So “The Beast” came again from the east and this time I went up to have a look, the snow certainly came and the winds whipped up plenty of drifts. Both GPS and maps were out to help with the navigation plus I picked an area where I was very comfortable and knew it well. Even then I still went the wrong way looking for the gateway off the moor and back down the lane, with the visibility down to 20 metres for most of the walk, it was easy to get lost. These conditions are not to be messed with and you need all your skills and tools to help you. This included plenty of layers (5 in total) plus two hats and a buff, it was freezing in the strong north easterly wind, especially up on Piles Hill. Despite the weather I saw a fair few others including one runner and a cyclist at Piles Hill. A brilliant way to spend a few hours and after my last two walks, where I assumed spring was on its way, this was a reminder that winter still has a hold in March
| Start – Ivybridge parking |
| Route – Redlake Tramway(Puffing Billy track) – Tor Rocks – Harford Gate – Butterdon Stone Row – Hobajons Cross – Piles Hill – Two Moors Way – Hangershell Rock – Butterdon Hill – Black pool – Western Beacon – Ivybridge parking |
| Distance – 7 miles Start time – 10.15am Time taken – 4hrs Highest Point – Piles Hill 387metres |
| Weather – Snow, wind, snow, wind and more snow |
© Crown copyright 2017 Ordnance Survey FL 2017 SF
Starting out, I’m parked by the chimney on the left, I’d left Plymouth in glorious sunshine, however the weather front was sat right on the Plymouth boundary and by the time I’d got to Ivybridge it was snowing
Driving up here today was possible at this time (I’d already been up for a look in the car) however in a couple of hours I reckoned the lane would be full of snow, so I didn’t risk it. The gate at the end of this lane was like entering a different world of wild weather
On the old tramway that went out to Redlake, I was glad of this track which gave safe and speedy travel even though the views did not exist today
Lukesland is down there in the trees as I follow the tramway, its around this point that it becomes the Two Moors Way
Snow blasted, yours truly
A runner flew past me, pushed on by a 40 mph wind!
Tor Rocks, that’s the Harford reservoir in the trees behind
The outflow from the reservoir, I took refuge and some shelter under the trees over there. Had a drink and something to eat. I was aware that the trudge up to Piles Hill from here would be long and against the snow and wind
Harford Gate sign. This was another place were I thought of parking however it was snow filled and drifting in the sunken car park
Part of Butterdon Stone Row, I’d followed it up to Piles Hill and walked past Hobajons Cross without spotting it, such was the bad weather up here
Piles Hill and the high point of the walk. I had planned on going on to Three Barrows but another 80 metres of ascent would have been stupid. The snow was whipping against my face and I really needed some goggles for these conditions, visibility was down to 10 metres at best
Back on the Two Moors Way and heading back towards the car
On arriving at Hangershell Rock the weather was doing some really strange things. The wind would drop, the visibility improved a bit and the clouds seem to rise a little. Here I look down to the Harford reservoir trees some 500 metres away, before the wind whipped up again
Butterdon Hill and trig point
A ghostly shape of Western Beacon as I drop down to Black Pool, the drifts on this side of Butterdon Hill were 4 or 5 foot in places and I kept disappearing into holes as I walked down
When it wasn’t drifting this was the normal depth
Black Pool was obviously frozen and the normally boggy ground easy to cross. Butterdon Hill beyond
The many cairns on Western Beacon
Crikey, this was the lane back down to the car, totally different now than the second photo in this set. The wind was properly whipping up the snow as I came off Western Beacon making it difficult to navigate and I almost ended up going the wrong way at least twice. I was glad to make the gate and get back to the car. The road at the bottom was clear and gritted well so it was an easy drive back home
treksandtors 
Wild and wintry, I love it!
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What a contrast with the views in your last couple of posts! Looks wild.
I bought my goggles from Aldi – they’re skiing goggles, which is mostly what they’ve been used for, cheap, but they don’t fog – well worth having in your bag if you intend to walk on days like this! The only downside is numerous trips to a local Aldi waiting for skiing gear to arrive in stock.
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Not a bad idea that. I did wonder what others used and as I would use them one a year maybe I didn’t want to fork out too much for them
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You can spend a fortune, but my cheap ones work fine.
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