Dartmoor 365

We parked our car at the car park at the entrance to the military road that leads off the A386 up to Wilsworthy Range.  We walked up the road to the Range.  It was a good path to walk up.The views over the moors were spectacular, even if the the range looked out of place. After we went back to the car we walked down the road looking for guide posts.  It was not easy walking down the verge with cars speeding past.  Eventually, by another parking place, we found one. We had not walked quarter of a mile from the car park, but we felt it was dangerous to go further down the road.  We also wondered whether some of the guide stones were covered in vegetation as the grass was quite long. We then drove on to the car park at the back of the Dartmoor Inn.  We were pleased to see they had placed a porta loo in this car park.  From the car park we walked down to the river and crossed the bridge.  We then had to start climbing up Brat Tor.  T...

We drove to Sherwell and saw Sherwell Farm, Hornets Castle and another thatched cottage that we assumed was Rogues Roost, although we could not see any sign to confirm that. From Sherwell we drove on to the car park at the foot of Bel Tor and walked down the lane to Rowbrook Farm.   Longhouse at Rowbrook Farm We then drove on to Higher Uppacott and parked and walked around this long house.  We were not able to see inside, but the outside looks well preserved. The back of the longhouse Front of the longhouse Thatched cottage opposite Higher Uppacott

We parked close to the junction of the road from Princetown to Mortenhampstead, near Two Bridges and walked up the hill until we came to the Leat.  There was a granite stile to help us over the fence and we walked along the leat until we came to the unusual sight of a fountain where the leat meets the river. Approaching Leat Meet The fence to be climbed over to follow the leat

When we drove to Sheepstor before there was nowhere to park so we could not get out and explore the churchyard and find the things mentioned in D365.  Having walked to Drizzlecomb this morning we drove home via Sheepstor.  This time we found somewhere to leave the car and walked to the church. The cross outside the lynch gate We found the unusual carving above the church porch and the tomb of White Rajahs of Sarawak. This had three parts that seemed were of different ages, all of which had inscriptons.

We parked by the Scout Hut at Nattor, which seemed to have been taken over by the army.  We walked through Scout Hut grounds on the bridle way, with army recruits being told how to put tents up.  We continued on Edward's Path and came to Ditsworthy Warren house.  As we had been there before we continued on the path at the back of the house towards Drizzlecombe.  Before long we could see two mehirs, but we had a problem getting across the boggy land to them.  We came to a smaller one before we eventually we found a way around the bog and jumped across a stream to get  to the mehirs.  The first mehir had a very distinct stone row leading from it and at the other end was the Drizzlecombe stone.  Both were very tall. The Giant's Basin at the side of the Drizzlecombe stone was very obvious. Dark clouds had come overhead so having seen these mehirs we quickly returned to our car, following a better path on the way back...

Finding Wallaford Road, that comes out of Buckfastleigh, was not easy and it was a narrow country lane.  I had to do one long reverse when a jeep was coming in the other direction.  We easily found Wallaford Cross and the beech tree, but we drove past the lane with holly at Wallaford Down without realising it.  In retrospect we suspect is was where we reversed into to let the jeep past, but at the time we thought it was just a farm entrance. We drove on to Cross Furzes and parked in the layby and saw the old signpost, although it now has two arms directing you, but one is still missing. We walked down the lane to the Dean Burn Clapper, which was a very pretty spot.  Unfortunately it had started to rain so we turned back without going on any further. Back on the road we walked on further until we came to the signpost marked Cross Furzes and saw the boundary stone. We decided not to drive back the way we came but followed the sign to Buckfa...

From Cadover Bridge we drove up the road towards the china clay works and parked just before the road climbed the hill.  We took the left fork and walked up to Trowlesworthy Farm on the stony road.  We were following the walk in "On the Beaten Track 3" and at this point it was unclear where we should go, but it said head towards the tor so this is what we did.  There were lots  of small paths, but they disappeared as we approached Great Trowlesworthy Tor and we had to scramble over large granite boulders and through bracken.  All the time we looked for the granite post but we could not find it.  There was other evidence of granite being worked but no round flagstone base.  Once near the top of Great Trowlesworthy Tor we walked over to the left to Little Trowleworthy Tor and looked among the granite outcrop but to no avail, so we made our way back to the farm.  We will have to return another day to find the flagpole base. Great Trowlswo...

We started the day visiting the Dartmoor 365 exhibition at the Dartmoor Visitor Centre in Princetown.  It was an excellent display and inspired us to continue to get out walking on Dartmoor and ticking off other 365 squares.  We have been so busy lately we hadn't done very much lately but with the children back to school next week we determined to start again. This afternoon, after our usual All Day Breakfast at Fox Tor Cafe to fuel us, we walked out along the  Tor Royal Lane to find the Crock of Gold. The road made way to a concrete path than a rough earth and stone walking path, but it was a clear and firm all the way.  At times there were hedges obscuring the view but sometimes there were far reaching vistas over Dartmoor. At the side of the path it was a bit boggy but when we reached Crock of God we were able to find a dry way through to look at it close up. After we returned to our car we drove as far as we could along the army road to Holming Beam...