So the first walk after our Snowdonia trip and the weather was set warm and sunny. This was the start of September, and that one week of nice sunshine that we had, before it disappeared again and returned to the same rubbish we had in July and August. This was a walk that I hadn’t done before, in fact I hadn’t walked up Brent Tor and then carried on around the area at all. This was walk number 32 in my second round of Dartmoor 365 squares and picks up 6 in total, with I1, I2, J1, J2, K2 and K3 bagged. I wanted to try and pick up Gibbet Hill on this walk, as well as the Dartmoor squares mentioned. In fashioning the route we also walked past the Dartmoor Gliding Society area and saw plenty of gliders taking to the air. On arriving back at Brent Tor we sat for an hour, enjoying the view, sunshine and gliders taking off and landing. The walk involved a fair bit of walking on tarmac and my feet were hurting as we neared Brent Tor, showing that I’m not yet over the worst of the plantar fasciitis. Hopefully the exercises I have been doing will keep improving things as we head into autumn and winter. This is a cracking walk and deserves an explore along these lovely green lanes. As we reached Brent Tor, we took advantage of a hedgerow of blackberries, to ensure we have fruit in the freezer for pies!
Starting out in some slightly thicker cloud, but it wouldn’t be long before the sun came through. Looking up to Brent Tor and the church, we will be there later.Looking northwest towards Cornwall over the Tamar ValleyInto the village of North BrentorWith the church, we would walk past it to the right and downhill towards Gibbet Hill. Some blue breaks in the cloud overheadLovely photo, with the view back to Brent Tor, Gibbet Hill is behind meAnd from further upLooking north to Great Links Tor towering over Sourton Tor down to the leftLinda with the view behind herGibbet Hill summit and the tors around Cox Tor and White Tor. This hill holds some mine shafts, where tin was sort. However the name of the hill gives a clue to its main use. Back to the 1700s and highwaymen such as Captain Jack would have been left at the gibbet. The gibbet was either an iron cage or a post, and the transgressor would have been tied to the pole or simply left to starve in the cage. The road of the times ran under the hill warning travellers of the results of crimes.Looking north from Gibbet Hill to Hare Tor to the right of the trig and Great Links Tor to the leftThe patchwork of green fields to the east which run up towards Lynch Tor. Great Mis Tor is back rightHeading down towards Mary Tavy, we would stop down there by the gorse for a sandwich and a coffee.Not the best photo of a butterfly I’ve ever taken, but this is my first Grayling, buried in the grass. It took of shortly after this and flew straight into a spiders web and was wrapped up by the spiderWe walked through the edge of Mary Tavy before heading down this lane towards Mary Tavy BridgeWhat would have been the old railway station here, you could clearly seen the banking and cuttings where the track would have beenYou can see the line of the old track bed here to the leftLooking back to Gibbet Hill and Mary TavySun out again and we walk the lanes. Cox Tor on the right of centreThe mile stone (Ferns), another Dartmoor 365 square, to go with Gibbet Hill, Gorse (our sandwich stop), Mary Tavy and North Brentor. There’s another one at Brent Tor to comeFollow the arrowsTree tunnelIn the tree tunnel was this sign for the Dartmoor Gliding SocietyHere are a few of the gliders, more were taking off beyond the hangerThe gliding society is on the left here as I look back with Cox Tor peeking between the treesA gliderAbout to start the climb to Brent Tor and the church and we catch this view to Gibbet HillIts a bit of a ramp up to Brent Tor, despite it only being 325 metresSpeckled Wood butterfly on some blackberry bushes, we took advantage of the fruit being ripe and gathered a small box full.Brent Tor church, white fluffy clouds and blue skiesInside the church of St Michael de RupeHousemartins were flying in and around the church, the chicks were in this nest in the porch of the church. Not sure if it was Happy Hour though!A year ago we had sat here for around 2 hours or more and talked. and talked, and talked. Loving the view and sheltering from the odd shower with my waterproof coat. Mine and Linda’s favourite spot to sit.The northerly viewMore gliders circling overhead, taking off and landing regularly
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly
Heading down now after an hour or more sat up there, Brent Tor outcrop (or one of them) on the right, the church above.A sunnier photo than the first one on this post. A gorgeous walk around some beautiful sunshine, and a lovely sit at the end with Linda to enjoy it all.
Brent Tor and it’s church is a real landmark. I’m used to seeing from afar or close up on your posts now!
Nothing better than a favourite spot to sit and enjoy the views. Set me thinking about what my favourite is – I’ll let you know.
Its a special spot, the views are superb which helps a lot. The church has 12th century foundations with the majority of it 13th century. Its a landmark in these parts and the 4th smallest parish church in England
treksandtors 
Nice to see the views from Gibbet Hill, was living it in my memories when I wrote my novel of the same name.
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I was thinking of your book as we walked around this one
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Never sure when the gibbet actually went, but William Crossing (born 1840) remembers people talking about it, so probably c.1830.
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Seems like the perfect spot to sit and reflect.
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Lovely photos 😍
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Brent Tor and it’s church is a real landmark. I’m used to seeing from afar or close up on your posts now!
Nothing better than a favourite spot to sit and enjoy the views. Set me thinking about what my favourite is – I’ll let you know.
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Carn Fadryn that you climbed recently got a good write up from you.
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I can see why that would be a favourite spot to sit and enjoy the view. Love the church right on top of the tor.
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Its a special spot, the views are superb which helps a lot. The church has 12th century foundations with the majority of it 13th century. Its a landmark in these parts and the 4th smallest parish church in England
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