| High Willhays (621m) |
| Yes Tor (619m) |
There are only two peaks on Dartmoor over 2,000 feet and they are quite close together. Clearly an ascent of both and return wouldn't take too long. I had a full day so devised a route that would ascend both but include a tour of Dartmoor as well. Glutton for punishment springs to mind!
I parked at Meldon Reservoir Car Park which was a very reasonable £2 for the day. To get to the hills I had to walk to the end of the Reservoir where there was a bridge, cross that and head up. Simple enough? Of course not! The initial walk went well and I enjoyed the views across the reservoir to the mountains I was to climb. Following the path, I headed down towards the stream that fed the reservoir, but the path rapidly deteriorated. I looked around but couldn't see anything so headed lower where I spied the bridge around 50 metres ahead. Oh well, I could walk alongside the stream and soon be there. Much scrambling, cursing and bashing finally bought me to the bridge, well actually to a girder that spanned the stream! I might be able to tightrope across, but Rosie, the dog would either fail and fall in or just refuse to cross, either way it wasn't a sensible idea.
Climbing out of the stream up a very steep slope I came to a good track which I followed to the real bridge. A final gate had a sign on the far side saying there was a diversion over the common! Clearly my chosen route no longer existed.
Crossing the bridge, I headed up and soon crested the initial rise to some buildings which weren't actually the summit, that was still some distance away. On arrival, there were two summits to choose from, one with a man made cairn which I presumed was the real summit, but I decided to stand on the other as well as a precautionary measure. The current weather conditions gave a false altitude on my watch anyway so I couldn't use that with any accuracy. High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and I'd conquered it. One more to do, but there was the small matter of the circuit to do first.
It was a really clear day and I could easily see my next destination which was Dinger Tor (550m) on a fine path leading directly to it. It is not much of a top, being just a small granite mound. In fact, the Tors are all granite mounds of one shape or another which were formed as part of the erosion process and granite being tougher than the surrounding mud and soil, remained where all around disappeared. It is important to remember that, and doubly important to remember that it is a lot tougher than human flesh, so any encounters with shin, knee, elbow or knuckle will almost certainly result in said flesh being removed.
Onward to Hangingstone Hill via Okemont Hill which rises in the distance, the path became thin but still obvious, well, until it dipped into a small valley where it disappeared. This is, of course, a cunning plan by the path to lure unsuspecting walkers into a false sense of security and just as the confidence is high - not far now - the path vanishes, leaving the walker to step and stumble through difficult terrain, cursing the decision to take the direct route. I did manage to find a few thin sheep tracks which bought me ever closer to the summit, but they seemed to end abruptly. Perhaps the sheep were in league with the path? I know, lets make a short path to nowhere and watch stupid walkers follow it!
Finally I arrived at Hangingstone, which fails the 'mountain test' by just 7 metres, i.e. 610m or 2,000 feet in old money. It can hold its head up high as the summit is a fine position from which to view the surroundings and look back to the Mountain Ridge in the distance. I decided this would be lunchtime so sat down to enjoy both the view and my sandwich and hot cross bun, which of course was cold, but tasted just as nice. There was a cold breeze blowing and whilst walking in shorts and T-shirt was fine as I could maintain my body temperature, sitting down I soon noticed a chill so grabbed my Stellar Gilet, or body warmer if you prefer and was once again, toasty.
Lunch done, I was off on my way back towards the ridge and my final destination of 'Yes Tor'. Electing to use marked paths, it was a zig-zag route that bought me via a number of other Tors, including the final one, East Mill Tor (513m) to the last climb. Yes Tor is much more rocky than the others and I carefully picked my way over the rocks towards the top. The summit of Yes Tor (619m) has a Trig Point to confirm the actual summit which is always a comfort and obviates the need to stand on every high point.
I didn't stay long, just long enough for a few photos, drink and goodie bar but could already feel the chill and the skies had changed for the worse so I hurried off picking my way quickly but carefully over the boulder field and onto a better track. This led me steadily down into the valley and finally over a bridge that crosses the exit stream from the reservoir. Ten minutes or so, via a final uphill climb and I was back at the car park. Dartmoor was done!
