daytime

Sunday, 26 May 2019

26^th May 2019

Dear All,

We must have seen Dartmoor at its best: wall to wall sunshine, scenery, flora, especially bluebells, good hotel and good company.

First a photo from Romania sent by a fellow traveller which captures the ambience of the high alpine meadows!

On the way to Dartmoor we were pleased to call in on Ali and Robin. They have a fantastic situation among hills and narrow lanes and have successfully cleared most of the jungle and made the house and workshops useable but still have plenty of work to do.

On Dartmoor we were staying at Ilsington not far from Bovey Tracey, as usual, Philip had chosen a hotel at the opposite end of cheap and nasty on the status spectrum! but he had negotiated a discount. After leaving Ali and Robin we travelled to Princetown to recce a walk that we were due to lead on Tuesday. It was as well that we did as there were a couple of tricky sections and the pub Philip had booked for lunch claimed not to have heard of us! Recceing by car involved some extremely narrow lanes and at one stage I had to reverse100 yards (not very well) with both wing mirrors touching the sides!

Ilsington Country House Hotel

Our first days walk started locally at Haytor visitor centre and took in Hound Tor, Honey Bag Tor, Crinkwell Tor, Bell Tor and a conducted tour of Widecombe. One of the main features was the amazing spread of bluebells in open hillsides and on top of walls – we are only used to seeing bluebells in woods.

Bluebells on Bonehill Downs

Widecombe from Chinkwell Tor

On Tuesday we led from Princetown via Ingra Tor, Eggworthy, Withill, Merryvale and back across rough moor with stone circles and stone rows. The pub at Merryvale had reluctantly agreed to serve us as long as we all ordered pasties as the landlord had a hospital appointment. He had called in a faithful helper who resembled Mrs Overall from Victoria Wood programmes and proceeded to act in character!

Dartmoor Merryvale Pub

Wednesday saw us at Dartmeet beginning with a scramble up a steep hill and taking in stepping stones – which were a little daunting for the elderly (most of our group!), clapper bridges and forest. Our leader on this day heavily relied on a hand held electronic device which never seemed to match the real topography so we spent a deal of time wondering where we were and eventually endured an unscheduled 2 mile walk down a narrow busy road.

Apprehension at Stepping Stones

Mike on Clapper bridge

Finally on Thursday we headed for Chagford and walked along the River Teign to Castle Drogo and Fingle Bridge. The castle is undergoing extensive renovations to make it waterproof and replacing over 900 windows.