So it had been around 5 weeks since our last walk in the Lake District, and we’d taken a bit of a sabbatical away from walking. Not for any specific reason, although we did start packing the house up, in preparation for our upcoming house move. Finally in mid-September we decided to head out again, nothing too far away and nothing too far in distance, as we’d both lost our hill legs! Dartmoor was the obvious choice and the area around Penn Beacon allowed us to bag some tops on Linda’s list and a few Dartmoor 365 squares. This would be walk number 60 of my Round 2 and this one grabs T8, T9, T10 and U9. Parking at Rook Gate, we quickly headed out to the lower slopes of Penn Beacon to find Rook Tor, a tricky one to locate, especially with the thick bracken. Next was the long plod up to Penn Beacon, with the ever improving views to the South Hams but offset with the views to the landscape scar of the Lee Moor clay works. Soon however we were off again to Shell Top, and a herd of ponies and some lunch. Next up is the highpoint of the walk and Lee Moor trig point. We then set off in the direction of Langworthy Hill, but turned right and downhill over rough wet ground to handrail the River Yealm as it started off and snaked its way towards the small waterfall near to Yealm Rocks. Next we picked up the wall which leads around the back of Dendles Waste and High House Waste, and then dropped downhill again back to Rook Gate. So not a classic walk by any means, but getting back out again was what this walk was all about.
From the parking spots we had views across to Stalldown BarrowAnd as we pass through Rook Gate itself we can also see Western Barrow and Butterdon HillHanger Down clump is the hill with the trees on top, a hazy Plymouth Sound in the distanceLots of bracken still around, thankfully starting to turn brown as we reach Rook Tor, the quarry element of the tor is just down to my right hereWe stopped here for a brew to enjoy the views to South HamsPenn Beacon trig point with Shell Top behindThe shelter on Penn Beacon and the clay works dominating the backdropLooking east from Penn Beacon is the area around Three Barrows and Piles HillShell Top now and a herd of Dartmoor Ponies, we had lunch here and enjoyed their companyA small group had left the summit by the time we’d finished our sandwiches, so I went across to take a quick photo of the outcropAlmost at Lee Moor now, looking back at Shell TopLee Moor trig point, the mast at Princetown is the high point in the distance.
Red Admiral on Lee Moor, not too many flowers up here at this time of year so this one will do well to stay alive.
Linda looking in the direction of Yealm Head, we had to walk over about half a mile to reach the next valley to then head down alongside the River Yealm, the walking was soggy mainly and rough always.The Yealm valley is on the left, so we headed out of photo to my left here to hit the Head of the river before following it down to Yealm RocksYealm Rocks, looking back up to Yealm HeadAnd the other way out along the River Yealm towards Soith Hams, the waterfall is just down to the left here, so we headed there nextYealm WaterfallAnd again looking outThe wall at the back of Dandles Waste and High House Waste, I always think it looks like it has been built by a group who’ve been in the pub at lunchtime, but I’ve read somewhere about walls needing less stones if they are built this way, as a straight wall requires pillars every now and again.Looking across towards Three BarrowsThe gate entrance to High House Waste, this is owned by the Dartmoor Preservation Association and maintained by themLovely views across folds in the land, as moor turns to green fields, woodlands and then back to moorland hills in the distanceAlmost back at Rook Gate and one last look across South HamsRook Gate to finish, a short walk down the lane delivers us back to the car. A nice walk and great to have the boots back on our feet again.
Apart from a couple of flesh-pots like Haytor, Dartmoor always seems empty, although I have only walked there on a Friday. Hope the house move is progressing well.
It can be very tough walking when its soggy and when the grass is long for sure, I can imagine the harder makes it a little easier, as it does with lots of Dartmoor
A couple of Wastes and a Piles HIll – doesn’t sound very inviting! Glad to hear that it isn’t just me that occasionally loses his walking mojo – glad to see you have yours back.
treksandtors 
Bet it was nice to get out again! Good luck with the move 🙂
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I can smell the fresh air. Looks very empty of other walkers up there
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Didn’t see any one else apart from two walkers heading down from Penn Beacon at the start. Very quiet part of the moor
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That’s perfect
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Apart from a couple of flesh-pots like Haytor, Dartmoor always seems empty, although I have only walked there on a Friday. Hope the house move is progressing well.
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Just waiting for the keys now, 9 days and counting (hopefully) then its madness for a few days as we move everything across
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Just help my oldies move house – stressful time so best of luck to you and Linda
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The last time I was around Yealm Steps, it had all frozen over. Such a lovely spot.
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It can be very tough walking when its soggy and when the grass is long for sure, I can imagine the harder makes it a little easier, as it does with lots of Dartmoor
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A couple of Wastes and a Piles HIll – doesn’t sound very inviting! Glad to hear that it isn’t just me that occasionally loses his walking mojo – glad to see you have yours back.
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We’ve got a cowflow bottom as well, you’d have thought I’d have picked p[laces with more poetic and soothing names to start off my walking mojo!!
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Cowflow Bottom! Priceless. 😂🤣
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