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).
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