In that listless, stressfull void between the new year starting and anything of significance actually happening I decided i needed to get away from it all. the walk i eventually decided on was a nice easy down-hill route taking in some of the awesome industrial archiology that makes up so much of Dartmoor.
Starting off at the pump-house between Merrivale and the Princetown turn-off, visibility was variable at around 200 to 500m.
now trudging along in the howling wind and mist isnt everyones idea of fun, but after 5-10 minutes i flicked into auto-pilot and started enjoying what little of the scenery i could see.
it wasnt just what i could see that caught my attention though..... click the picture below for video
all too quickly i reached Foggintor Quarry, but with the sun still low on the horizon and the clouds rushing by my face i decided to put exploring on hold for this time and continue on my way.
my first planned brew break was Swelltor Quarry, suitably enough in the 'Blacksmiths Shop'
soon enough the cloud broke, and at last i could enjoy what i came for - the views.
to make the most of it i decided to head up to the top on near-by Kings Tor.
from there i headed down towards Hucken Tor, before crossing over a style and heading down into the woods..
after a good potter about and another brew i headed along the bridlepath, passing yet more evidence of Dartmoors long history of settlement.
the staddle stones were a bit of a surprise, i havent sen them at any other sites i've visited on the moors.
and so i carried on down the path, ending up in the Dartmoor Inn, just below Merrivale Quarry, the perfect place to finish a great days walking
Starting off at the pump-house between Merrivale and the Princetown turn-off, visibility was variable at around 200 to 500m.
now trudging along in the howling wind and mist isnt everyones idea of fun, but after 5-10 minutes i flicked into auto-pilot and started enjoying what little of the scenery i could see.
it wasnt just what i could see that caught my attention though..... click the picture below for video
all too quickly i reached Foggintor Quarry, but with the sun still low on the horizon and the clouds rushing by my face i decided to put exploring on hold for this time and continue on my way.
my first planned brew break was Swelltor Quarry, suitably enough in the 'Blacksmiths Shop'
soon enough the cloud broke, and at last i could enjoy what i came for - the views.
to make the most of it i decided to head up to the top on near-by Kings Tor.
from there i headed down towards Hucken Tor, before crossing over a style and heading down into the woods..
after a good potter about and another brew i headed along the bridlepath, passing yet more evidence of Dartmoors long history of settlement.
the staddle stones were a bit of a surprise, i havent sen them at any other sites i've visited on the moors.
and so i carried on down the path, ending up in the Dartmoor Inn, just below Merrivale Quarry, the perfect place to finish a great days walking
