Run from Harford Moor Gate

View from Sharp Tor

Trig Point on Three Barrows

Barrow on Hillson's House

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Tristis Rock

 Another stunning spring day on the moors so I headed off to Harford Gate.  The first thing I noticed was a tor on the other side of the valley, I would check it out on the map when I got to my first Tor. Quickly got into my running and in no time at all I was at Sharp Tor (103) enjoying the views.   I took the opportunity to look at the map, the Tor in question was Tristis Rock, I had difficulty in telling on my out of date map, whether I would be able to get to it or not, but decided I would go and have a look.  Next I made my way to Three barrows (70) where I met some walkers they were locals so I asked them about access to Tristis Rock, to which they said it was all good and there were no issues with private land.  I continued on to the old clay pits at Left Lake before turning left, dropping into the valley to cross the Erme at a small damn.  A welcome stop to pass the time of day with two local farmers who were out checking on their sheep before lambing begins.  Then the long climb to Hilson's House (199), I managed about 75 metres of tough climbing before my lungs and legs gave up the game and I walked the last 30 metre or so of the climb.  The more I make my way on this journey through the list more I wonder if the author really did get out there for surely he wouldn't have missed so many of these Tors and hilltops if he had.  Hilson's House and my next target of Tristis have been added to my list.  So I head off to the west to visit one of my favourite stone rows.  It must be over 400 metres in length.  From the end of the row some stunning running terrain allows you to eat up the remain km to the start of the field system in no time at all, and soon I was running along another stone row less impressive but just as long which led me into Tristis Rock (200).  A great little Tor with great views.  Now all that was left was to drop into the valley cross the Erme once again and make the short run back to the car.

Route Link

11th March 2011 - Eastern and Western White Barrow

Aydin at Eastern White Barrow

Western White Barrow

Red Lake Clay Tip

Huntington Hill

Huntington Cross

Crossing the Avon Aydin Style

Snowdon and more - 7th March 2011

Pupers Hill

It looked like it was going to be a pleasant day and after a weekend of jobs around the house it was the ideal opportunity to get out for a walk.  No running at the moment after a twisted knee last week orienteering. So satnav programmed it was off to near Lud Gate not far from Buckfastleigh.  This is the best access in the area to the east side of the south moor, it does however does involve a 1km track/road walk to the moor edge.  There was more cloud cover than I was expecting when I started my climb up to Pupers Hill(67) and I was quickly reminded of the time of year when I got out of the shelter of the trees. But as long as you didn't hang around to long it was very pleasant walking conditions.  It wasn't long before Bramble and me reached the cairn on the top of Pupers.  I have been out here before but that must have been some 7 or 8 years ago.  There were some good views to be had over the moors but to the east it was still hazy so no views to be had there.  It was nice to see Huntington Warren and it reminded me that I should add it to my list, that and Red Lake which can be seen sticking out like a volcano from all over the south moor.  I quickly dashed across to outer Pupers to pick up a geocache.  Not hanging around long I started the short walk over to Snowdon (197) not on the original list but one that is defiantly worth adding.  Two cairn/tumuli are the only features on this plateau of the summit.  It bear no resemblance to it's namesake in North Wales but does offer good views and is certainly less busy.  Next it was on to Ryders Hill (37) again a short hop but this time over wetter ground, I started off carefully trying to avoid getting wet feet but soon gave up that game.  Ryders Hill is indistinct and without there being a trig to tell you are there you may well miss it.  With the fog down it could be a nice challenge, but today we were walking under blue skies. A 70m detour, enabled me to pick up my second geocache of the day then back to the trig for a quick chat with some walkers, one of who was 120 tors into his challenge and using the same reference book.  We quickly chatted about our challenge, extra tors we had discovered before they sped off to Snowdon.  The easiest way back was to retrace my original path, but that is rarely satisfying, so I head off east and skirted along the eastern flank of Snowdon, below Snowdon Hole to the spring, before following the leat to the track back to the car.  A beautiful day in some stunning scenery.

 

 

Ryders Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nut Crackers! - 4th March 2011

Looking towards Pil Tor

Time to walk the dog, a quick look a the map reminded me that I had been meaning to get out to the Nut Crackers near Rippon Tor.  This seemed the perfect day for it.  I made my way to just below Rippon before turning right to the Nut Crackers.  It was not to bad going underfoot, but better for walking than for running.  It was well worth the visit, a small tor but plenty to explore.  Will add it to my list as I believe it is worthy.

Rocks near the site of the Nut Crackers

Classic Dartmoor Wall!!