The last walk before restrictions on distance you can travel are lifted. You can’t stay overnight, but out and back home is all I need for now. This walk however stayed fairly local and included parts of a walk I did with the boys a few weeks back (here). This walk headed up towards Pew Tor before looping back across Whitchurch Down and the golf course. It wasn’t the longest walk, however I cut it short due to a poor weather forecast. The guy in the suit in front of the map said the weather would get better as the day went on, as in from cloud to sunshine, the weather apps said the same. Standing on Pew Tor as drizzle fell at midday, I felt that the weather forecast was about as truthful as a government contract tender. The cloud never shifted and rarely got above the 400metre contour. That said the area is a great one and the walk can easily be extended in better weather up to Feather Tor and the surrounding rocks before dropping down the road at Pork Hill. Roll on the Easter weekend.
Distance – 6.5 miles Start time – 10am Time taken – 3hrs 45mins Highest Point – Pew Tor 318 metres
Weather – Cloudy but dry mainly, some drizzle around Pew Tor
Grimstone and Sortridge Leat and lots of tors in the distance. Cox Tor is back left and on the front right is Pew TorPlaster Down was the site of an aircrash during the war, one survivor who must have suffered in the aftermath, losing his compatriots. RIPLow cloud obscuring the views, but Peek Hill is in view on the rightLooking back along the path which will take me to Sampford SpineyThose with a keen eye will spot the tower of St Marys church in Sampford Spiney in the trees aheadThe Sampford Spiney Cross, the old school house behind, now a house and St Marys church. The old Manor House in the village was owned by Sir Francis Drake, he didn’t live here (he lived at Buckland Abbey nearby). The house is alleged to have been built around the 800s, so pre Doomsday Book.Peek Hill and Sharpitor on the right ish, with Leedon Tor to the leftPew Tor, with Sampford Tor down there on the rightPew Tor outcrops, some fine granite stacking hereI’m descending to Moortown now, Feather Tor is on the right and at the back, looking misty is Cox Tor and the Staple TorsLooking back to Pew TorPennycomequick BridgeA youngster with its mumFurzey Lane Bridge I head up to the right of this photo on to Whitchurch DownClimbing the road, Cox Tor back leftThe golf course (Tavistock) with Cox Tor capped by cloud in the distancePixies Cross on Tavistock golf course, both this one and Furzey Lane Bridge is a Dartmoor 365 spotI’m heading to Caseytown and the route back on to Plaster Down now, passing a VR postbox and following the sign on the gateWide open spaces, Plaster DownBack at the leat (see first photo) now to follow it back to the carThe leat is on my left here and I’m looking across Plaster Down to Cox Tor (left), the Staple Tors (middle) and Pew Tor (right). the end of a good walk, not a great one, the weather was a bit irritating for that, but its a good area to give you an introduction to Dartmoor if that is what you need.
Sometimes it’s just a case of getting out for fresh air and exercise regardless of the weather, even when they let you down. To be fair the weather has been amazingly fickle of late. Yesterday we started out in cloudless skies and finished in a full winter blizzard!
treksandtors 
We were out on the fringes of the Lakes yesterday – Askham Fell and Moor Divock.
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Sometimes it’s just a case of getting out for fresh air and exercise regardless of the weather, even when they let you down. To be fair the weather has been amazingly fickle of late. Yesterday we started out in cloudless skies and finished in a full winter blizzard!
LikeLiked by 1 person