26 November 2020
The expedition began with de-icing the car before an early morning drive to Belstone where there is a large car park off the road just before reaching the village.
My first objective was Ivy Tor, which I accessed by following the footpath along the banks of the River Taw and then climbed up the steeply sloping valley sides though scrub to reach the tor. I had almost given up finding the base of the tor but discovered a break in the undergrowth where others had been before me. Given the size of the tor, it’s difficult to conceive how well it was concealed.
It seems rather perverse to think it’s too sunny, especially in November. However that was the situation I found myself in for much of the morning as I hadn’t got sunglasses with me and I struggled with the sun low in the sky dazzling me. It turned out to be a hard slog across pathless moor to Ottery (Ladybrooke) Tor which for some reason doesn’t feature on the map. From there it was another difficult walk to reach the summit of Cosdon Hill. It was uphill, the sun was in my eyes and every time I thought I had a path it fizzled out to nothing and I was scrambling over rocks, stumbling through undergrowth or hopping across boggy ground. I got there in the end and was rewarded by excellent views to the west.
From that point, it was generally much easier underfoot all day and I managed to make good progress. I didn’t go to the stone circle or the White Moor Stone having visited both previously. However I saw the first person since leaving Belstone in the distance by the stone circle. I took the direct path between little Hound Tor and Hound Tor. Surprisingly there was already a man and a dog at Hound Tor. There was a straightforward path to Wild Tor from where I needed to make a decision about going on to Watern Tor and Hangingstone Hill. Given my slow progress as far as Cosdon summit and the discomfort from the sun, I decided to go to Hangingstone Hill as there was a path but omit Watern Tor where I would be bog hopping again. I was worried about not finishing the walk before dark if I took on too much.
There is a small military building on the top of Hangingstone Hill – I can’t imagine why most walkers would include it in their route except to claim as a “summit” completed. There are many more high points nearby which are more attractive.
From Hangingstone, I followed footpaths and tracks to the large and popular Steeperton Tor, where I ate lunch and decided I would take the long way round to Oke Tor, avoiding the gorge. I still had to get across the Taw, where there was a ford and no bridge on the track. A helpful couple advised crossing 50m further down than the ford because it was actually narrower and a big step across rather than wading over mossy stones at the ford point.
The sunny weather had clearly attracted many people to the moor and I don’t think I have ever seen such numbers in that area. My final tors of the day were achieved rapidly and uneventfully so I was back at my car soon after 3pm. I should have done Watern Tor as well! However fourteen is a reasonable count, particularly given my slow progress in the first part of the day.
Where's Kathryn? 