Wednesday, January 1

DARTMOOR DAY 3: Monday 9/9/2024 SADDLE TOR - HAYTOR TOR-BLACK HILL-(LEIGHON TOR)-SMALLACOMBE ROCKS

 Dartmoor. Sun? Surely not.

Making my way back to the car via Sharpitor I drove over to the Haytor area looking for a safe spot to leave the car overnight. After all – Haytor is known locally as a prime area for car break-ins. 

I've been avoiding directly visiting this area for a number of years, electing to wildcamp on a number of surrounding  tors.

But, inevitably it was finally time to explore the area around the dreaded Haytor Rocks - Dartmoor Ground Zero for tourists and ice cream vans.

But first a magical mystery tour of the (very) narrow road which circumnavigates the whole of Easdon Tor (733 822) Marked on the Dartmoor camping map as ok for wildcamping, it looked great on the map. Far from through foot traffic, and a solitary location.

But after a half hour drive on increasingly narrow roads I could see few safe places to park up and marked it down as a walk-in visit for a possible future date.

Back then to the immediate Haytor area. A dry day, with a screaming wind putting off many of the day trippers cautious of losing the tops off their ice-cream cornet.

Finally I settled on the CP at 753 764, and headed up onto Saddle Tor (751 763). A pleasant spot, much quieter than Haytor,but not a day to tarry in the wind.

Saddle Tor

As you may expect the tracks onto Haytor are easy to spot. From Saddle Tor I worked my way upwards onto the western slope towards the top and decided the effort of climbing onto the rocks themselves really wasn’t worth the effort. 

Haytor Rocks

Back to Haytor Quarries where the the plan was to take a direct line towards Black Hill (762 787) in an attempt to find/visit Leighon Tor (758 786) 

This is not marked on my 2015 OS map (it was added late 2022 I’ve since discovered), but I’d spotted it on the interactive Dartmoor camping map and was intrigued as a spot to spend the night.

Along the way I spent a fruitless 20 minutes trying to follow tracks through the gorse to the north of the quarries before finally accepting defeat and, for me, a rare occasion of retracing my steps back to a more clearly visible track heading north towards the Templar Way.

Much, much easier. Being an intrepid trailblazer is all well and good. But a mixture of pack weight, gorse and rocky/broken ground eventually persuaded me that I’d prefer my ankles the way I like them – unbroken. 

Nothing ventured…..

After that it was a clear and easy route to Black Hill. 

View to Black Hill

A bit of faffing about in an attempt to confirm I’d visited Leighon Tor. Or perhaps not?

It’s a bit of a bugger to locate as the excellent Tors of Dartmoor site can confirm, also explaining the eventual addition to later OS maps.

The area to the NE of Haytor is great for a ramble, but with no real distinguishing features, or wind shelter, not that interesting.

Which brings me to yet another 'right to roam' conundrum this trip.

I eventually set up for the night in the ' wildcamping allowed' area (or was I?) at Smallacombe Rocks (755 783)  in an attempt to avoid the worst of the NW wind was becoming irritating.

That's the trouble with arbitrary interactive maps when your actually present on the ground.

Smallacombe Rocks

I could see more sheltered spots nearby, but  according to the permissive map they were out of bounds.

Meanwhile the permissive area, to the north of my eventual overnight spot, is actually a steep slope covered in bracken. A promising spot for a leg break, midges, and looked pretty bare of ground to camp. Even the animal tracks are missing.

Safe to camp?

Yet its ok to camp there.

Looks good on a map. Useless, if not dangerous, on the actual ground.

Ho hum.

I bedded in for the evening, well sheltered from the wind. Not really caring whether I was in or out of any permissive boundary. 

There’s some really fine flat and sheltered spots around the rocks. On a sunny summer’s day they would be a delight.

But September winds. Hmmm,

But at least a view of Haytor in the distance. Without the associated foot traffic

View to Haytor from Smallcombe

And early in the evening I had a more welcome visitor for short while - the rabbits here are Huge.

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Sunday, November 3

DARTMOOR DAY 2: Sunday 8/9/2024 SHARPITOR - PEEK HILL TOR-LEATHER TOR

Pew Tor morning

Heading bright (not) and early back to the car, the continued intermittent rain meant that my plan circular of tors to the NE & SW of Burrator Reservoir was likely to be a boggy dismal affair.

One of the basic tenets of successful wildcamping is adaptability, so Plan B time (or perhaps C or even D) Something in the same area, to visit new locations, but without the concern over low cloud navigation and wet boots.

The easiest access onto Sharpitor was along the gentle ridge from the car park at 557 708.

I’ve nothing to  prove on walkabouts nowadays. I wander at will with the enjoyment of the experience being the aim, not miles covered etc. Got the T Shirts for that already ta very much.

If I can save a walk uphill, carrying a full load, I’ve learnt a little bit of careful review of my start point saves wear and tear on the knees & hips. As they remain fully functional, despite impending retirement age, I’ll stick with the approach.

And so it proved to be this time. Initially I had to keep a wary eye on a couple of dog walkers trying to prevent their semi-pit bulls from ‘playing’ with the livestock, trying not to hang my head in despair yet again. 

Uncontrolled dogs have been an increasing concern for the last 12+ months whenever I’ve been out on the New Forest. So much so that I now carry a citronella spray as a norm. 

Partly for the dog. 

More for the owner. 

I figure training the trainer might be a more productive application of the repellent discharge – this stuff is expensive after all.

Within a very short time I was crossing over SHARPITOR [TOR?] (559 703) where I’ve camped a couple of times before (That was back in 2007 & 2021 according to my trip diaries, although it only part of those ever made it onto this blog. Troubled times back then and my head wasn’t in it)

Sharpitor

South onto Peek Hill Tor (556 699) a spot with an excellent view, but far too exposed to the wind today. So E to Leather Tor (562 699) 

Leather Tor from Peek Hill 

This is a weird one. More reminiscent of the Lake District rocks. Shucking off my sack I scrambled up to the start of the rugged ridgeline, took one look along the edge, and scrambled back down. I know an ankle breaker when I see one.

 

Always that necessary judgement of risk to be assessed when out solo, and its kept me healthy and safe all these years. 

Pitching for the night to the W of the tor I was supping my first brew when I spotted a group of walkers bashing their way through the scree & bracken clearly intent on climbing up the steeper side of the tor.

I had a friendly word – IMHO this is not the sort of clamber for the inexperienced, but the guide (some sort of outdoor pursuit set-up?) sounded like he knew the area and the terrain, so I was entertained over coffee watching a string of brightly clothed people work their way up onto and along the ridge disappearing away into the distance.

All safe, so well led that man. I wouldn’t have liked the responsibility for the group. But  I wildcamp solo, so maybe a riskier prospect. But then I have sole responsibility for the safety of my party, and he’s a really sensible and pleasant chap, even if stingy with any sort of guiding fee.

Another typical Dartmoor evening with rain, wind, rain, low cloud.. and rain. 

But the view in the gaps - just right.


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Saturday, November 2

DARTMOOR DAY 1: Sat 7/9/2024 VIXEN TOR - FEATHER TOR-HECKWOOD TOR-PEW TOR

Family issues had meant that this was my first wildcamping trip this year.

Frustrating really as my exercise regime during the last few years had really benefitted my walking pace & pack carrying stamina.

Ho hum. Pay it forward, never a false economy in these, my advancing years.

But leaving it this late in the year meant that I wasn't over optimistic of stringing together many nights on the tops.

After the usual dreary drive across from Dorset, and a little exploratory reconnaissance, I loaded up at the car park west of Merrivale (GR 540 750)

A typically dreary start, with intermittent rain throughout the day.


A wander down to Vixen Tor (GR 541 742) for a looksee at just what "private land" offers.

Ringed by barbwire (satisfyingly broken down in places) it presumes to be a jealously guarded spot mimicking some frontline battle line. 

Which for many it still remains - being an early sign of things to come.

I originally mentioned it back in 2007 and 17 years later it remains deeply symbolic of the expanding conflict between private ownership and public access.

And to be honest, really not that great a spot to safeguard from the marauding hordes of drooling ramblers milling around the spot.

Well not really.

But at least the welcoming sign made me smile - best of luck enforcing! 

Welcome to Vixen Tor 


Onwards to tick off Feather Tor (534 741) .....

.. Feather Tor

....and its view onto Heckwood Tor (537 738) the next waypoint .....

Heckwood Tor

....where there was a suitably atmospheric glimpse of Great Mis Tor in the distance, a favourite overnight spot of mine with panoramic views down to the sea beyond Plymouth.

The leat and cross discovered along the way made a pleasant photo opportunity, initially suggesting a future wildcamping spot for a long hot sunny day. But it quickly became clear that this was a focal point for walkers in the area. Quickly crossed off my list - I prefer more solitary resting spots.

A short hop and already I was at the evening's camping spot Pew Tor (532 734)

4 tors ticked off in less than an hour - more a leg stretch than a walk. But after the early drive it was all I really required for a kit shakedown exercise.

 Pew Tor


I wouldn't really consider any of these tors for a revisit, and certainly not for an overnighter.

From memory Pew Tor seemed quite popular with occasional visitors, with its proximity to the Merrivale car parks.
But not anything that sticks in my memory as I write this now.

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