Dartmoor Walk
South Hessary Tor, Sheeps Tor, Walkhampton Common and Princetown
(Photos/words © urban75, May 2007)

Here's what we came for - some solid walking!

Against all the odds, everyone was up ontime and a sizeable chunk of our 30+ crew were up for the 12 mile walk, led for the main part by Idaho, a man who knows his moors from his tors.


Assembled, kitted up and ready to get walking!


A mile out of Princetown.


On the move across open moorland.


Three miles in and a decision had to be made as to who wanted to go on the shorter walk and who wanted to take the longer route.


After some deliberation and map-flapping the decision was made: we'll all do the long walk. Huzzah!





Looking back over a deserted Devon landscape.


Up over the hill.



Nun's (or Siward's) Cross marks the 13th century boundary between the Forest of Dartmoor and Buckland Abbey, although its origins may be even earlier.

Thought to be the oldest granite waymarker cross in Dartmoor, the cross marks the Abbey's Way, an ancient route between the Abbeys of Buckfast and Tavistock.




Spectacular views abounded.


The remains of an old settlement.




Old hamlet wall.


Cow poses for the camera.


Across open moorland.


More cows. Or are they calves?


A well earned lunch break at Deancombe.




Taking a snooze.


Climbing Sheeps Tor. It looks a bit like an invading army!


On the top of Sheeps Tor.


Hanging out on the rocks.


The views were fantastic from the top of Sheeps Tor.




Walking across the Tor.


Looking north-west at Burrator Reservoir below.


Descending from the 369m summit.


In the verdant valley below.


A little contretemps about the way forward.




Close to Norsworthy Bridge we came across Willy's ice cream van and stocked up on the delicious 99s.


Our guide departs and gets a group wave.


The remains of a Blowing House, a building used for smelting tin using bellows.


A wood covered in bluebells.


The Devonport Leat. Built in the late 18th century, this narrow canal took water from three Dartmoor rivers to the new naval docks at Devonport.

It now sends water into the western end of Burrator reservoir.


Part of the Devonport Leat.


Dartmoor ponies taking water. We'd soon be back in Princetown and ready for several pints of something a little stronger.



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