Thursday, October 8
DARTMOOR DAY 2: Tuesday 23/6/26 KINGS TOR; HUCKEN TOR; INGRA TOR; KINGS TOR
Back to the car at Four Winds Car Park (SX 568 693) & a water restock for a day rapidly building into heatwave conditions.
That needed some care when walking, with the 4 litre (4kg) water weight added to the pack. But I was able to cut down on spare kit intending a single nighter and see what the weather conditions would throw at me.
Off to Kings Tor, often seen in the distance, but avoided until now, feeling it to be a bit of a touristy trap, much like Haytor (shudder)
up to Kings Tor
Happily I had Kings to myself, although with the heat rapidly building, even at this early hour, I scouted the potential for overnight spots and then headed in the direction of Hucken Tor.
Hucken Tor from Kings Tor
Dropping off to the track, west of Kings, proved "interesting" wary of packweight, with a steep drop onto the track.
The route to Hucken looked ok, but the tor didn't warrant footfall today, not with other spots to visit.
Following the easy track southwards was a doddle, probably the easiest going I've had on Dartmoor.
More of a relentless trudge with regular sips from my water bladder as I went along.
Ingra Tor low down
Ingra Tor from the trailway
Ingra Tor finally reached I sat for a snack and considered my next move.
I had intended to camp here, but there was much of the day remaining. The view from Ingra is ok, but nothing panoramic, and I could sense the B3212 from Princetown hiding away behind the nearby ridge.
Time for more exploring the area.
The day's heat changed my mind on that.
As I headed back along the track towards Foggintor Quarries any resolve I had for pottering about changed into one long sweat inducing trudge.
With no chance of shade I decided to complete a circular route by heading back to Kings Tor.
Kings Tor from the SE
By 3pm tent was pitched. Despite this only taking 5 minutes, when I opened the tent up, I was met by a blast of superheated air. It felt like opening a door into a sauna.
Hang on. This is Dartmoor. It doesn't do this type of heat! 
33c!
I sheltered in the only shade I could find, hunched against a rockslab, shifting to stay cool as the sun tracked across the sky.
At least I had the 'entertainment' of watching the ticks on the rock, a foot from my face, ever hopeful of making me their next snack.
By 6pm, with the temperature still at 33C, and the dwindling shade fast evaporating, a bit like me, I took stock of the situation.
I'd definitely needed the break, and despite regular water intake, the heat was becoming dangerous.
Reluctantly I decided to strike camp and head for a safer position.
Reflecting later I realised that over my many decades of wildcamping, in some truly dire conditions, this was the first time I ever decided to quit a camping spot.
I headed back down to the car park, fortuitously surrounded by tree shade in all four directions.
The shade of Great Mis Tor car park beckons
A couple of cars had occupants overnight camping, believing the ground was not great for pitching a tent.
Clearly they'd never tried the top of any of the nearby Tors!And there was even a small stream running besides the wall to the south of the car park.Pancake flat and plenty of choice as far as I was concerned.
Definitely a spot to remember for the future to sit out foul weather with plenty of windbreak shelter from the worst of the elements.
I spent most of the evening in a topless state (ooeerr missus) listening to an England World Cup match. I'm not a huge footie fan, but there is something about listening to a match, on the radio, whilst camping out somewhere remote.
By 11pm it had cooled enough to make sleep a possibility. The immediate forecast for the rest of the week was pretty much the same.
Choosing sense over ambition I reluctantly decided to cut this trip short.
By 5:30 am the next morning I was heading home, attempting to mitigate the lack of car aircon, a trip cut short by that strangest of phenomenen.
Just too damned hot for walking and wildcamping on Dartmoor.Labels: dartmoor, wild camping
Back to the car at Four Winds Car Park (SX 568 693) & a water restock for a day rapidly building into heatwave conditions.
That needed some care when walking, with the 4 litre (4kg) water weight added to the pack.
But I was able to cut down on spare kit intending a single nighter and see what the weather conditions would throw at me.
Off to Kings Tor, often seen in the distance, but avoided until now, feeling it to be a bit of a touristy trap, much like Haytor (shudder)
up to Kings TorHappily I had Kings to myself, although with the heat rapidly building, even at this early hour, I scouted the potential for overnight spots and then headed in the direction of Hucken Tor.
Hucken Tor from Kings TorDropping off to the track, west of Kings, proved "interesting" wary of packweight, with a steep drop onto the track.
The route to Hucken looked ok, but the tor didn't warrant footfall today, not with other spots to visit.
Following the easy track southwards was a doddle, probably the easiest going I've had on Dartmoor.
More of a relentless trudge with regular sips from my water bladder as I went along.
Ingra Tor low down
Ingra Tor from the trailwayIngra Tor finally reached I sat for a snack and considered my next move.
I had intended to camp here, but there was much of the day remaining. The view from Ingra is ok, but nothing panoramic, and I could sense the B3212 from Princetown hiding away behind the nearby ridge.
Time for more exploring the area.
The day's heat changed my mind on that.
As I headed back along the track towards Foggintor Quarries any resolve I had for pottering about changed into one long sweat inducing trudge.
With no chance of shade I decided to complete a circular route by heading back to Kings Tor.
Kings Tor from the SEBy 3pm tent was pitched.
Despite this only taking 5 minutes, when I opened the tent up, I was met by a blast of superheated air.
It felt like opening a door into a sauna.
Hang on.
This is Dartmoor.
It doesn't do this type of heat!
33c!I sheltered in the only shade I could find, hunched against a rockslab, shifting to stay cool as the sun tracked across the sky.
At least I had the 'entertainment' of watching the ticks on the rock, a foot from my face, ever hopeful of making me their next snack.
By 6pm, with the temperature still at 33C, and the dwindling shade fast evaporating, a bit like me, I took stock of the situation.
I'd definitely needed the break, and despite regular water intake, the heat was becoming dangerous.
Reluctantly I decided to strike camp and head for a safer position.
Reflecting later I realised that over my many decades of wildcamping, in some truly dire conditions, this was the first time I ever decided to quit a camping spot.
I headed back down to the car park, fortuitously surrounded by tree shade in all four directions.
The shade of Great Mis Tor car park beckons
A couple of cars had occupants overnight camping, believing the ground was not great for pitching a tent.
Clearly they'd never tried the top of any of the nearby Tors!
And there was even a small stream running besides the wall to the south of the car park.
Pancake flat and plenty of choice as far as I was concerned.
Definitely a spot to remember for the future to sit out foul weather with plenty of windbreak shelter from the worst of the elements.
I spent most of the evening in a topless state (ooeerr missus) listening to an England World Cup match.
I'm not a huge footie fan, but there is something about listening to a match, on the radio, whilst camping out somewhere remote.
By 11pm it had cooled enough to make sleep a possibility.
The immediate forecast for the rest of the week was pretty much the same.
Choosing sense over ambition I reluctantly decided to cut this trip short.
By 5:30 am the next morning I was heading home, attempting to mitigate the lack of car aircon, a trip cut short by that strangest of phenomenen.
Just too damned hot for walking and wildcamping on Dartmoor.
Labels: dartmoor, wild camping
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