This was my first walk after work this year, the weather in the day promised much however once out of Plymouth and up above Ivybridge it became clear that any view was going to be a hazy one. As a result the photos aren’t the best but its an area I love walking in and I’m sure to be back soon, as its a great area for an evening walk being so close to home. This was also my first visit to Piles Copse, and whilst its not as large or popular as Wistmans Wood, its quiet intimacy makes it a great place for a wild camp. The climb up to Three Barrows was tough however once up the rest of the walk was fairly simple, I could have made it easier by following the Two Moors Way path but I was visiting the tops of the tors so I used the Butterdon Hill Stone Row path instead. It was good to be out after a tough week in work.
| Start – Harford car park |
| Route – Piles Copse – Piles Corner – Three Barrows – Wacka Tor – Sharp Tor – Piles Hill – Butterdon Stone Row – Hangershell Rock – Harford car park |
| Distance – 5 1/4 miles Start time – 5.50pm Time taken – 3hrs Highest Point – Three Barrows 464m |
| Weather – Very, very hazy, lots of cloud with bits of sun |
© Crown copyright 2016 Ordnance Survey FL 2016 SF
Start of the walk with Sharp Tor on the right, I’m heading round the bottom left of that tor to get to Piles Copse and then round the back of it to get to Three Barrows which is behind it!
The evening sun pierces the cloud over Penn Beacon
Piles Copse with Stalldown Barrow up on the left
Looking back through Piles Copse to Hanger Down
And the other way as the River Erme wiggles north between Stalldown (left) and Three Barrows (right)
Three Barrows summit
My next target, Wacka Tor!
Eastern White Barrow up on the left
Penn Beacon, Shell Top, Lee Moor and Langcombe Hill from left to right
On Wacka Tor now, looking down to Brent Hill
Looking the other way back up to Three Barrows right and my next target Sharp Tor left
On Sharp Tor with some dramatic sky beyond Stalldown Barrow
Wacka Tor from Sharp Tor
Ugborough Beacon left and Butterdon Hill centre
Looking down to Piles Copse in the Erme valley from Sharp Tor
At this point it looked as though there may be a decent sunset
I made it to Piles Hill with the setting sun still out, Sharp Tor on the right
By the time I’d walked along Butterdon stone row the sun was behind clouds again, looking back here to Piles Hill with Three Barrows behind that
My last stop off was Hangershell Rock, here looking west
These lambs were having fun springing up and down on and off the rocks
Just a glimpse of the sun as it set through the haze on my way back to Harford Gate
treksandtors 
Looks like it was a lovely evening walk. I am always so happy when the days start getting longer and there is still daylight for a while after I get off work. The photos where the sunlight is breaking through the clouds are especially nice. And, of course, I always love the lambs. These looks like they were wearing black socks!
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You’re the same as me, I much prefer the longer days. The lambs are great at this time of year, plenty of bleating from them as I walk around and always a response from their mothers who are never far away.
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No better way to wash a day of work out of your brain than a walk in the hills
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Just need a bit of luck and some good timing to get some sunset shots in next. Been a bit hazy this weekend!
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