So with the mind firmly focused on a walk with better paths, less long grass, but also including some of the boggier bits if possible and continuing to take advantage of the dry year. We set out on a walk from Postbridge with the plan to reach Sittaford Tor but pick off the tricky White Ridge Tor if possible. Parking up opposite the pub (always the plan to head into the East Dart Hotel at the end) we started off along the B3212 towards Higher Merripit, passing Postbridge Church on the way. It had been a while since I’d walked out to Stannon Farm and I turned right too early, meeting the farmer who corrected my error and put us on the correct path. Before long we were standing by the old farm, turned outdoor adventure centre, and now I’m not sure it is anything as it looks worn. We didn’t linger and climbed behind the house to Stannon Tor, stopping for a coffee, and views out towards Hameldown, as the sun threatened to break through. Next was the tricky bit, but I needn’t have worried, as we found a good path looping around the head of Stannon Brook and up to White Ridge. We descended before climbing again to Sittaford Tor and lunch, the sun came out and gave us some lovely 360 views, including into Great Varracombe, scene of our walking horror a week earlier. A good path took us down to Grey Wethers and back towards Postbridge, following tracks we found some longer grass for a short section before locating The Sheepfold. Or is it a Starch Factory? We then headed for Hartland Tor, mine and Linda’s first tor together on or first walk (3 years ago)! All that was left was a simple drop down to Postbridge, a quick look at the busy clapper bridge and a nice pint in the East Dart (as we did 3 years ago). A better walk than the week before and still good weather, I’ll call that a win!
The East Dart pub, now also a bunkhouse, as well as rooms. More importantly some decent beer to finish with.St Gabriel’s in PostbridgePlanned originally in 1868 as a school, almost immediately became a church and schoolOn the right track after turning right too early (thanks to the farmer for correcting us and doing so politely considering we were walking towards his house). Stannon Tor can be seen straight aheadLooking west across leaden skies to Higher White Tor back leftPeeking above the trees is Stannon FarmThe dinky bridge over Stannon BrookClimbing away from the farm (down to the left) we stop here for a brew as we look back along the valley holding the Stannon BrookHameldown back left as we climb to Stannon Tor. Stannon Tor sprawls across the top of the hill, outcrops everywhere, nothing really big, but put together it would amount to a fairly big tor.We’d picked a good path that looped around the head of Stannon Brook, initially following a wall and then found short grass to head up to White Ridge Tor. Looking east here across to Fernworthy Forest and Assycombe HillSittaford Tor is next up there. Grey Wethers is to the right towards Fernworthy ForestOn the path to Sittaford Tor looking back along the valley which holds the East Dart riverOn Sittaford Tor now, lunch spot with views to the centre of the north moorGreat Varracombe is the dip, Quintins Man up to the left and Whitehorse Hill at the backThe view out from Sittaford Tor is always a pleasure, its not the most spectacular rock formation but the views are very, very good. Winney’s Down up on the rightA glimpse of Grey Wethers backed by Fernworthy ForestThe double stone circle of Grey WethersLinda walks out along the good path towards The SheepfoldLooking back to Sittaford TorFrog on the pathWe’d gone a little high in our attempts to avoid the worst of the long grass, so we got a nice view down to The Sheepfold complete with sheep on a rock to the left.Inside The Sheepfold, or is it a Starch Factory (potatoes from Moretonhampstead brought here), the walls are huge at over 2 metres high so a Sheepfold seems unlikely, unless the sheep were very valuable and needed to be kept in!Looking back to Sittaford Tor as we cross towards Hartland TorThat’s Hartland Tor aheadHartland Tor, this was the first tor myself and Linda came to on a walk out to the East Dart WaterfallSome good outcrops on this tor and views to Higher White Tor as wellAll that was left was a short walk to Postbridge, a quick picture of a busy clapper bridge and then a pint in the pub. Very nice indeed.
5 thoughts on “Postbridge, Sittaford Tor and Grey Wethers”
As ever a great walk, was always one of my favorite walks, to lunch at Sittaford also. I must admit thou, many moons ago.
Just read your prior post ‘The Starch Factory’.
I’m not sure if it has actually been recorded, but, It was an experiment, as you say, to grow Potatoes, but proved to be unviable due to the moorland weather. If my memory serves, this was past down from moorland family members.
The height and design mirrors that of walled gardens at Stately homes of that time. It may have been adopted as a sheepfold later, but, sheepfolds were normally built on the lee of any prevailing winds.
Seem to recall that Stannon was once owned by one of the Rolling Stones? Interesting to imagine what the Grey Wethers looked like before they were restored, I put them in my novel Gibbet Hill in an unrestored state. Eden Phillpotts wrote a great novel set in this area – The Thief of Virtue.
treksandtors 
As ever a great walk, was always one of my favorite walks, to lunch at Sittaford also. I must admit thou, many moons ago.
Just read your prior post ‘The Starch Factory’.
I’m not sure if it has actually been recorded, but, It was an experiment, as you say, to grow Potatoes, but proved to be unviable due to the moorland weather. If my memory serves, this was past down from moorland family members.
The height and design mirrors that of walled gardens at Stately homes of that time. It may have been adopted as a sheepfold later, but, sheepfolds were normally built on the lee of any prevailing winds.
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This makes more sense to me, and I like the prevailing wind element to back it up further. Seems far too well built for a sheepfold
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Seem to recall that Stannon was once owned by one of the Rolling Stones? Interesting to imagine what the Grey Wethers looked like before they were restored, I put them in my novel Gibbet Hill in an unrestored state. Eden Phillpotts wrote a great novel set in this area – The Thief of Virtue.
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Great walk finished off with a pint in quality old traditional inn. Sounds like a familiar pattern! 😀
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Great walk. I like the open views. So nice.
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