The weather in September down here in the south west corner of Devon has been pretty abysmal. Particularly at the weekends. This was only my second Devon based walk this month, and like the last it was very short and between the rain showers. Bring on the colder weather. This walk is an easy one, its an easy one for me to get to as well. There’s very little ascent, two tors and a bit of WW2 history. The area up here was used as an aircraft gunnery placement to try and draw planes away from Plymouth and up to this spot were they would be fired upon. Judging by the fact that Plymouth was flattened and required everything to be rebuilt I’m not sure they were very successful. Despite the weather it was just good to get out again with my two boys.
| Start – Shaugh parking |
| Route – Hawks Tor – Collard Tor – Shaugh parking |
| Distance – A mile maybe Start time – 1pm Time taken – 40mins Highest Point – Hawks Tor 265metres |
| Weather – Rain in the air, cloudy in the main |
© Crown copyright 2017 Ordnance Survey FL 2017 SF
Setting off for Hawks Tor
These are parts of the supports for the gunnery placements
There’s a browning to the landscape all around Dartmoor now. Here you can see Shaugh Moor and Shaugh Prior church to the west
Nearly at Hawks Tor, although the summit is over there to the right
Hawks Tor and the boys. There is always a huge puddle in the cave which means it isn’t really a shelter
In the distance the misty tors of Peek Hill and Sharpitor
Looking to Plymouth from Hawks Tor
Onwards to Collard Tor
Dartmoor ponies
Collard Tor
The great scars of Lee Moor clay works and the tungsten mine behind
Penn Beacon with its head just in the clouds
The bracken is all brown now as I look across towards the car, there is a clear grassy path through the scrub
On the grassy path
One of the WW2 bunkers beside the car park. These have brick walls and a slab of concrete across the top before being covered with earth and grass
treksandtors 
Lovely walk despite the showers!! As you say you have to get out and enjoy nature because waiting for better weather might take a lifetime 🙂 Your boys seem to enjoy themselves 🙂
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Absolutely, my next post will illustrate this point you make. My boys love being out, especially on walks that have a bit of interest, they also love walking in the Lake District and can’t wait to go back up there next year
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That’s the great thing about walking too! Making plans of what to see and which path to choose.
It’s a great job on dark winter nights! 🙂
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I always like a walk with historical or archeological interest
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A strange landscape that part, still wild despite man.
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