Peaky Finders: July 2017

Friday, 14 July 2017

Sixteen - Somerset - Dunkery Beacon - Exmoor (519m)

National trust sign -
Start of climb up to the beacon

This was a pretty easy walk – not really “on our way” home from our trip to Devon, but we decided to fit it in anyway. At 519m, the views from the top are amazing, and the walk up there doesn’t prepare you for the fact that the Beacon overlooks the Bristol Channel and that most of the south coast of Wales can be seen sparkling (or smouldering , in the case of Port Talbot) in the distance.

Well defined path to the large
stone mound at the top

Plaque at the beacon

At the summit is a large and sturdy cairn, perfect for climbing, with a memorial plaque commemorating the donation of the Beacon to the National Trust in 1932.

View from the top across the Bristol
Channel to the South Wales Coast

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Fifteen - Cornwall - Brown Willy (420m)

Showery Tor

The day before had been tumultuous rain and we’d had to resort to skulking in coffee shops and pubs in between dragging the dog (who seemed to have soaked up his entire body weight in water) around a variety of quaint Cornish villages. This was okay as far as it went, but one day was plenty, and we were pleased to get out in the sunshine and climb up to Rough (pronounced “Row”) Tor, via the sculptural Showery Tor and Little Rough Tor.

Little Rough Tor

It’s an excellent walk, dipping down from there and then up and onwards to glorious Brown Willy (420m), which is privately owned with permitted access. The farm and land have just been sold, and the Daily Mail in April were speculating that its new owner could be Prince Charles (so it must be true...)

Rough Tor

WWII memorial on Rough Tor

Trig pillar on Brown Willy
(although not highest point)

Large precarious cairn marks
highest point

We cut straight back to the car park via Showery Tor again and various groups of wild ponies. We got a bit sunburned on the way down, not having expected quite so much sunshine.

Wild ponies on Bodmin Moor

(In the afternoon we also walked from Tintagel to Trebarwith Strand for a pint at the Port William, and then back along the coast path, (making about 11 miles in total for the day),followed by a barbeque on the top decking at “our” cottage. Perfect.)

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Fourteen - Devon - High Willhays - Dartmoor (621m)

This was the first of 3 peaks climbed as part of a quick –ish break in the South West of England based in the excellent Tavistock Holiday Cottage.
We’d probably never have done any of them if we hadn’t been finding county peaks, and all were fantastic walks, although this first one was embarked upon in soggy wet cloud at the start.

We parked at the Meldon Reservoir, and having crossed the dam we made our way up towards the summit of Yes Tor, passing a few “Duke of Ed’ers” hurtling cheerfully down the hill with huge packs on their backs.

View from Yes Tor - looking North
across the MOD firing range

As we climbed through the granite boulders the rain and mist brought the horizon, and then eventually the Tor itself, in and out of view. Once at the tor I thought I was going to need my compass to find the route across to the next peak. As well as the trig point and aerial, there was also a metal unlocked store containing, coal, a shovel, and too much sheep poo to make it an attractive prospect as a shelter.

Low cloud and drizzle
sweeping across the moor

Is this the new Tardis? No- it's
an MOD ammunition store

Sacks of coal stored inside......

..... and a shovel

As the mist cleared, I was pleased to note that my compass bearing (very slightly west of south) would have taken us in the right direction, but strangely High Willhays didn’t actually appear to be any higher than Yes Tor. In fact, there is only 2m in it, but there were better views from the top as the weather brightened up.

Cairn at the highest point on High Willhays

Well picked over carcass

From here we could pick our way down towards Black Tor and the West Okement River through more boulder fields, boggy bits and spiky ferns. I am trying to be braver amongst cattle, but there were a couple of marauding herds en route and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t lead us all along a few unsuitable non – tracks in an attempt to avoid them. We didn’t, therefore, actually climb up to Black Tor, which was probably the best route, but instead skirted along its south western flank until we hit the river bank. From here we could follow path by the fast flowing water back to the bottom of the reservoir, past some pretty pools and small falls.

Oak leaves - with the river cascading
behind towards the reservoir

Meldon reservoir

On the journey back to our holiday cottage we stopped off for a quick sprint up to Haytnor Tor (great fun for climbing) and for a quick drink at the Two Bridges Hotel, where we did not have a cream tea , so that’s definitely one to return for as they looked lovely (and Taffy was allowed to recline at the foot of our sofa).