharpie permanant marker. No more rooting around for the right bag that fits the kit. Simple idea. Huge benefit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">2. On a similar cheap & easy idea, I've started to use basic supermarket ziplock plastic bags to keep key kit together. e.g. External recharger & various connecting cables all in one bag, marked accordingly (so many different types required nowadays!) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Again - easy to keep all the things together and quicker to locate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It always amazes me as to how I can sit in a tent, put something down, and then not find it 5 minutes later.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">3. Sleeping bag - my Mountain Equipment XT350 was an expensive 3 season bag but increasingly I have cold feet. I understand the need for some physical activity before getting into the bag, but it feels as if the down has disappeared. And increasingly I'm having to wear thick socks to get my feet warm.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Looking back over this blog I see that I highly rated the bag originally, so something appears to have changed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Between trips the bag is always stored uncompressed, so it's not that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Post trip I discussed this with a military friend, used to sleeping bags\poor conditions. He suggested that the more expensive bags use a finer down, so it needs to be 'livened up' more than 'shaking out before use' can help.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It's now being dry cleaned to see if this reinvigorates the down.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Next trip I'll also be taking my old (and very small packing) Vango Venom 225. Its only 2/3 season, but I may need to try it as a comparison. I've also a largely unused goretex bivvi bag to take along as an alternative to try just in case.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Otherwise - it's a new bag. And I really don't want to spend hours researching Warmth v Pack Down size v Weight all over again. Especially as actually getting my hands on a physical item in the (few and increasingly rare) outdoor outlets is becoming increasingly harder.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For the cost and usage I've had from the ME bag I really expect more from it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The jury is out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">4. Pitching tent each time I'm always looking for the entrance porch side to ensure the wind\pitch is correct. And occasionally the tent starts to go up back to front.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Once the tent was dried I've used a silver coloured Sharpie to mark up the entrance side more clearly to see if it helps. I don't like marking up my gear, but as I'm the only one who ever uses it, and its clear all of it gets used until worn out, personalising it like this isn't an issue.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Let's see how it works.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">5. Skylarks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Dartmoor in a nutshell. Didn't realise how much I'd missed their song. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For the first couple of days I rarely used my MP3\headphones. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The birdsong was too beautiful to miss. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-28253115922525670392022-06-27T11:22:00.011+01:002022-06-27T11:34:21.231+01:00<p> <b style="font-family: arial;"><u>DAY 5 Sat 18</u></b><b style="font-family: arial;"><u>/6/22</u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A quiet night, even the wind had dropped.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Today's forecast was for a change in the weather, but it was unclear quite when, so I was happily surprised to emerge from the tent into another clear and sunny day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But as I took in the view of Tavistock over breakfast, the temparature inversion so beautifully laid out below me, it raised questions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Was this a warm day, heating up, or colder air moving in?</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix78yvPASUwj-3aLPbc-eU1i_XNzPse_-oJZRB5kGKfCCU7JUs26Qfw_j6y6NMmjpTicVgK-EoGyC70Glvv9ECsCRx1tmKgBN4BwYhI5DNcddvzKDFQ_uzl5z_9qOqLxoiFdQe08S-9KFyajWFYy2XJXOHzjClCrjB7kUfzbDIV1q4cCrIEvw/s3976/littern%20tor%20%20inversion%20-%20gud20220618_065416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2773" data-original-width="3976" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix78yvPASUwj-3aLPbc-eU1i_XNzPse_-oJZRB5kGKfCCU7JUs26Qfw_j6y6NMmjpTicVgK-EoGyC70Glvv9ECsCRx1tmKgBN4BwYhI5DNcddvzKDFQ_uzl5z_9qOqLxoiFdQe08S-9KFyajWFYy2XJXOHzjClCrjB7kUfzbDIV1q4cCrIEvw/w586-h284/littern%20tor%20%20inversion%20-%20gud20220618_065416.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst the day decided what face it would show I packed up early and worked back down to the car, and headed off. I fancied exploring a new area around Hound Tor (GR 742 789) NW of Widecombe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As a neared Princetown a grim omen - a pony lay unmoving & stiff at the side of the road (my second equine corpse this year) Being near to the town I'd assumed it would have already been called in by an early morning worker in the town.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I paused in Widecombe for a quick revisit, its probably 15 years since I last came through. Little in the village seemed to have changed. All a bit too 'chocolate box' appeal for me, but the biggest surprise was the amount of closed businesses. I'd guess many choosing to remain closed until the high tourist season. The tourism pattern post Covid is still re-establishing itself, so it seems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I wandered over to the church a nasty surprise waited. Thick Dartmoor mist rolling down the valley, shrouding the tops from view. And it looked serious.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Back in the car I started to head onwards to Hound Tor, but reaching the tops the raincloud degraded </span><span style="font-family: arial;">visibility</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">even more. It was clear that the weather had decided its mood then. At least hereabouts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A change of plan. With the west side of the moor looking so appealing earlier I rolled the dice, deciding to return back and hope for a westerly wind to clear the tops.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I stopped in the woodland car park near the Dartmoor Visitor Centre at Postbridge. Walking back along the road, to check out the latest Dartmoor books, in the Centre, it seemed the cloud had followed me, as light rain started to fall. So weather from the east today then - not looking good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I sheltered in the Centre, chatting with the knowledgeable staff I'd met on a previous visit, picking up more local information about quieter camping locations, away from the hordes, and listening to the post Covid tourist\idiotcampers issues - still a problem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Moving back to Princetown it was clear my gamble had failed with increasing amounts of cloud and rain. I picked up a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">morning newspaper before sheltering </span><span style="font-family: arial;">in the </span><a href="https://www.foxtorcafe.com/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Fox's Tor Cafe</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, weather watching, to see if this would blow over, and work out my next move. Bumping into Jim from <a href="https://www.ice-warrior.com/" target="_blank">Ice Warrior</a> I reported the dead pony, which happily was being dealt with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The cafe was a pleasant delay. But after a few coffees it was (by now) lunchtime and clearly the day's visibility conditions were set for dour. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">No complaints - I'd had an amazing run of good conditions and the weekend forecast was always looking less than positive. I knew before starting my trip to Dartmoor that this would be the likely decision point to cut this trip short.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The biggest concern was an increasing wind. I've a couple of bolt holes for wildcamping during really bad conditions. Somewhere with easy access.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Being a Saturday, I went for the less obvious spot, one I'd regularly used.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I neared the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_House_Inn" target="_blank">Warren House Inn</a> the rain came in with a vengance. I hid in the pub with a hot meal and a pint. (Bloody tourist!) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The place sounded busy, but the reality was otherwise. The helpful barman finding me a quiet corner, happy for the trade. Another victim of the post Covid situation. Fewer visitors & increasing costs (the pub's off the grid and relies on diesel for its electricity)</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(I was told that, on some Saturdays, the bar barely takes enough to cover the staffing costs, essential to meet the erratic tourist trade. As I'd only seen one coach party during the whole trip (at the Postbridge honeypot spot) clearly this is a major concern for such businesses reliant on a limited trading period to see them through the winter months)</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hopefully my spend helped a little, although it seems that Dartmoor, and its relationship with tourism, is undergoing a major shift at the present. Some of the shop closures, of the smaller/out of the way businesses, back in Tavistock, started to make more sense now.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Eventually I couldn't put things off any longer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Back to the car, waterproofs on, with minimal kit - the rest of the day to be passed hiding behind the cairn above the pub (GR if you want to find it, look it up - it's my hidey hole) </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9zLf4XfXPBWA5Hk7EXB_JY_l0m96G5rh6oOl-YSFHQGtUl-p5kzxRfkY7hY7cHQy695gndvdYK2OF3scEqi8FoEfQNggyYPLylaE-kOAB8M5m4CrBdA7MWhZofumyxW6cjUrDFwgO5e0cY9ImN6-g37_N6bUsouYD3v461lOIBjwRj-b72U/s4096/above%20warren%20house%20inn%2020220618_150611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3003" data-original-width="4096" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9zLf4XfXPBWA5Hk7EXB_JY_l0m96G5rh6oOl-YSFHQGtUl-p5kzxRfkY7hY7cHQy695gndvdYK2OF3scEqi8FoEfQNggyYPLylaE-kOAB8M5m4CrBdA7MWhZofumyxW6cjUrDFwgO5e0cY9ImN6-g37_N6bUsouYD3v461lOIBjwRj-b72U/s320/above%20warren%20house%20inn%2020220618_150611.jpg" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">A brief break in the weather</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Even in bad weather the sky can clear here to show the surrounding views. But today it was wet, windy and increasingly cold.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">That night I hit the sleeping bag very early. Perversely, after the excessive heat of the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">previous day,</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> I lay there wearing a merino base layer and two pairs of socks trying to warm up after many hours of inactivity. Pinned inside the tent by the hammering rain, drowning out the small transisor radio by my side, and tent flysheet banging as winds gusted around 35mph.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometime in the evening I heard occasional thunder, always a concern of mine when on the tops. But I know my Akto, so it was a case of hunker down and sit it out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Time to head home tomorrow. The trip had been a much needed renewal of connection with Dartmoor, but home events now demanded urgent access to laptop & wi-fi internet, so it was a very early start the following day heading back.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A bit of a bum note to leave on, but plenty of good memories and ideas for my next return.</span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-45030383754204576812022-06-26T12:02:00.008+01:002022-06-26T12:26:05.945+01:00<p> <b style="font-family: arial;"><u>DAY 4 Fri 17</u></b><b style="font-family: arial;"><u>/6/22</u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Today was going to be a right bugger.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All the week the media had been forecasting that Friday was going to be the hottest day of the year so far. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And not just hot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Heat of a near biblical strength. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Weather warnings issued. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Apocalyptic conditions - run down to your cellar and hide if you don't want to turn crispy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Whatever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So it was warming up quite nicely as I started my day returning to the car.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Aiming for the Long Stone (GR 660 856) standing proudly on the gentle slope leading away from Kestor Rock.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Cutting back into Fernworthy Forest I eventually picked up the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">yesterday's clear </span><span style="font-family: arial;">track, which proved no more exciting than it had the first time around. At least it was all downhill, and I ony had to dodge one forestry artic arriving to start picking up logs. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(There seems to be a lot of logging work taking place in the woods at present)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I drove away, I considered today's plan. Clearly the increasing sun & heat meant long walks with a backpack wouldn't be A Good Idea. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I headed for the glorious bolt hole of <a href="https://www.foxtorcafe.com" target="_blank">Fox's Tor Cafe</a> in Princetown to 'freshen up' & decide on a strategy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(BTW This eatery is highly recommended. Good food, good prices and friendly staff)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After a few days of camp food it was strangely exciting to saviour the taste of the salad garnish as I tucked into a cheese baguette. It's often the simple pleasures in life.....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I decided a simple approach for a wild camp would be the solution to the heat. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I spent a few hours researching possible spots for today, or perhaps the future</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd noted the road running alongside the cafe eventually ending at Whiteworks (GR 613 710)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The road was good, and safe parking available, but the area around Whiteworks was reflecting heat back like a cauldron. Probably a great sheltered spot during bad weather, but today - not an option despite the availability of readily accessible water. Plus I was a little wary of the water content so near to the abandoned mineworks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I did stop at the car park (GR 602 708) to stretch my legs and look around. A strong cooling breeze was blowing up from the west spilling over the edge of the ridge, a clear track led down heading off to Crazy Well Pool (GR 582 705) As I was pondering this a couple of cars arrived, and out popped some youngsters (well everyone looks like a youngster to me these days!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The lads had the same idea as myself, ridge camping for the night. Add in the large amount of inquisitive cattle (and their oh so friendly ticks) I decided this spot was was blown. I chatted with the lads about the area, and Crazy Well in particular. As anticipated they confirmed it would likely be full of daytrippers out for a cooling dip during the day, or party animals for the night, given the forecast weather.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet another to mentally note for the future.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Back to Princetown I followed the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Tavistock road eyeing up the tor tops looking for something quiet, away from the road noise, but easy enough to reach. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But before that, a check of </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the circular road around Burrator Reservoir. I had one eye on a easy access to Sheeps Tor (GR 566 683) Again, the increasing amount of hot day\tourist activity deterred me for today. Leaving a car overnight in such a popular spot, on a hot weekend, was probably not a good idea.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the stream sites\tors near the B3212 road I'd previously overnighted. And I certainly didn't want to be too near the usual walker's routes to Kings Tor, always a popular short walk for the Princetown visitors.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was getting hotter. Time to hit the tops for some breeze. I eventually found a small area of off road parking near Leeden Tor (GR 563 718) </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>[A few years ago I'd realised all my wildcamp planning centred around the availability of water, or the need to pack it in in over distance. </i></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i> <span style="font-family: arial;">It sounds so obvious looking back, but I had a simple epiphany one day and decided, when travelling in via car, rather than train, I'd load up the boot with bottled water, thereby introducing greater flexibility into potential route choices.</span></i></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>This had paid off very well indeed. </i></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>I've never had any problems with filtering water from the streams, and especially enjoy waterside camping, but its usually at the cost of a decent view in the evening. </i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial;">For some reason water has this annoying habit of mainly being found at the bottom of a valley! Although, in the past, I've used a <a href="http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/2009/04/dartmoor-five-day-walkabout-sun-april.html" target="_blank">spring on the slopes of High Willhays</a>, and <a href="http://walkaboutuk.blogspot.com/2009/04/dartmoor-five-day-walkabout-mon-april.html" target="_blank">the start of the River Swincombe draining off Down Ridge</a> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> the cost is usually a lack of the all important panoramic view. </span></i></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>And, as I get older, I do so saviour that view.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>(At this rate I'll be reserving a regular spot on the old folk's bench, staring far out to sea for most of the day - well perhaps not yet)]</i></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As you'd expect the pack was feeling a little heavy as I searched for any sort of track up to the Tor. Being late afternoon by now I'd erred on the side of caution and loaded 2 platypus bladders giving me 4 litres, so plenty of fluid. (I once made 3 litres of water last 24hrs on a long Lake District route, mostly along superb, but hot, ridge routes, the few water sources full of sheep cooling off to avoid the heat)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact it felt too heavy. (Post trip I measured a "2 litre" platypus bladder only to find it holds 2.75 litres - well that explained the weight)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Every day is a school day with backpacking. Its something I enjoy so much about it, constantly refining the systems seeking an equilibrium with kit v weight v comfort. And as I'm now well past sixty, that balance is a careful one. Now more reliant on experience and cunning ploys. Less on the once readily accessible strength and vigour that would have easily soaked it all up twenty years ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I reached the eastern rock stack, talking out loud to myself as I read off the grid reference to more finely locate my position. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Alone on the tor top. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Eer, not quite, as a face popped unexpectedly from behind the minimal shade of the rock stack, having heard my voice chuntering away.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I apologised, remarking that he'd overheard a conversation with someone whose opinion and character I liked and trusted. lol</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We chatted a while before I headed towards the west of the tor top towards the steady cooling breeze blowing from Tavistock direction. The top itself is quite rough and littered with large rocks hidden amongst uneven ground, so there were limited pitches. And none with shade, so I made the best of what was available part way between the two stacks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O3fBdxiNS2p90Sqq7XBVuVA5Dn_xNo92vMRUlwDNHmIDg9dw-VJGcRj8l_5LNX8rkKwwegvK-Ie2S8fwMmxif7VOLV15ComTG9iIV3bVFhViOzMVGZ12NK4o74IY1oECq7HO0CCnuYWlTO8gFM_bpzARneRsYZBLNmJ4RircN-C9UwOGiRE/s4096/littern%20tor%2020220617_153918.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2536" data-original-width="4096" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O3fBdxiNS2p90Sqq7XBVuVA5Dn_xNo92vMRUlwDNHmIDg9dw-VJGcRj8l_5LNX8rkKwwegvK-Ie2S8fwMmxif7VOLV15ComTG9iIV3bVFhViOzMVGZ12NK4o74IY1oECq7HO0CCnuYWlTO8gFM_bpzARneRsYZBLNmJ4RircN-C9UwOGiRE/w423-h262/littern%20tor%2020220617_153918.jpg" width="423" /></a></span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">Littern To</span><span style="text-align: center;">r</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But even with the breeze it was too hot up there. I spent much of the rest of the day hiding in what little shade was offered by the eastern tor stack. Early evening I noticed a disturbance amongst the cows lower down the slopes near the road and spotted a couple heading for the tor. They must have seen my chiselled profile & headed for the prime viewpoint overlooking the ridge edge beyond the western tor stack. Great views, but a bugger if the wind got up. And that was the last I heard from them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Apart from the trip I mistakenly scheduled around the time of Ten Tors training expeditions, I've never seen quite so many wildcampers out and about on the tops. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Possibly it was the weather (although the guy from Day 2 near Yes Tor was clearly, like myself, a regular wildcamper)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But it remains unclear as to whether the post covid outdoor </span><span style="font-family: arial;">activity</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">explosion has led to a sustained increase in the number of people now wildcamping. There's room enough for all who know how to follow the <a href="https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/enjoy-dartmoor/outdoor-activities/camping/backpack-camping-code" target="_blank">Wildcamping Code</a>, but if it continues my choice of future locations may require a bit more effort on my part, looking for those more solitary locations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I bedded down early that night, the heat had sapped my energy. Tomorrow's forecast was highly suspicious, and would determine the rest of the weekend's activity.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-23074974491899814182022-06-25T11:43:00.013+01:002022-06-25T17:33:26.348+01:00<p> <b style="font-family: arial;"><u>DAY 3 Thu 16/6/22</u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Amazing, for once the weather on Great Mist Tor had remained the same as the previous evening. Still sunny and hot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A gentle start to the day, and a quick chat with the Range Warden checking on me before taking up his position for that day's military firing. The spot I'd chosen not only keeping me clear of the wind, but apparently his sight of me the previous evening.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'll be using that spot again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I descended back to the car I could see another tent hiding behind Little Mis Tor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Onto the tricky journey, along narrow lanes, to Fernworthy Forest (GR 660 840)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Most of my routes have taken me along the western side of the forest, but I'm aware of this area's reputation for impromptu raves, and never felt it safe for overnight parking. I stopped at one of the car parking pull ins to chat with some commercial dog walkers, always expert in an area's vagaries. They confirmed a recent rave, and pointed me to a more secluded place to leave the car overnight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Loaded up I made my way to the clear track at GR 660 839 to cut through the forest, having made sure I'd noted down the car's precise location - all too easy in woodland to lose track of a destination. And at the end of a long walk a bit of a kick in the pants.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The track was a bugger. Uphill all the way with little shade until descending towards the clapper bridge (GR 639 843) where I'd first wildcamped in this area. Seemingly idyllic, but prone to constant visitors, acting as a focal point to cross the stream/rest up. But today I had the place to myself. This spot always has a feeling of sadness about it. Possibly due to the abandoned ruins of Teignhead Farm clearly in view.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A couple of minutes spent using a new mini scope I'd picked up after a recommendation from Bob over at <a href="https://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/" target="_blank">Backpackinglite</a>. Small, lightweight and easily slipped into a hip belt pocket for quickly reading the route ahead for tracks\traps way off in the distance. After trying binos, and even a small traditional telescope, this one is great for shake-free one handed operation and proved its use many times on this trip. A kit keeper for the future.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqaq1lVx31sNhZoMzjIiF74o2-uEmN8Bbvk-OYBsO6UHOfwkVj0byXqLJ2QQfDDy3HxtuqLOj1r96RttGrzmt0hw-DzZBdsA3iG9IvTcIlu23tuP8E6ABoePAtksL-Hu4mN_Yg-arkDZw0niq--E7kv69j-wcHUzNsFyvhTw-SWZaS50zwog/s679/brunton_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="679" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqaq1lVx31sNhZoMzjIiF74o2-uEmN8Bbvk-OYBsO6UHOfwkVj0byXqLJ2QQfDDy3HxtuqLOj1r96RttGrzmt0hw-DzZBdsA3iG9IvTcIlu23tuP8E6ABoePAtksL-Hu4mN_Yg-arkDZw0niq--E7kv69j-wcHUzNsFyvhTw-SWZaS50zwog/s320/brunton_.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">BRUNTON 7x18</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>[edit: I've since heard from Bob and he tells me the distributor no longer imports it - so if you do get a chance to acquire one, I'd thoroughly recommend it]</i></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">A clear way up Manga Hill opposite, staying to the right of the brook, then onto Watern Tor (GR 628 869) I had originally intended to overnight here, but my chat earlier in the week with the Lints Tor guy indicated a herd of cows wandering the ridge, bringing with them a swarm of midges. And ticks.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ONL3Gl7fz9fpe4GhJrxkqHzdT5sH4k9aVEHKsfxl4FzaNXa7D5pT-3rq3fw5NzP_4JDyyWWPyPR1Loi_5pkatEVjkcpDrl8L1DHudDDaAXT00hzqqE4DSS7WcqL6-Ei9DM3FRPQu60ex_eGyMCr0cmxSbWE4GEI2wTqEanSw7eowNl8V1n4/s7936/wittern%20tor%20DSCF0010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ONL3Gl7fz9fpe4GhJrxkqHzdT5sH4k9aVEHKsfxl4FzaNXa7D5pT-3rq3fw5NzP_4JDyyWWPyPR1Loi_5pkatEVjkcpDrl8L1DHudDDaAXT00hzqqE4DSS7WcqL6-Ei9DM3FRPQu60ex_eGyMCr0cmxSbWE4GEI2wTqEanSw7eowNl8V1n4/s320/wittern%20tor%20DSCF0010.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Watern</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> Tor</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd expected excellent views, but really Watern looks down over the moor with little features to really grab the attention. I did bump into a Dartmoor 365 wanderer, but he seemed more interested rushing around tor bagging, rather than enjoying the moorland. Sort of missing the point, I pondered.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Watern</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Tor</span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbD-uB__Cb1LcJ8zZVNGfbZezKL2hoqNxhfw-L5YCruLvAb6TIU8q9E7zThUJEUfSFl0USlJEbd5_fi2CMFbaiAq0gzRKUD4MD24gWvxcb4geOaTC7H_zGCL6Y0taDl4ndb6kBL-HUVX9lrfV_s1_E0fyibT8iQUjSp2F5IiPRIIhpD9zN84/s7936/wittern%20tor%20%20view%20from%20DSCF0011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbD-uB__Cb1LcJ8zZVNGfbZezKL2hoqNxhfw-L5YCruLvAb6TIU8q9E7zThUJEUfSFl0USlJEbd5_fi2CMFbaiAq0gzRKUD4MD24gWvxcb4geOaTC7H_zGCL6Y0taDl4ndb6kBL-HUVX9lrfV_s1_E0fyibT8iQUjSp2F5IiPRIIhpD9zN84/s320/wittern%20tor%20%20view%20from%20DSCF0011.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Watern</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> Tor</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But noting he'd crossed the foot of the valley to the east (and it was a pig!) the telescope was out again used to spot a simple track contouring to the Boundary stone (GR 639 888), behind Rippator/Rival Tor and east to Scorhill Tor (GR 658 871)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Again, a possible overnight spot, but again it didn't take my fancy. Pretty featureless really. Down past the stones circle to the glorious double clapper bridges (Wallabrook Bridge\Teign-a ver GR 654 871) A brief rest here watching a dipper gathering nesting materials, slightly perturbed to see a visitor. Although with the occasional runner\dog walker passing, as I took on water for the night, I'd expect the wildlife to have been better accustomed to human activity. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A lovely spot, with plenty to explore once pitched up for the night, so that has now been added to my ever expanding list of potential overnighters.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDYiMiYzLfQVWW9JuZm_NbaRTjaLyyilYSeGhnazpSvFt5Yx-SMLVU-hkkIKnVOnKHXqnVYcQq8EZKHRfYX5OZJ5RHgqQFwOKqWKkGGPVtaR4edTO4sGFnpfm-zankBrjK8cXAnGQXdLuO3B4_WCQwEsVQN9Itj_dlWNuGdu-1vkLkn4Zz1U/s7936/scorhill%20clapper%20bridgeDSCF0013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDYiMiYzLfQVWW9JuZm_NbaRTjaLyyilYSeGhnazpSvFt5Yx-SMLVU-hkkIKnVOnKHXqnVYcQq8EZKHRfYX5OZJ5RHgqQFwOKqWKkGGPVtaR4edTO4sGFnpfm-zankBrjK8cXAnGQXdLuO3B4_WCQwEsVQN9Itj_dlWNuGdu-1vkLkn4Zz1U/s320/scorhill%20clapper%20bridgeDSCF0013.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I made the way up to Kestor Rock (GR 665 862) After the day's wandering it seemed steep, but turned out to be an easy & quick pull. No airs and graces with this tor, hiding peaks behind the apparent destination. I cleared sheep crap from a spot close to the tor (a good move as it later turned out) I pitched and got a brew on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It seems a busy spot, being so near Chagford. The good weather bringing out both the dog\evening walkers and two groups of wildcampers taking advantage of the excellent weather.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The views were great, in the distance Exmoor hills clearly visible. That's 3 nights </span><span style="font-family: arial;">in a row</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">of excellent views across Dartmoor - this never happens to me here!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Making my way back down from the tor top (well you have to climb it don't you!) I found someone's touching memorial memento.I could appreciate the spirit and message behind the gesture.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0d0yGMrrPw-gzJT1OUzdc8enOiZVgUh-XeR1YRf8fR5pEVgHJRFY5lGzfYGhbRZSj_H3j2gjYw6WjHyzAk8Is7cbzmDUJ1_tUhQJSfSuczvP8OVR5T5S-anoxDGvJSb-skk2Y5ge8Ms7OYeFElPzDpfuXieknOC_Re33bsFiL-xOPb923-I/s3072/kestor%20rock%20rip%20%2020220617_064450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0d0yGMrrPw-gzJT1OUzdc8enOiZVgUh-XeR1YRf8fR5pEVgHJRFY5lGzfYGhbRZSj_H3j2gjYw6WjHyzAk8Is7cbzmDUJ1_tUhQJSfSuczvP8OVR5T5S-anoxDGvJSb-skk2Y5ge8Ms7OYeFElPzDpfuXieknOC_Re33bsFiL-xOPb923-I/s320/kestor%20rock%20rip%20%2020220617_064450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The evening quietened down.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well sort of. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A </span><span style="font-family: arial;">rider galloped in seemingly having trouble controlling a horse. No idea why she felt the need to continually circle my fellow campers tent, the horse clearly unsettled. Eventually she cantered off having made some sort of point.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The horses here (and the sheep, and the copious amounts of their droppings) were a little too used to people. A few times during the evening and early hours I could hear\feel running horses near the tent. Happily my spot next to the Tor meant I wasn't particularly concerned, I've come across horse night time activity before. But for those others camping in more open areas it may have been a more restless night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A decent spot. But one for a quick day walk next time, definitely not an overnighter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Especially when those double clapper bridges are so close by.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKevs_y9sxUqtUL-4QYsBTR4H529EqtEvAtHo-LnQGAl8FeV_csbkvkzgxMKsXI_0rCKO0m2x5Z_MvpBytMPgJbQMl3-jKgOUzQIdIyVfBfI7S7UqrHezR1dfWBDpZ_E_KVFxqgJ2YLWOo7Cmgm1SzURJfTPgS4EdIznWNPSg1tcFMfBv-eYA/s4096/kestor%20rock%20ys%20%2020220616_192803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2995" data-original-width="4096" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKevs_y9sxUqtUL-4QYsBTR4H529EqtEvAtHo-LnQGAl8FeV_csbkvkzgxMKsXI_0rCKO0m2x5Z_MvpBytMPgJbQMl3-jKgOUzQIdIyVfBfI7S7UqrHezR1dfWBDpZ_E_KVFxqgJ2YLWOo7Cmgm1SzURJfTPgS4EdIznWNPSg1tcFMfBv-eYA/s320/kestor%20rock%20ys%20%2020220616_192803.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kestor Rock views</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p></div>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-25038680333617742562022-06-24T11:35:00.009+01:002022-06-25T17:25:00.327+01:00<p> <b style="font-family: arial;"><u>DAY 2 (p.m.) Wed 15/6/22</u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I was feeling lazy in the heat, so a trip into Tavistock to see if I could replace my 1 litre platypus bladder which had finally started to leak. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After 20 years of use I wasn't very surprised.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Always a delight to visit Tavistock, but I rarely manage to restock any camping supplies. And this time it was no different despite trying the camping, running & cycling shops.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A quick pasty and back onto the moor, heading for Princetown.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There I restocked on some basic food items, and visited one of my favourite shops <a href="https://www.ice-warrior.com/shop" target="_blank">Ice Warrior</a> .</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I've always visited Jim & Sam, whenever I pass through Princetown, being a happy customer ever since they opened.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was a risky venture, when they originally opened, as Princetown was going through yet another of its 'dying off' phases. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But happily, despite the<span> impact on the outdoor trade during the last couple of years, the business remains strong, and the people friendly. Always useful for local knowledge and potential wildcamping locations away from the increasingly touristy wildcamping fraternity.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>And I even spotted a replacement platypus. And a new polartec fleece (well - got to get new kit when you can!)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>With the weather remaining hot and clear tonight was a no-brainer.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Back towards Tavistock, and the car park opposite Great Mis Tor (GR 562 768). Another favourite spot of mine with views into the moorland wilds, or turning around, far away to Plymouth Sound.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMoN-9jy78MAj8y9q88XlitneeCaS5GhSpzPiUgJcUxvhzyjMjPy4oKq4keH3wHOQO3TKDrS2kbRcYrTFN35RiMS7-45F3-xP7zKT3ZQnkhQCaSEZ22fhJsvNRuGXJgrdvNaZ57sNB1BrYrTSNML78J09IbA-BOxvtySDZ37DNLFU2TRsW7A/s4096/great%20mis%20tor%2020220615_172455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2830" data-original-width="4096" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMoN-9jy78MAj8y9q88XlitneeCaS5GhSpzPiUgJcUxvhzyjMjPy4oKq4keH3wHOQO3TKDrS2kbRcYrTFN35RiMS7-45F3-xP7zKT3ZQnkhQCaSEZ22fhJsvNRuGXJgrdvNaZ57sNB1BrYrTSNML78J09IbA-BOxvtySDZ37DNLFU2TRsW7A/s320/great%20mis%20tor%2020220615_172455.jpg" width="320" /></a> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; text-align: center;">Great Mis</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>In good weather, a truly delightful wildcamp. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>But in foul weather (and it can turn on a sixpence on this tor) a nightmare requiring careful compass work to get back to the car park. Or face a long walk back along the road. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Settling in late afternoon I tried yet another camping spot, this time protected by rocks on two sides to avoid wind gusts overnight. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The wind direction here can shift through 180 degrees overnight, so having been caught out in the past, after choosing a more exposed ridge location, I hoped for better from this one. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And happily it proved to be a great location, one I'll definitely use in future.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And still hugely panoramic views.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Bliss!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWsZO75ZJCqxlgGu71sjofxjzMO6vhU_r6xlpxKrmqEbSn6THJ-714FiDqsYRH-MAtTSfQ7epRb4W10W-h3m6IMALXIiCM6RUoGCTxLr8pARefzTHrDtbuuW1-cjg824f3lq_OONRvmpLkOhUTcWsYtpWByqBWGYxGC1zZ772es0aWwaPGX0/s4096/great%20mis%20tor%2020220615_172534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2996" data-original-width="4096" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWsZO75ZJCqxlgGu71sjofxjzMO6vhU_r6xlpxKrmqEbSn6THJ-714FiDqsYRH-MAtTSfQ7epRb4W10W-h3m6IMALXIiCM6RUoGCTxLr8pARefzTHrDtbuuW1-cjg824f3lq_OONRvmpLkOhUTcWsYtpWByqBWGYxGC1zZ772es0aWwaPGX0/s320/great%20mis%20tor%2020220615_172534.jpg" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-size: small;">Great Mis</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-82527532072794291722022-06-24T11:09:00.005+01:002022-06-25T17:23:05.225+01:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u> DAY 2 Wed 15/6/22</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A restful night, far from the usual sounds of man. Instead the welcome song of skylarks & the restful calls of the occasional sheep.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Today was a long promised visit to Lints Tor (GR 579 874) I'd seen it nestling in the foot of the valley on a previous trip and always fancied spending a night there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I followed the clear track from Yes Tor onto High Willhays (GR 580 892)</span></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp18qa1ONNcY699QnP_j_mPDlHS_dfY5ZoF9qSm3tdoB65YXlD4f19jTRFsLHZYOXZtyXdgij7IYCO6MAqdlX8miPhS1uP0wJLcpo8t-UE38mweC4lh6CigNUUD2EZC9C5kgM1bJ5-Df5EtrpVmxiQx6e9J5yArnsPTaqchKr9sBSX-WkLVUE/s7936/high%20willhayes%20DSCF0003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp18qa1ONNcY699QnP_j_mPDlHS_dfY5ZoF9qSm3tdoB65YXlD4f19jTRFsLHZYOXZtyXdgij7IYCO6MAqdlX8miPhS1uP0wJLcpo8t-UE38mweC4lh6CigNUUD2EZC9C5kgM1bJ5-Df5EtrpVmxiQx6e9J5yArnsPTaqchKr9sBSX-WkLVUE/s320/high%20willhayes%20DSCF0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><span style="font-family: arial;"> I snapped a couple of pixs with a new mini camera, as a test, and then headed for Dinger Tor (GR 586 881)</span><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh002ZMknhJnqcWtyhjC_rwgjrkRbSNHwXVWVtfJPBxmu0yQJp47Ssj6Vl__f5twvxTJrUNN6Sk3FTPUEeLEr81PWmtKNrHCBmAX37Pmu5Jt14AMd21ipe4yzd_ObRPjdHGRa0gG4Mg66c35P8oRkjgT2l-YGmUmNM1WkkknU59A7oB9xJ8G0g/s7936/high%20willhayes%20cairn%20DSCF0004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh002ZMknhJnqcWtyhjC_rwgjrkRbSNHwXVWVtfJPBxmu0yQJp47Ssj6Vl__f5twvxTJrUNN6Sk3FTPUEeLEr81PWmtKNrHCBmAX37Pmu5Jt14AMd21ipe4yzd_ObRPjdHGRa0gG4Mg66c35P8oRkjgT2l-YGmUmNM1WkkknU59A7oB9xJ8G0g/s320/high%20willhayes%20cairn%20DSCF0004.JPG" width="320" /></a> High Willhays</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-spU7nFrEKikCVBgz_H7Bc8sduArLOU1ktsj8AuOKsmqUo_3tJrVh6G8q94CqqPLeVCO_BhUnS3m24mWNh52z9xldZRAeRJhSdHsf2AW7jlpChdR09p-5Wgd7iMVOfVWuK2WgU0MUqLL9g7O1ehMLS45BDlX-JLbDpx2AUC83yPzlka6plUo/s7936/high%20willhayes%20DSCF0001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-spU7nFrEKikCVBgz_H7Bc8sduArLOU1ktsj8AuOKsmqUo_3tJrVh6G8q94CqqPLeVCO_BhUnS3m24mWNh52z9xldZRAeRJhSdHsf2AW7jlpChdR09p-5Wgd7iMVOfVWuK2WgU0MUqLL9g7O1ehMLS45BDlX-JLbDpx2AUC83yPzlka6plUo/s320/high%20willhayes%20DSCF0001.JPG" width="320" /></a> High Willhays</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSxY-smqQKfvX5r5zIjgI26OEPhsuWVgrgMvute_XIIrQq_S3t2L3xURr3iHcwgWUTcJee_aTJPng0XHfpgDwPextJTs7GfBQYysyAzPA-r_AZMrRMuXANiZnQkEa2XJ1TmKoss5_BIcPFPH3d6aIJ8K1UGwiQfKvGzZ_sIbWHcU7m8xJx6s/s7936/dinger%20tor%20DSCF0005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSxY-smqQKfvX5r5zIjgI26OEPhsuWVgrgMvute_XIIrQq_S3t2L3xURr3iHcwgWUTcJee_aTJPng0XHfpgDwPextJTs7GfBQYysyAzPA-r_AZMrRMuXANiZnQkEa2XJ1TmKoss5_BIcPFPH3d6aIJ8K1UGwiQfKvGzZ_sIbWHcU7m8xJx6s/s320/dinger%20tor%20DSCF0005.JPG" width="320" /></a> Dinger</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">(finally a picture that worked - cheap bloody camera!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During a water stop I mentally mapped out the route to Lints. Based on my previous trip I decided to contour around to the east, on a clearly defined track, rather than deal with the rough ground of the more direct route. Good call.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I neared the tor I met a fellow wildcamper who'd spent the night there. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">He told me that the tor was teeming with lizards. But also ticks (widespread across the moor - I heard similar from many I spoke with during the week)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">He'd managed to pick up 4 in one evening.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I decided to stay with my usual approach of long trousers, despite the hot weather, having been caught out by ticks when wearing shorts in the Lake District many years ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Checking out the tor top I spotted a couple of potential camping spots before reversing my steps back to Dinger Tor and for once actually walked around the tor looking for potential campspots. The spot below the tor rock is used by sheep as a shelter, so is covered in sheep droppings. But I did find one or two better locations for a possible return.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFt6C0wiTzwCRR74cqTLLDXxyf-ZQG9RsNGCXpUpwAJEnRj4enBK3304lPCcKdqVkyegqjidSr_bzMV945RLZSuwJnes4bgP4ls9IH5nr-SprA0xZytF0oZFm1euxiQ5flGCNTbewKjQ5X6I1a-zgf8gjepYziYLElpfEMKsFybJ7kKPzTNQ/s7936/dinger%20tor%20DSCF0006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="7936" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFt6C0wiTzwCRR74cqTLLDXxyf-ZQG9RsNGCXpUpwAJEnRj4enBK3304lPCcKdqVkyegqjidSr_bzMV945RLZSuwJnes4bgP4ls9IH5nr-SprA0xZytF0oZFm1euxiQ5flGCNTbewKjQ5X6I1a-zgf8gjepYziYLElpfEMKsFybJ7kKPzTNQ/s320/dinger%20tor%20DSCF0006.JPG" width="320" /></a> Dinger</div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Then back onto the military road heading back down to my car.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As always a welcome to have an easy route, but a pain knowing the effect it can have leading to sore feet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Packing up the car, my fellow camper appeared on the track, having worked over Willhays and Yes, and now on his way to Okehampton Station. He clearly knew the area well as my offer of a lift to the station was quickly accepted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But before that we tried a two man tick removal exercise on one little bugger he'd picked up but couldn't remove. No joy - it was just too small.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Probably explains the number of lizards on Lints Tor though!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Overall a simple 5 miler over typical Dartmoor terrain, with my pack, weight and fitness all working well despite the heat.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-20918845474498932752022-06-24T10:39:00.006+01:002022-06-25T17:23:19.480+01:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u>DAY 1 Tues 14/6/22</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With fine weather in abundance I took the familiar 3.5 hr drive across the south coast heading for Okehampton, and then onto Okehampton Camp and the range beyond for my usual hopping off point below Yes Tor on the military road.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd deliberately aimed to arrive late in the day, to avoid any day trippers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Always a delight to cut out that couple of miles of steepening uphill walking. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">(Sigh)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>A 30 min slog up the rocky track reminded me that no amount of training in the New Forest was ever going to be enough for humping a full pack ever upwards. But this is a route I've covered so many times before, often in thick cloud, so just keep tromping on towards Yes Tor, and admiring the view.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>I quickly pitched the new <a href="https://hilleberg.com/eng/tent/red-label-tents/akto/" target="_blank">Hilleberg Akto</a> to the SW of the tor itself. Opting for a view, with the wind a cooling welcome, rather than any sort of hint I'd need a more sheltered spot.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>A word about the tent....</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>My old Akto groundsheet had finally let go on a horrendous 3 nighter in 2021, and despite a major reproofing campaign, it showed a similar distain on the next short (and wet) trip.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>It was clear its 15 year life was done.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>(yep - read it and weep - only 15 years of use!)</span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Looking for a replacement was easy. Despite the Akto being double the price, and the usual wide variety of "better/lighter" alternatives, my decision was easy.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>The Akto has seen me safely through major gales, and horrendous rain\wind. If the price for that is a slightly heavier weight I'm glad to pay it for the peace of mind. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>And easier sleep.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>The new version has a couple of really minor mods. The storm flap over the flysheet door zip is now of a stiff material, so no more trapping this in the zip closure. (That was not so much a problem, more a quirk to keep in mind)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>The inner tent zip is a modified version that means the two zips can close higher up the fastening, whereas previously it was fixed at the bottom of the tent, allowing occasional water seepage if they weren't properly closed.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>And thats the mods.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>It says a lot for the Akto that the model remains in production after all these years, and that the modifications above are all that had been added in 15 years. </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRKT2N5OszO0HGYAVkhiKMSjtz05mqIB9Qz-T_nfyRtkNaHqmblqjox-nXZnbZFYwfeNYO4Dvdsvvk3VCKDXIO6_epGbwaVz2W7pDWdtUSzndYqJPoaoPeKVsUouH_HyQEMIyE3O237BWSlkjsZ2l9l7Mp2vRPHmjqErIK68x286qL_4P_i0/s3072/yes%20tor%2020220614_194157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2945" data-original-width="3072" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRKT2N5OszO0HGYAVkhiKMSjtz05mqIB9Qz-T_nfyRtkNaHqmblqjox-nXZnbZFYwfeNYO4Dvdsvvk3VCKDXIO6_epGbwaVz2W7pDWdtUSzndYqJPoaoPeKVsUouH_HyQEMIyE3O237BWSlkjsZ2l9l7Mp2vRPHmjqErIK68x286qL_4P_i0/w437-h419/yes%20tor%2020220614_194157.jpg" width="437" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>If it ain't bust, don't fix it!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Brew on. I watched the sun go down and looked forward to a quiet night. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>A trio of marines, on a training walk, passed by early evening. But other than the occasional dog walker, once again I had the place to myself.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>And I even managed an atmospheric picture of the sun glinting off the sea off the coast of North Devon.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2L79rks9vynEk729uDrVTPUcg_TC-H11e32-Hlcr_nBpWxvhaFRp6kefXfliDWhPX8dT5Z1yRa_VPqkhN0ZkOg937QIcjw7DthS5euYFuArwpkoqtS7ZXVJ3vveSECpSZZmA6metu23CO05l33YfJz4Lv7mlN6Pl0adp45Pq5Qq6JQTWkook/s4005/yes%20tor%20sunset%2020220614_194232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4005" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2L79rks9vynEk729uDrVTPUcg_TC-H11e32-Hlcr_nBpWxvhaFRp6kefXfliDWhPX8dT5Z1yRa_VPqkhN0ZkOg937QIcjw7DthS5euYFuArwpkoqtS7ZXVJ3vveSECpSZZmA6metu23CO05l33YfJz4Lv7mlN6Pl0adp45Pq5Qq6JQTWkook/w545-h417/yes%20tor%20sunset%2020220614_194232.jpg" width="545" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-82671232759215491332022-06-24T10:07:00.004+01:002022-06-25T17:19:13.953+01:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><b style="background-color: white;">Dartmoor Wildcamping Trip 14-19 June 2022</b></u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Nearly a year since my last washed-out trip, personal life and the weather forecast f</span><span style="font-family: arial;">inally agreed it was time for A Serious Trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And as usual I'd spent copious amounts of time on fitness preparation, and kit replenishment, only thinking about where to actually go at the final moment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Usual state of affairs then.....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On my 2021 trips I'd picked up a copy of <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/dartmoor-tors-compendium-2018/josephine-collingwood//9781999740511?awaid=3787&utm_source=redbrain&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=css&gclid=CjwKCAjwwdWVBhA4EiwAjcYJEIxbEfFY7luG2j3a1PUgP_4l2xeGmuDg6dSUDjmJFIBzFCdWpr6R2hoCjCwQAvD_BwE&awc=3787_1656061138_116caed99e2be8827929ea5bb1d70bdb" target="_blank">Dartmoor Tors Compendium</a> by Joseph M Collingwood - more on this in a later post - but this trip was geared around ideas from the book.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Kit refinements made during the last couple of years had not really been tested 'in the field' so a degree of minor caution was called for until I'd ironed out any wrinkles.</span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-58236877458625528642022-06-23T09:31:00.006+01:002022-06-23T09:31:59.018+01:00Dartmoor 5 nighter<p> Trip report to follow:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzuq_thHbunO_lTCFFAcb9A-bS0Ibbj0qT62jF-DqG2b-RDBwDPsBsrqW_kj2zaf4lhAoRWIraZheo_rkyGmTJ59TFbD2zPIwg49H8GBNzaqPePeRe2yXzl8Ex-MU4oyEv0SsiJtitLl_nHrzqBEP-F3kOG5DK-1cMwnBiTU5fyCiBfgSNTk/s4005/yes%20tor%20sunset%2020220614_194232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4005" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzuq_thHbunO_lTCFFAcb9A-bS0Ibbj0qT62jF-DqG2b-RDBwDPsBsrqW_kj2zaf4lhAoRWIraZheo_rkyGmTJ59TFbD2zPIwg49H8GBNzaqPePeRe2yXzl8Ex-MU4oyEv0SsiJtitLl_nHrzqBEP-F3kOG5DK-1cMwnBiTU5fyCiBfgSNTk/w479-h367/yes%20tor%20sunset%2020220614_194232.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-65026211529836600042022-05-27T10:26:00.002+01:002022-05-27T10:32:10.553+01:00Still upright, still breathing!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm6uey5_mWDox3JxvRcZPZ3QWiOBJOc1vHO1bZzrb6oDwOXatrtQbBk8B5Nq0DlAsEAWeg6wGqvO6M2haUYViB4V9U2VaFNih2VtfTlxPOc2jq-xiPzMT8xafcZLgFtfAN7ROU_P9Paeujt79X0mBC7vsmIzg7gjExYoEWh03XNOu9W2jBeQ/s2048/P1010019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm6uey5_mWDox3JxvRcZPZ3QWiOBJOc1vHO1bZzrb6oDwOXatrtQbBk8B5Nq0DlAsEAWeg6wGqvO6M2haUYViB4V9U2VaFNih2VtfTlxPOc2jq-xiPzMT8xafcZLgFtfAN7ROU_P9Paeujt79X0mBC7vsmIzg7gjExYoEWh03XNOu9W2jBeQ/w436-h327/P1010019.JPG" width="436" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Preparing for my next wildcamping escape to Dartmoor I've been reviewing over 20 years of trip notes in an attempt to consolidate it all onto one single map.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Which has meant turning the house upside down looking for old trip notebooks, for details of precise routes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Which in turn resulted in a review of all my Dartmoor photos, trying to locate/date various interesting spots I'd marked as potential revisit spots one day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Which brings me back to this blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">(Phew, talk about a long winded way to eventually get to the point)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In these days of Facebook\Vidlogs etc I'd long ago come to the conclusion that the glorious days of 'The Outdoor Blog' were over. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And it really doesn't help that so many of the original (and much mourned) fellow travellers seem to be no longer around to swop notes and ideas in such a suitable forum. Many since gone on their own solo walk from which they will never return - miss you folks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So it seems the useful </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">days</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> of shared </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">information exchange have largely disappeared with the spattergun effects from the impact of Facebook et al.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then there is the look & feel of this blog's format itself. I have trouble finding information myself! And I wrote/host it, so what chance do the rest of you have?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the days of laptop\web browser viewing it worked, but for mobile users? Nah a right pig to navigate. Whatever the value of the content, if you can't get to it easily, it may as well be manure. Not to be waded through recklessly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Time for a think as to this site's future. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once it was a useful method of recording my trips logs, but became a generally beneficial communication tool for others seeking information or (whisper it gently) entertainment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After my next trip, with time again to spare, I'll see how relevant this remains. Depends if I have the drive to transfer my trip jottings over to the web.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(At least recording my trips on here I don't have to spend fruitless time searching for my bloody trip reports)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And perhaps there is a simple way to migrate this site to a new platform, one that is mobile friendlier. (any tips out there?)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tapping out these jottings are a little like whistling into a deep mineshaft of solitary disinterest, so if there's anyone still out there, why not leave me a comment?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It'll inform my decision on where this goes next.....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cheers wildcampers</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-9033036023594887592021-02-11T16:15:00.000+00:002021-02-11T16:15:14.049+00:00Duct Tape<div>
Got some in your kit yet?</div>
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Whyever not.</div>
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Strong and semi waterproof repair. </div>
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Plenty of uses in the first aid kit.</div>
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John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-5595230711211003672020-03-29T20:12:00.003+01:002020-03-29T20:12:30.320+01:00Well, with all the current shenanigans going on (bet you'll not hear that reference in the media!) I thought it might be time for some sort of resurrection of this mechanism.<br />
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(That is if anyone still follows these sort of things - me, I still write letters) <br />
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But this is not for me you understand. No no no. Its really for us outdoorsy folk who've suddenly found their plans and dreams piled up by the back door. Which some bastard locked tight. And then bricked up.<br />
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(And then probably posted on FarceBook with a twee comment)<br />
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Go figure.<br />
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Which for some of you means the safety valve of The Great Outdoors (Trade Mark applied for) has been trampled on.<br />
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Well kids, those of us longer in the tooth can remember Foot & Mouth, and due to our prior Life Circumstances and incredible Longevity (well so far this year) have developed a number of coping strategies over the years. Which may be of use.<br />
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Then again I could be blowing smoke.<br />
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To quote Pink Floyd - Is there anyone out there?John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-22826942649252044352012-01-22T18:54:00.010+00:002012-01-22T19:26:39.910+00:00Blow you Bugger, Blow<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thanks folks for the kind welcome back.<br /><br />Back from where? Ah that's another tale, and one that will have to wait awhile.</span><br style="font-family:verdana;"><br style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">For the moment - some snaps from today's New Forest saunter. </span><br style="font-family:verdana;"><br style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/211766"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Whitten</span> Pond</a> near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Burley</span> is usually a place of peace and tranquility. However today's gusts seemed to think this a little tame, insisting on trying to push the pond content's down to one end.<br /><br face="verdana"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">First time I've seen waves like this on an inland NF pool.</span><br face="verdana"></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='491' height='408' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwguISoFGI1E4SquIQRez-S08264iBI1wU3rPazcDYd1VQpDXlfuy6sRDkpMMDpOVhq9txPdFVKtA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />(yes I know its side on. Bloody Smartphone cameras. You'll find a "rotated" version below but the sound and picture are even worse)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">And later, wandering away from my usual route, I chanced upon this victim of the local gales.<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP4u4uiDKknK4NP_YBxrCPTHCOSc_LfDRFlyJagEOhV6ETDcVP9gwWJIbuqYOTmEsTOoUKgkE8Gvkv7q0h3Kyv0sc527TB2K57qSMIItNMPJnuiJqNWig9HE8tjL43qvvypfD0Q/s1600/IMAG0255.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 494px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP4u4uiDKknK4NP_YBxrCPTHCOSc_LfDRFlyJagEOhV6ETDcVP9gwWJIbuqYOTmEsTOoUKgkE8Gvkv7q0h3Kyv0sc527TB2K57qSMIItNMPJnuiJqNWig9HE8tjL43qvvypfD0Q/s320/IMAG0255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700534705105777682" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MCzCRSKNCFj3nzcGP9veUj9lcBIsw4q8yC2cZKDn8qHNzjtzdKhlEwiWJNWj9sgxRfudw4hJqfoTJBhpR50Gz3-PHkqeHwz6B15NR20I6ABNBnLYfSrVZ1muZoFLPF56JIH30g/s1600/IMAG0256.jpg"> </a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MCzCRSKNCFj3nzcGP9veUj9lcBIsw4q8yC2cZKDn8qHNzjtzdKhlEwiWJNWj9sgxRfudw4hJqfoTJBhpR50Gz3-PHkqeHwz6B15NR20I6ABNBnLYfSrVZ1muZoFLPF56JIH30g/s1600/IMAG0256.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 497px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MCzCRSKNCFj3nzcGP9veUj9lcBIsw4q8yC2cZKDn8qHNzjtzdKhlEwiWJNWj9sgxRfudw4hJqfoTJBhpR50Gz3-PHkqeHwz6B15NR20I6ABNBnLYfSrVZ1muZoFLPF56JIH30g/s320/IMAG0256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700534710762379794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">These snaps don't really show the wind force - the trunk is approx one metre thick, but still its been cleanly snapped off at a point some 3-4 metres above ground. </span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrEQE7MvE3oq48iQpbZyfpeKVdRNMpMyRwNKyy1WPs6hgAWFH1g1ZwrfDC-jmSVwQiMKENfFH8VvolL8DP918YXv0cDstAKGAef6WfrIOkKLKGQgHn-V-uc-f6ZIcPwivxcL02Q/s1600/IMAG0254.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 426px; height: 565px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrEQE7MvE3oq48iQpbZyfpeKVdRNMpMyRwNKyy1WPs6hgAWFH1g1ZwrfDC-jmSVwQiMKENfFH8VvolL8DP918YXv0cDstAKGAef6WfrIOkKLKGQgHn-V-uc-f6ZIcPwivxcL02Q/s320/IMAG0254.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700534721523223570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Oops there goes my hat again!</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='634' height='527' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwA5fBJRaFUirl5Xx_hkfu2YdAeyGoiuz41wnawTmkhHZYvQW5Q9SGL7JTA7yu3OHUnDJTJUz1NVDc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594265.post-7794555656799406312012-01-15T19:28:00.003+00:002012-01-15T19:33:02.246+00:00Legalise wild camping - Background information<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For anyone seeking the Campaign website, I noticed earlier today that its no longer on-line.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">However as much of the information there still stands good this link should give you access to a backed-up version.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080312175752/http://www.legalisewildcamping.com/">LEGALISE WILD CAMPING</a><br /><br /></span><h2 style="font-family: verdana;" id="post-10"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080314033339/http://www.legalisewildcamping.com/?page_id=10"><span style="font-size:100%;">Wild Camping: The Legalities</span></a></h2>John Heehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333628949466601415noreply@blogger.com3