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Spring 1995 - Dartmoor (Dartington, Bellever, Dartington x2)
Those walking Andy Capp, Paul Keech, Dick Mckay, Graham Busch, Dick Grundy, Roland Carr, Pat Jennings, Norman Hart and John Rafters. The walk took place between Thursday 18th May and Monday 22nd May and was based in the Dartington and south Dartmoor area.
Thursday 18th May
Day 1 Thursday the journey down.
We went down in small groups Dick Grundy and Paul being one, Pat, Andy and Norman a second, Graham and Dick Mckay a third, This left John and Roland who made their own way down, John by train and Roland in the evening.
On the way down groups two and three met at Sedgmoor services and continued on to Totnes together then walked to Dartington Hostel. Dick and Paul arrived at Buckfastleigh about 13:00 went on to Dartington to see if the others were around, as they were not they went on to Shipley Bridge for a walk around Avon dam reservoir, Bishops Meads, White Bar Rows, then back to the car and Dartington. Dick and Paul's lunch was to be some salmon and cucumber sandwiches that Dick had made but he left them on the work top at home in Luton.
The hostel was small but pleasant, the kitchens were small and friendly questions were raised as to how many nice people could be accommodated? Pat replied loudly from the rear. One good aspect was that the dorm was an external room with own key and kitchen close by. This was taken to advantage when returning from the local (COTT INN) at the end of the night. Storm warnings were issued during the night with wind rising from the south and snoring forecasted from the north, this proved to be the case with a thick fog in the morning.
Near Dartmeet.
Friday 19th May
Route Cars to South Brent then walk to Shipley Bridge via road and footpath then on past Avon dam reservoir, Abbots way, Pupers hill, Snow don Carns, Ryders Hill, then on to the Forest Inn at Hexworty for lunch around 13:30. After lunch on to Bellever hostel via stepping stones and Bellever Tor.
Roland had decided to take his car to Bellever and walked back to the Forest Inn for lunch to walk with us in the afternoon.
The weather apart from a short shower was fine and conditions underfoot were surprisingly good, though some parts were spongy there was no need for gaiters.
Most of the mornings walking was uneventful, a lot of steady uphill drags but nothing too severe, the highlight of the morning was missed by all but Norman that was Pat walking into a hole (only ten foot round and six foot deep) perhaps a guide dog will be needed on future walks!
After lunch we did not have to wait long for a bright moment, whilst having a photo call standing on stepping stones Dick Mckay decided that it was time to wash his feet thereby taking a wet route halfway across the river, although it was not deep it suitably refreshed his feet !! (He should have drunk Hieneken at lunchtime). The rest of the journey went by uneventfully until Roland stopped for a rest on Bellever Tor after sitting down Roland commented on the dampness of the grass, the reason the grass was damp was that it had just been "watered" by Dick Mckay (no he was not emptying his boots). This caused much merriment amongst all apart from Roland who continued walking and drying out.
At Bellever some took advantage of an evening meal prepared by the Hostel, others went to the Warren Inn as recommended in the good beer guide and arranged to meet the others later in the East Dart Hotel. All went well with Roland driving to the Warren Inn and back to the East Dart Hotel, to say that there was a strange atmosphere is an understatement. Happy hour meant locals from the funny farm next door having a night out, this together with some indifferent beer caused us to elect our first GOD of a walk, who's that and what for, all may ask, it was Roland he offered to forgo vast amounts of beer and be a taxi to the Warren Inn and later to the Hostel. This offer was accepted by all most gleefully, there was however one exception, John took longer than any woman known to man to get showered and to the East Dart Hotel, that despite a search along the road from the hostel he missed out. Apologies were made to John when we saw him later.
Dartington Youth Hostel.
Saturday 20th May
Two routes were taken though they were the same until lunch. The route until lunch was the same for both parties from the Hostel along the East Dart River to Dartmeet, then on to Holne. After lunch party one went back to South Brent via Two Moors way, Abbots way, Avon Dam Reservoir and Shipley Bridge. Party two went directly to Dartington via Buckfasleigh, South Devon Railway and back to the hostel.
Everybody walked to Dartmeet for elevenses Roland then walked back to Bellever to pick up his car and meet us at the lunchtime stop, the Church House Inn at Holne. After lunch Andy, Paul, Graham, John and Dick Mckay went to South Brent, the rest went to Buckfastleigh by way of foot and Rolands car then by train and foot/car to the hostel. When Roland met Norman, Pat, and Dick Grundy he tried to ambush us in the woods but was as quiet as a Bull Elephant. Party one found all the Pubs at South Brent were closed so they went on to Totnes and caught the last 10 mins of the cup final then sat out in the sun drinking for a while then meeting back at the hostel before going out for the evening.
John was late down the pub again this time he had an excuse he had made acquaintance with a young lady (ABIGAIL) who he brought down the pub.
Sunday 21th May
Roland and Pat went to play on the trains on the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway, for lunch they went across the Kingswear to Dartmouth ferry to walk to Stoke Fleming along the coast for lunch at the London Inn then back to Paignton and the Hostel.
The walkers and Abigail drove to Meldon Reservoir where we parked, we then walked up to the top of High Wilhays and Yes Tor and back to the cars to go for lunch. Lunch was taken at the Castle Inn at Lydford another good pub from the good beer guide. As is usual on Sundays there was a dish of cheese! On the bar whilst some of us were tucking in to it the landlady came and asked us what we were doing, as someone had bought the dish of cheese with some red faces we said there was not much left now, the landlady could no longer keep a straight face and enjoyed a laugh at our expense.
After lunch we went for a walk round Lydford Gorge, unable to find a non-paying entrance the entrance fee was paid, although it was a pleasant walk we felt it was a bit expensive. Refreshment was now called for so the local tearooms were visited for cream teas or cake, suitably replenished a drive across Dartmoor via Princetown, Hexworthy and Buckfastleigh back to the hostel.
Disaster we had to go down the pub again, another night in the Cott Inn. There was a group playing who got better as the night wore on! A concerted effort was made by all in the pub to get late drinks this failed after words from the landlady to the landlord boo hiss.
Monday 22nd May
Today's trip was a walk along the coast path from Brixham to Kingswear, a distance around 8.5 miles it felt like 20 though as it went up and down a lot and was quite severe on most of the climbs and descents, it was a good job we did not have packs, it was the hardest walk of the weekend. When we got to Kingswear we took the ferry over to Dartmouth found a pasty shop and went to the Cherub for a drink. In the Cherub a round was bought by someone who claimed to be the owner and had just returned from his stag weekend, after partaking in refreshment we left to return to the cars and on to home before he paid the tab.
All in all this had been a very good walk, the weather had been ideal, and pubs all bar one excellent, a good time had by one and all.
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