A bit of a gap since the last walk with the boys due to my eldest getting a bout of Covid (or Rona as he calls it). He had very little in the way of symptoms and spent the 10 days off school mainly playing games and lording it up over his friends. The 11th day I had him out on Dartmoor. I thought I’d sweeten him a little by going to Widecombe and enjoying a lunch at the Cafe on the Green first, which was an inspired decision as we all enjoyed our toasted sandwiches and hot drinks, before heading out on to the cold moor. The walk was an easy one around Soussons Down, picking up paths that took us where we wanted to go before heading back through the forest to the car.
Start – Warren House Inn
Route – Vitifer Mine – Golden Dagger Mine – Soussons Farm – Ephraims Pinch – Soussons Cairn Circle – Sousson Down – Warren House Inn
Distance – 5.5 miles Start time – 1pm Time taken – 2hrs 30mins Highest Point – Warren House Inn 430 metres
Widecombe church to start with, the cafe is just to my right, the fires were on in there and food and drink was good.From the car park there are views up to Chinkwell Tor (behind the tree) then Bell Tor and finally Bonehill Rocks in the dip
He’s had his hot chocolate and is ready for the food
After Widecombe we drove out to Warren House Inn passing the Dartmoor 365 spot of Southcombe Cross
Next D365 spot was Langworthy FarmThe gate post in the centre has a drawing in the bookA placid highland cow crosses the road, I reckon his fringe needs a trimUp at Warren House how, a bit of cloud as we look towards BelleverWe are off though down to Vitifer MineLooking back up to Birch TorHeading towards Golden Dagger mineThe engine house of the mine having passed a few buildingsThe path looped a little and doubled back crossing a stream as we head towards Soussons FarmEphraims PinchSoussons Cairn Circle looking out towards Bellever ForestHeading into Soussons Forest, there are plenty of paths in here weaving there way through the treesViews back towards Corndon Tor to the right and a bit of Hameldown in the sun on the leftUs as we leave the forestCentre of DartmoorSun rays on Bellever TorPlenty of ice in the puddles today
Parts of the mines of Vitifer. Birch Tor up to the left
Warren House Inn and the browns of dead brackenInto the sunLooking across to Hameldown from the end of the walkAnd the other way, with Soussons Forest in the centre. It was pretty cold by this point as the sun was pretty much disappearing. Still a good walk with the boys and another day were I have been lucky with the weather, were the weekend has been decent and it has rained in the week when I’m at work. Long may that continue
4 thoughts on “Soussons Down, Golden Dagger Mine and the boys”
Relieved your eldest has been through COVID with no issues.
The Cafe on the Green was our regular pre-walk lunch stop for a few years on our way to weekends in Cornwall via a Dartmoor walk. Bloody COVID has put pay to those for a couple of years
treksandtors 
Relieved your eldest has been through COVID with no issues.
The Cafe on the Green was our regular pre-walk lunch stop for a few years on our way to weekends in Cornwall via a Dartmoor walk. Bloody COVID has put pay to those for a couple of years
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its still a great cafe, the toasted sandwiches were pretty good and the boys can vouch for the hot chocolates.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those lads will soon be taller than you by the looks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah my eldest in there or thereabouts already
LikeLiked by 1 person