So the end of our coastal walks had arrived, we’d completed 9 walks in a row by the sea and Dartmoor’s Shipley Bridge with the Zeal Tramway seemed a long time ago at the start of June (here). So it was back to Dartmoor and choices of where to go endless, because it felt like a while since we’d been this way. I felt that Fernworthy Reservoir would be a good option, Quintins Man along the Whitehorse Hill is a good ridge and Manga Rails a fun crossing of the infant North Teign river. What I’d forgotten is Dartmoor in summer is horrid, not because of the bogs, no they are reasonably dry for Dartmoor, but the grass, the horrible, very long, tussocky grass. Great Varracombe, was hell on toast in a microwave and at the time I described Manga Hill with words that should not be typed. Both myself and Linda fell over at least twice, losing ankles down holes that we couldn’t see, all wrapped in warm humid sticky air. Not our favourite outing, and I really should have remembered the grass is horrible when it gets long, plus there is a better way to Quintins Man via Sittaford Tor, which avoids Great Varracombe. That said Manga Hill surprised me as I don’t remember it ever being this bad, I’ve read another walkers experience across here in the last week, which echoed my thoughts, so maybe it has worsened this year with the dry weather. Still the weather was good, the walk from Quintins Man to Whitehorse Hill was good and its better than being in work!
The car park around the far side of the reservoir, gives good access to this side of the moor. Sometimes its closed off for logging, but not this timeFernworthy Stone Circle, there is also a small stone row running away in that directionIt was hot walking up here, Linda is heading towards the edge of the forest and the open moorlandCosdon Hill in the distance, a fair bit of tree clearance has taken place here, leaving the usual upright trunks and piles of dead wood, plus the sprouting new fir trees that were waiting for some clear sky and open air to get goingTeignhead Farm is in the trees over there, we are heading there next. But not before stopping for a coffee by the gate in the wall and having a chat with the local farmer who was looking for his herd. Most were lay by the Teignhead clapper, but he was missing five “red” ones, so he headed off for Sittaford Tor on his quadTeignhead Farm, the farm was in use until 1943 when the MOD took over control, and then never gave it back after the warFernworthy Forest, you can see sections that have been cut down as we head to Great Varracombe, at this point we had followed sheep paths but it was getting longerGreat Varracombe between us and Quintins Man, where clouds shade its flanks and summit. We are heading into the longer grass section with zero pathsWe’ve got through it all now, but we slumped, tired, hot and in need of sustenance on the side of Quintins ManQuintins Man summit, Cut Hill away to the rightThis is the start of the Okehampton range to the west of Quintins Man, as marked by these poles. Sittaford Tor on the far rightShort grass and a dry path took us to Whitehorse Hill and the burial cairn which was found this century, most of the contents are in the Plymouth MuseumHangingstone Hill over on the right and the high ground of Devon to the left with High Willhays and Yes TorStill wet up here in places even with all the dry weather we’ve hadThe peat pass sign takes us off to the east and down the hill, plenty of flying ants out on this walk, literally millions of them on every piece of graniteWalla Brook Head, we contoured around here on our way to Manga Hill. Watern Tor can be seen in the distance and Cosdon Hill back leftCrossing the wall that leads to Quintins Man, this side of the wall is Manga Hill and it was horrific walking across here.Gidleigh Parish (GP) boundary marking on Manga RockManga Rock, looking out across Gidleigh Common, Kes Tor sticking up back right, we will be heading down into the dip to cross the North Teign riverA mini cleave on the North TeignManga RailsLooking back down to Manga Rails, Watern Tor is at the backClouded over a little to the northStone Tor, again Watern Tor at the back, it was a short walk uphill to the corner of a wall, hopping over that takes us back into Fernworthy Forest and the main path back to the carBack on the main path and some good ground under our feet
Dartmoor traffic jam, the tractor in front was led by a herd of cows and a quadbike as we drove home.
3 thoughts on “Quintins Man, Manga Rails and the long grass”
Have to choose summer routes in the UK with great care these days although it’s bracken, brambles and nettles that are my nemeses! At least the sun was shining. I’m down in France at the moment and we’ve had more rain in the past few days than in the whole summer back home (or so it seems!)
treksandtors 
Have to choose summer routes in the UK with great care these days although it’s bracken, brambles and nettles that are my nemeses! At least the sun was shining. I’m down in France at the moment and we’ve had more rain in the past few days than in the whole summer back home (or so it seems!)
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Started raining here over the last day or so, seems like a change in the weather is happening, ready for autumn. Hope the holiday goes well
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I was encouraged to see it raining at home as well as here when I checked my security cameras! 🤣
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