31 December

I was not to know that 11 December would be our last moor walk of the year.  The following weekend was busy with work as we prepared for visitors.  Then the days we could have walked at Christmas were wet and uninviting.  I looked at the forecast and said - Thursday looks good, it would be a good end to the year to have one last trek on Dartmoor.

And until yesterday evening that was the plan.  Moving, with Devon, into tier 3, however, made us feel that travelling to walk was not appropriate, so instead I've got my blog up to date and we'll walk locally.  I'm glad I took a few minutes on Bonehill Rocks earlier this month to reflect, and I was blessed by that hint of a rainbow.

The year started with the aim of visiting 50 tors - the final total is 154!  A revised aim of 50 walks was met with 42 - and all things considered for the year, I'm impressed with my persistence.  I also reached the summit of 47 out of 53 tors of 500m plus.  Grateful to Jonathan for committing with me this year - he's been with me for probably 150 of the walks, patiently snapping shots for this blog.  And grateful to those who've supported my three charities.  I don't know the exact amount collected, but it's over my target of £500 overall.

Hard to choose a favourite photo, but this one maybe reflects how Dartmoor often feels - like it puts things into perspective!

11 December

I picked up a particular postcard (no.284 here) earlier this year and wanted to finish visiting the tors shown.  We climbed Down Tor, above Burrator Reservoir, earlier in the autumn, and last weekend I sought out Combestone Tor.  Today was the turn of Hound Tor (414m) [K17], my 150th tor, which we put together with Greator Rocks (371m) and Holwell Rocks (382m).  By this time the weather had turned a little, and we were glad of our waterproofs.  

Hound Tor:

Greator Rocks:

Holwell Rocks:

To find the fourth postcard tor, we drove on toward Widecombe, and parked at Bonehill Rocks (393m).  When we visited Bell, Chinkwell and Honeybag on our second walk of this year, the pull up from Widecombe was too much for me to face adding in these rocks, so this was a return visit.  I'd kept my wellies on from the Hound Tor walk, so left Jonathan in the car and wandered around the rocks on my own for a short while.  There are some lovely views to the south - on this occasion with some bits highlighted by the sun - and as I came around and was looking north, there was the beginning of a rainbow.  It was a good time to reflect on my visits to the moor this year, to be thankful for all we have achieved, come rain or shine!

6 December

 At long last, I persuaded my youngest daughter to come to the moor with me.  We took pasties from Bakers and visited Combestone Tor (356m), an impressive set of rocks near the roadside. Back across the moor with the late afternoon sun in our eyes - not the safest driving conditions.

Quick phone stitched panorama from the tor:

28 November

 A foggy walk, from Cold East Cross, southwards to Buckland Beacon (383m) [N17], from where the views were non-existent! 

We were able to find the two 'Ten Commandments' stones, though.  To the standard 10 are added Jesus' new commandment from John 13v34, and these insightful verses, one on each of the stones:

Before the hills in order stood
or earth received her frame
from everlasting thou art God
to endless years the same.

 

But there's a power, which man can wield

when mortal aid is vain

that eye, that arm, that love to reach,

that listening ear to gain.

That power is prayer. 

Onward in search of Welstor Rock, but we couldn't find a path there through the gorse/fog.   The one thing we did see on the initial bit of path from the car park was loads of dog poo - which we haven't experienced anywhere else on the moor.  We found a different way back to the car!

21 November

A quest to find a rock we've driven past so many times - Roborough Rock (200m) [R4].  A brief wander southwards as the airfield to the north was busy with people, but on finding ourselves at the golf course, we didn't get far.

13 November

Walking just east of Tavistock, we went in search of a number of tors: Prowtytown Rocks (300m) - worth it for the views westward! Pew Tor (322m), on to Sampford Tor, (293m), back via Hucken Tor (313m), Heckwood Tor with a view of the unreachable Vixen Tor (321m) [N5], Feather Tor (313m) and Barn Hill Rocks (336m).  All pictured below:

On the way back to the car we passed Windy Post [N4].  The 'bull's eye' in the leat stone was not visible though, as the water was too high and completely flowing over the rock. On our return, I read Jonathan the poetic version of the legend of Vixen Tor from the Dartmoor 365 [N5] book.  It's a lovely mix of Hiawatha and Dartmoor imagery.

6 November

In view of the new lockdown, we decided to walk closer to home during November, shorter walks without extra stops.

Today's was from Shaugh Bridge [T4] to Cadover Bridge - south side first, with views of Dewerstone Rock [T5], then back along the north side, past the restored cross, Cadworthy Tor, (238m) and over the top of Dewerstone Rock (227m).

It was a lovely autumn walk, often in sunshine.

View of Dewerstone from the south of the valley.

Beginning the walk back north of the valley.

Restored cross.

Engraved names on top of Dewerstone.

Back through the woods.