Yes I Know...doesn't quite have the same ring as Ilkley Moor I know!!
Now here's the thing....not been walking for a while as I managed to injure my ankle so needed a walk that would get me out and hopefully not be too trying on the ankle and I also needed to be back to watch the 6 nations rugby (as I am a bit of a rugby fan) and see if England could be gifted the result again...which they were! Then to cap it all Beano is nagging me for a walk!
I had however, spent some time whilst crocked looking at possible routes and decided to walk a bit of the moor I hadn't walked before which would appear to be about the southern most part and clearly visible from the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth - an area I had promised myself to have a look and see what was there. So off I went and found a spot to park on a residential estate just below Stowford Bridge where it crosses the main railway line. GR 642565
The route crosses the railway bridge up a lane and then on your right you will see a turn off by a farm and a clear way mark for the Two Moors Way - which this route follows on and off most of the way. The farm track climbs steadily until you reach a gate and enter the moor proper.
- Gate above Stowford Bridge
You also get your first view of the Western Beacon - the first port of call. At the gate leave the Two Moors Way and follow the direct route to the summit of the beacon.
- Western Beacon from gate
There also seemed to be alot of natives around on this apporach - not sure if the weather had brought them lower down the moor but decided to put the Bogtrotting Beano back on the lead!
- Natives on the approach to Western Beacon
You soon reach the Summit of the Beacon and the vista of the walk open's around you and you can see the route that you are going to take. On a positive note I think this would be quite a straight forward walk even in poor viz as there are plently of markers on the route that will help you find your way..as you will see in a bit!
- Summit Cairns on Western Beacon
To the North you can see your next port of call - Butterdon Hill.
- Butterdon Hill from Western Beacon
From the Beacon you head north towards Butterdon Hill passing standing stones en route and heading towards Black Pool.
- Standing Stone on Western beacon - Ugborough Beacon behind
Looking back towards the Beacon you could across the whole of the South Hams. The picture doesn't really do it justice but you could just make out the sun refelcting off the sea to the south.....I think I need a new camera...
- Sun trying to get through over the South Hams
The Pool was Frozen and you had to pick your way around the more boggy bits, as it was cold-ish but not the sort of cold and snow I have seen people posting about elsewhere in the country (more is the pity) and I think we have got off really lightly down in the SW!
- Black Pool and Butterdon Hill
You climb nice and easy up to the summit of Butterdon HIll and there is a trig point on the top!
- Butterdon trig and the Beano!
Again from the summit you can see your obvious route on North and get your first view of Ugborough Moor. Just to the west is Piles Hill and Sharp Tor and the Erme Valley. Descending the northern side of Butterdon Hill you head down and join the Two Moors Way again and follow the very obvious track.
- NW from Butterdon
- N to Ugborough Moor Summit from Butterdon Hill
From Butterdon Hill you can also see the obvious landmark of Hangingshell Rock - a small and obvious tor just off to the west of the track.
- Hangershell Rock with Sharp Tor and Ugborough Moor
One of the things you notice about this route as well is that it is riddled with small standing stones and stone rows - which I think are some form of ancient boundary stones - but there are plently on the route ranging from only a foot or so high to the larger menhirs (although Obelix was nowhere to be found!)
- Stone Rows
You also pass Piles Hill which as you approach has a clearly visible larger menhir that looks as If it is about to fall over. A slight detour off the track takes you up to it!
- Incumbent Standing Stone on Piles Hill - Western Beacon in Background
Returning to the path you approach Sharp Tor and more stone rows. Again well worth a detour off the path as this Tor overlooks the Erme Valley and gives a good view point and stop off if you fancy a quick drink or snack with a nice view!
- More Stone rows
- Erme Valley from Sharp tor
- Sharp Tor Summit
You then pick up the Two Moors Way path again and Ugborough Moor is the obvious summit in front of you with a fairly clear path up towards the summit. from the Summit you get some good views across the moor to the north - which all looks pretty desolate and remote to me...and an area I will come back to explore when my ankle is properly recovered. I stopped on the summit for a short while for a coffee break and to give the mutts a snack and also met my only walking companions of the day who appeared from the East on the summit. They had come up from Didworthy on a short up and down to the top.
- Ugborough Moor Looking S Towards Ugboroigh Beacon(L) & Western Beacon (R)
- Trig on Summit of Ugborough Moor
- N Across Ugborough Moor
As time was getting on and I wanted to get back for the game I decided to turn around here and head back. The weather was still doing some interesting things with some really good colours coming through as the sun tried to break through....but as I discovered...I really think it is time to get a new camera as for some reason (maybe the cold?) it simply did not want to work and knew the batteries were OK as I had changed them before I came out, so sadly didn't get any pictures of this. The return route was pretty straightforward as you simply follow the obvious track of the Two Moors Way all the way back to the Railway bridge at the start of the walk.
As an area I have not been to before I have to say that this was quite a nice(if easy) walk but with a bit more time and perhaps a longer day I think you could reach some quite remote spots on the moor here and the area just to the north of Ugborough looks like it has plenty of old mine workings/buildings/history to explore!!
