Recent walks, 2013

(The PDF file contains all the pictures)

"Homestart" lunch walk, 16th January

Thirty eager walkers, frustrated by the general bad weather, gathered on the Quay on a very pleasant day. The route took us down the city side of the river to the Green Circle Route which we followed to the Ludwell Valley. About half stuck to the low ground and the other half stuck to the mud on the high ground. The first group, showing initiative, pressed on to the lunch venue and were enjoying the delicious lunch when the second group finally made it. Once again the fundraising lunch for Homestart was much appreciated and the occasion raised almost £400.
Trevor

Fisherman’s and Hunter’s Path, Fingle Bridge, 30th January

Twenty-five turned up on yet another fine day at Fingle Bridge. John led us along the Fisherman’s Path but tractors had preceded us so it was muddy in parts. As always, the return along the Hunter’s Path was superb as we admired the views below Castle Drogo. The pub was quiet (before we arrived) and provided a convivial end to a very enjoyable walk.
Thank you, John.
Trevor

Tom’s Valentine’s Day stroll, 14th February

Rain on the previous days made Tom’s decision to plan a ‘mainly road’ walk a wise one. There was plenty of water in the fields but not too much running across the road. The only downer was that Tom had to miss the walk in favour of a trip to the RD&E. The ladies amongst the twenty present were most disappointed.
I was the stand-in for Valentine’s Day and managed to get us safely to the lunch spot in Thorverton. After that I led them off in the wrong direction – fortunately as it turned out since we discovered a large land-slip just behind the cricket ground (see details above). We negotiated this carefully noting the power of nature to buckle the road with ease. After that it was a pleasant sunny stroll back to Brampford Speke.
Trevor

Princetown, 27th February

Four hardy souls joined Pete for his 8-mile walk around that part of Dartmoor just to the west of Princetown. Hopes for extensive views across the Moor were initially dashed as we started off in low mist but gradually the visibility improved and even promised a touch of sunshine around lunch-time. Industrial archaeology was a particular feature of this walk. The dismantled Plymouth & Dartmoor Railway track provided an easy start to the walk ahead of some climbs and an early stop for coffee allowed us to admire the still flowing Devonport Leat. Our lunch-stop was in the lee of Ingra Tor with its abandoned quarry containing two round stone structures – millstones of some kind, or crane bases perhaps? More dramatic and much larger quarries awaited us at Swelltor and Foggintor, the first the provider of corbels for the widening of the old London Bridge (with spares still lying about) and the second deep enough for some serious rock climbing (though not by us!). The mist returned as we climbed towards the radio mast above Princetown, but Pete's trusty compass saw us home safely. A dry walk, too, though we were nervous when walking close to the radio mast from which large shards of ice seemed to have fallen!
Thank you, Pete, for introducing us to a part of Dartmoor unfamiliar to most.
David B

Two Moors Way circular walk, 12th March

A very cold and windy day and only Tom, the noble leader arrived. A walker (no prizes for guessing who – but her first name begins with S!) had genuinely intended to go but had finished an exhausting tennis match at after 11 pm the night before and other strong walkers had family commitments. (Sorry, I forgot to ask if she won!)
Our apologies to Tom for his wasted effort.
Trevor

Steps Bridge, 28th March

Jarka’s walk said Daffodils? (note the query) – well, the wild daffodils were at their peak and were there in profusion when 26 of us walked at Steps Bridge on a day that gave us much sun and clear blue skies. There was only one hiccup – Jarka had been taken ill two days earlier and, although hoping to improve enough, was unable to lead us and see how much we all enjoyed it. She discussed the route on the phone with Trevor on the day before and so he stepped in as a last minute leader for the second time in this quarter!
We started down from the car park and those with poles were happy to use them on the outward part of the walk when various muddy patches could have caused some skids. Suddenly finding two ‘birders’ along the Teign, they halted (and silenced!) our chatty group and some at the front were lucky enough to have good views of Dippers. We continued, after a short break, and walked on to cross the lovely river at Clifford Bridge and again some were able to benefit from the birders’ knowledge. On the sunny side of the river, the route was excellent underfoot. The bare skeletons of the very tall trees were outlined against the cloudless sky and gave us all so much to admire and enjoy on this lovely walk.
The route was through Cod Wood, across Clifford Bridge and back through Dunsford Wood to cross back over the river on the road at Steps Bridge. So, for anyone who missed the walk, hurry along quickly to enjoy it before all the beautiful little wild daffodils fade! It’ll be your family’s Easter treat!
Ruth