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This was the walk that I had aimed to do a few weeks back but was thwarted by the weather! The forecast for Sunday was much better and I had also the common sense this time to carry the bad weather gear for the dogs so hopefully no problems this time! Also a word from the wise...part of this walk is in the Merrivale firing range - so check firing times before walking this especially if its NOT a weekend!
The walk starts at the quarry car park at Two Bridges and follows the main footpath way marked to Wistman's Wood. You follow this track until you get just beyond the small cottage of Crockern and then you head up east onto Crockern Tor. I think I may have mentioned in the last report that this is the site of the ancient Stannary Parliament that was led by the local owners of the tin mines and was said to have held more power than London! Apparently they could overturn decisions made in London as the Tinners at the time had all the money (and therefore all the power!). You also get a good view from here across to Princetown and North Hessary Tor. In fact on this walk the mast serves as good focal point for navigation - not that it was really needed today!
- 1. Princetown & North Hessary Tor
Once on the summit there is an obvious north/south ridge that you then follow towards the summit of Longaford Tor in the distance. The ground underfoot was still exceptionally wet and as it turned out this was a sign of things to come!!
After a nice wander you reach Longaford Tor!
- 2. Longaford Tor
And from here you can peer down into the valley where Powder Mills is situated. If you look closely at the houses you will see that they have no rooves on! Apparently they were originally built with Thatch and the theory was that if the powder went up (and it did on a regular basis) you simply blew the roof off and could replace it easily.....though not sure what happened to the poor S**s working in the hut at the time!!
The other funny story and local legend attached to this area is that the valley that Powder Mills is situated in is the home of the Dartmoor Hairy Hand!! Legend has it that campers have been woken by scuffling noises outside of tents at night and even car drivers have been forced off the road by the hairy hand! There is even a bit of a poem that goes...
Long and Hairy Fingers
Probing through the night
Seeking flesh to grapple
Searching left and right
Feeling for a handhold
On maiden's thigh
So stay inside my darling while the hairy hand goes by!
You can make your own mind up!
- 3. Powder Mills and Bellever Forest
So.....back long the ridge towards Longaford and Higher White Tor! (a bit sharpish just in case the hand was following!)
- 4. Longaford & Higher White Tor
From Higher white Tor I headed down to Lower White Tor where you get a view across to Brown's House.
- Browns House
I then more or less straight lined across the moor to Brown's house where it really started to become boggy with every step hard work as you were more or less sinking to shin depth with each step!
There is also a bit of a story attached to Brown's House. Apparently Mr Brown was so fearful that other local men would try and steal his new wife away from him that he built his house here in this pretty desolate and remote spot of the moor. Quite what kind of life poor new Mrs Brown had I can only imagine!! I have to say that this is a pretty remote and desolate spot to live your life out!!
From here though you get a view back down the valley to Higher White Tor and on up into Rough Tor.
- Higher White Tor from Brown's House
- Beardown Tors from Brown's House
- Rough Tor
What follows was much squelching and squishing across more bog towards the river and the bit I was dreading which was to find a place to cross. Also a word of warning here......it had been so wet that when I reached the river and began to make my way up towards the wall to find a crossing place I stepped down off a grass step and broke through the surface of the bog....up to my crotch! Apart from being cold and a bit uncomfortable it took me a good 5 minutes to get out! Everytime i moved it seemed to hang on tighter and there was really very little leverage to help myself out. I had visions of sitting there waiting for help or trying to phone for help...but got there in the end, if a bit wet afterwards! So...make sure someone knows where you are going or if in pairs or more follow the person in front and if they disappear don't step in that spot!
I eventually found a place to cross...
- Managed to cross the river this time!
I then followed the stone wall up the ridge to the summit of Rough Tor - again very, very boggy!
- Longaford Tor from Rough Tor
Next stop was then across more bog to Devil's Tor!
- Next Stop Devil's Tor
This yomp is then rewarded by reaching Devil's Tor and the largest single standing stone on Dartmoor - The Beardown Man. It is also unusual as it is alone and unlike many other standing stones on the moor does not seem to be associated with a stone row or tomb. It also notionally marks the cross over point form the South Moor to the North Moor. You also get some really good views of the moor from here.
- Beardown Man on Devil's Tor
- Backbone of Great Mis Tor from Devils Tor (zoom)
- Beardown Man (Pole for scale)
From here there is a sort of a ridge line you follow to Lydford tor and yes you guessed it more bogtrotting and from Lydford Tor you get some good views across to the three tors of Beardown Tor.
- 3 summit Tors of Beardown Tor from Lydford Tor
Following a bit of a path...and more bog you get clear of the bog at last on the shoulders of Beardown Tor and again are treated to some good views of the moor.
- Beardown Tor (West Summit)
- West Beardown Tor Summit
From Beardown Tor you can see the route you need to follow heading down towards the Beardown Farm plantation. I had a slight issue here as when I got into the plantation and reached the gate at the south of the plantation I was stopped from going through by a large herd of young heifers! I just decided I couldn't juggle nervous dogs and cows at the same time! I retraced my steps and went around to the eats of the plantation and picked up the leat that runs along the valley. Glad i did so as this was a little treat to follow through the plantation..quite pretty really!
- Pickle admiring the Leat and Longaford Tor
- Leat through Beardown plantation
The leats leads into the farm whereupon you join the main track to the road (waymarked). You can get back to the quarry via a nice path along side the river but I had to avoid this as the water was too high and it seemed to be spooking Pickle a bit! So it was along the road and back to the quarry via Two Bridges....
- Old bridge at Two Bridges
In hindsight I think this walk could also be done as two ridge walks that would negate the need to cross the river and might also avoid the bogs...might have a go at this another time! Nice trip though even If i did get a wet a***e!