After our break away around Cheddar Gorge we returned home to another week of poor weather. By Sunday we decided to get out, but any thoughts of tors, hills and coastline were ignored as the cloud was down, even sat at home. Ashburton is a place we have normally driven through on our way off the moor, but we decided this time to pay a visit, pick up some Dartmoor 365 squares around the area and we are glad we did, as we liked Ashburton. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the reopening of the Exeter Inn for sure, and a chance to drink where Sir Walter Raleigh was arrested and where Sir Francis Drake was patron! Its a nice little town, some nice shops, church to have a look in and a few pubs. We will be back.
Start – Ashburton
Route – Rockpark Cross – Linhay Quarry – Waye – Owlacombe Cross – Dartmoor Way – Whiddon – Belford Mill – Cuddyford Cross – Great Bridge – Summerhill Cross and Lane – Ashburton
Distance – 7 miles Start time – 11.45am Time taken – 3hrs 15mins Highest Point – Near Owlacombe Cross 216 metres
Weather – Fog, low cloud, drizzle, murky, gloomy, claggy, dreich (and other such words)
We’d parked on North St, the church can be seen over on the right through the mistWe decided first to head out of town eastwards towards the quarry, passing lots of independent shops and old housesWe walked around the new road, passing entrances to the quarry, no views in today howeverDown a murky lane towards WayeSome daffodils brighten the canvass a littleGreat views back down to Ashburton as we climb to Owlacombe CrossOwlacombe Cross, this was Dartmoor square number 2 along with Ashburton itself.There is a little bench here, so we sat and had a sandwich, trying not to get dripped on as the earlier rain fell from the tree branchesWhiddon, can’t remember if this is Higher or LowerThe path required careful negotiation, Linda expertly traverses this section with good arm out balanceBelford Mill doing its Flatiron impersonation, this is a Dartmoor square as well.Another muddy track around the back of AshburtonSummerhill Lane, leads down to the River Dart, it only seems to go that far and nowhere else on the map, however its a Dartmoor square, so we came to look!Ashburton churchAnd insideThe Old Exeter Inn, which is indeed very old if the sign is to be believedVery very old, some very famous people have drunk in this place and for Sir Walter, the place where he was arrested. I’m always a little unsure about the claims of being the oldest, biggest, longest, tallest of something. But its certainly got some claim to fames here.
treksandtors 