South Hessary Tor

 193 .......... and about time too!

Nice walk around Devonport Leat before heading up to (77) South Hessary Tor.  Strange that I haven't been there since I started this list 10+ years ago, it's about time.  The Tor is also Square O8 in the Dartmoor 365 book, so two birds and all that.  Absolutely hammered it down just before I got there hence not many photos, had a very soggy walk back to the car at Whiteworks.  

 

Hedge Down Tor

I am really not sure why I haven't noticed this tor before.  Maybe it gets lost in the view from Chinkwell and Honeybag Tors because of the distraction of Hound Tor which looms behind.  Or maybe I have noticed it but disregarded it thinking it was not accessible.  For whatever reason it popped up on my radar during lockdown, and so after a bit of home schooling off I went with Evie for a bit of exploring.  Normally when discovering unvisited tors they are a little disappointing.  Small outcrops on the side of a hill or an uninspiring boulder.  Not Hedge Down Tor though this is a great tor which keeps on giving.

Made up two major outcrops the highest of the two to the south stands at 414m and although small has plenty to explore.

The second outcrop to the north takes the form of ridge which winds its way down the hill side for some 50m or so.  Evie loved running down the ridge, but beware it has a large drop off on the east side.

The start of the ridge from the east side

Part of the joy of visiting this tor is that it is remote enough to be very quiet, unspoilt and not battered by the crowds other tors get.  It also has nice 360 degree views.  We were also luck to be treated to the formation of a Altocumulus Standing Lenticular Cloud, which you can see forming the photos.  After visiting the Hedge Down Tor we did made a quick visit to Honeybag, Chinkwell and Bell Tors before descending to the car. 

Altocumulus Standing Lenticular Cloud format over Chinkwell Tor

Long Run with Plenty to See - 20th May 19

Parked up below Smeardon Down, it was a hot morning and I was regretting not having any suntan cream in the car.  Off I went up the track to Stephen’s Grave (K4) 

Stephen' Grave with White Tor behind

After pausing at Stephen's Grave I headed cross country to Langstone Moor stone circle (K6).  The running was good and under foot the moor is incredibly dry, crunchy even.

Langstone Circle

Next it was on to Limsboro Cairn (J6) near Lynch Tor.  The cairn seems some what depleted since I first visited it some 30 odd years ago.

Limsboro' Cairn

Lynch Tor

A quick visit to Lynch Tor (35) which lies than 200 metres to the North-West, then off to the Walkham Head Peat Pass.  The going is tough on this part of the moor, but I managed to pick up a few sheep tracks to help me on my way.  The Peat Pass (I7) wasn’t to hard to find with a post marking both ends.

Next it was a short run over to Tavy Hole (I8), a nice waterfall but close enough to Tavy Head that the dry weather meant the river was flowing enough to show it at its best, but certainly one to return to. 

Turning west now I headed over to Standon Hill (54), this would have been heavy going in wetter conditions but it was a case of crunching my way across the plain. It not a particularly spectacular tor but what it lacks in stature it make up for in position with amazing 360 degree views.   

Time to head for home now with a nice run contouring below Lynch Tor over to the Langstone (K5).  The face of which shows the pock marks from American machine gunners practicing in 1944.

All that was left was to run down the hill back to the car, 19km done, I was glad of the building cloud cover on a hot day.




Co-ordinates in brackets eg (Q10) refer to squares in Dartmoor 365 by John Hayward

I found Ter Hill and my Dartmoor mojo.

I parked up at Combestone Tor with the plan of running out to Ter Hill.  On the way I visited Hooten Wheals (P12) where I stopped to remove my windproof.  Is was a beautiful day, but with a cold wind hence the windproof early on, but now it was hotting up.

I picked up a nice track which took me all the way to western most of the Ter Hill Crosses (P11).

From there I turned south picking up some sheep tracks which made the going easier.  It's very dry at moment on the moors and this made the going a little easier going to Ter Hill, I can imagine that it would be hard going in wetter conditions.  Although the summit of Ter Hill is a little disappointing it has a feeling of remoteness which I love about the south moor, and is different from the feeling I get when traversing the North Moor. From there I made my way to Naker's Hill, again not much to report here.  Then onwards down to Carter's Beam Picking a burnt area which must have been the site of the recent Dartmoor fires.  I wonder how they started.  I decided to run this burnt area as I thought I would offer some good running.  Wrong! The ground was very soft making the going very energy sapping.  I was soon at Carters Beam (Q10).

  Before running the small gully down to Fox Tor.  From Fox Tor I ran down into Sunshine Valley (Harvey's Maps) aptly named on this hot sunny day. Up Mount Misery and on Home via Few more crosses!

Co-ordinates in brackets eg (Q10) refer to squares in Dartmoor 365 by John Hayward

The Dewerstone

The Dewerstone (188)

It's not really about the Tor it's more about the views south to Plymouth and West and East into the valleys that make this place special.  A stiff walk up from Shaugh Bridge but well worth it with plenty of interest on the way.

I Forgot About Black Tor

Spent a nice night out on Black Tor at the end of May.  It was a lovely night out with an interesting sunset and an beautiful morning which had the potential for an amazing sunrise, however it didn't really materialise, it was stunning but not from a photographic point of view.

Quick blast over the moors after work and I notice Tor Rocks (186) on the map at SX641 591 and thought I would go and take a look.  It turned out to be a beautiful little corner of the moors with a small quarry below and the charming Butter Brook to the north.  This ones not on the original list but have added it on.  After visiting continued north and planned on a return visit to Tristis Rock, but it turns out that this is not the best angle to approach from high ferns meant getting to the river was a challenge then the river was wider and deeper than anticipated.  The final decision to turn back was the look of the slope below Tristis Rock itself which looked like deep gorse and ferns!