Walks 2006

This year, 2006, we did well in being able to stage the normal twelve monthly walks, without any cancellations due to the weather. The Christmas walk, on 6th January, once again attracted a good attendance of fifteen walkers, with David M. joining us afterwards for our Christmas Meal in the Castle Inn, at Lydford. In addition to the meal, Colin held his annual fancy dress competition with the theme of the 'Eurovision Song Contest'. Brian was judged to be the clear winner when he came most impressively dressed as Bjorn from Abba. One other walk of note was in early February when we set off from Princetown. It was very cold and frosty at the start and, as we walked through Princetown, we were met by several small groups of soldiers coming off the moor in full kit and carrying rifles. They had probably been yomping over the moor all night and each one had frost rimed in his hair and eyebrows, which just shows how cold it must have been.

Friday 1st December 2006		Distance: 10.20 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice	Shipley Bridge, Avon Reservoir, Huntingdon Cross, Avon Clapper Bridge, Crossways, Left Lake, Three Barrows, Ball Gate & return to Shipley Bridge.	On the banks of the pit at Left Lake.	Misty and mild all day, but the rain held off.	Snipe and Rabbit. (A dandelion was in flower in the shelter of a shaft at Crossways).
Bob D. & Colin H.
Colin & Ann
Dave B.
Chris & Tim
Graham

Friday 10th November 2006		Distance: 11.70 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice	Four Winds Car Park, Little Mis Tor, Great Mis Tor, River Walkham, Lych Way, Stephen's Grave, Boulter's Tor, Great Combe Tor, Great Staple Tor, Merivale & return to Four Winds.	Boulters Tor, above Peter Ta	Misty but mild day, turning to drizzle for last ½ mile.	Buzzard perched on fence post.
Bob D. & Colin H.
Colin & Ann
Dave B.

Friday 13th October 2006		Distance: 10.70 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice	Lane End (Willsworthy), Wheal Jewel Leat, Tavy Cleave, Watern Oke, Amicombe Brook, Fur Tor, South Tavy Head, Walkham Head, Limsboro Cairn, Baggator Gate, Brousentor Farm, Standon Steps Footbridge & return to Lane End.	Under the shelter of Fur Tor.	Cloudy & warmish with a cool breeze and threat of rain.	Buzzard being harassed by two crows. Several frogs heard but not seen.
Bob D. & Colin H.
Colin & Ann
Dave B.
Mary

Friday 8th September 2006		Distance: 11.80 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice	Whiteworks, Nun's Cross Farm, Hand Hill, Plym Steps, Broad Rock, Erme Head, Erme Pits, Erme Pound, Blacklane Brook, Duck's Pool. Cater's Beam, Fox Tor, Childe's Tomb & return to Whiteworks.	On the banks of the Erme, at Erme Pound.	Fine breezy & warm day, with intermittent cloud.	2 Slow worms, 2 Herons, Kestrel & Wheatears
Colin & Ann

Friday 11th August 2006		Distance: 9.50 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice	Buckfast Abbey, Combe, Scorriton, Holne, New Bridge, Gallant Le Bower, Hembury Fort, Shuttaford & return to Buckfast Abbey.	On the bank of the River Dart, above New bridge.	A warm cloudy day, with intermittent sunny spells.
Bob D. & Colin H.
Colin & Ann
Dick
Hywel & Sandra

Friday 14th July 2006		Distance: 12.25 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice & Bob D.	Fernworthy Forest, Long Ridge Moor Gate, Manga Farm, Watern Tor, Hangingstone Hill, Whitehorse Hill, Quintin's Man, Sittaford Tor, Grey Wethers Stone Circles & return via Fernworthy Forest.	Amongst peat hags on Whitehorse Hill.	A nice warm and sunny day, with a cooling breeze.	A deer in the forest.
Graham

Friday 9th June 2006		Distance: 10.90 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice & Bob D.	Combestone Tor Car Park, Ryder's Hill, Huntingdon Warren Farm, Avon Clapper Bridge, Crossways, Redlake Tip, Avon Head, Skaur Girt, Hooten Wheals and return along the O' Brook.	On the banks of the main pond at Redlake.	Hot, sunny & dry, with a refreshing breeze.	Buzzard, Kestrel, Skylarks and a Meadow Pipit feeding its young at Redlake.
Dave B.

Friday 5th May 2006		Distance: 10.20 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice & Colin H.	Meldon Reservoir Car Park, around the Reservoir, Black Tor Copse, below Lints Tor, Kneeset Nose, Dinger Tor, High Willhayes, Yes Tor and return along the Red-a-ven Brook.	On the bank of the West Okement, below Lints Tor	A nice warm and sunny day.	Canada Geese, Cuckoo, Kestrel, Skylarks & Lizard.	David M. & Brian did a short walk around the Reservoir, up to Black Tor and return to the car park.
Colin & Ann
Peggy
John & Brenda
Chris & Tim.
Dave B. & Graham
David M. & Brian

Friday 7th April 2006		Distance: 14.00 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice	Shaugh Bridge, Bickleigh Bridge, Common Wood (Bickleigh), Plymouth/Tavistock Railway, Clearbrook, Elsford Town Farm, Clearbrook, Hooe Melvyn, Wigford Down, Cadover Bridge & return to Shaugh Bridge.	Disused Railway Track at Leighbeer Tunnel.	Cloudy & Mild. Couple of showers late a.m.	A pair of Ring Ouzels in the River Plym; A pair of Yellowhammers at Clearbrook; A Greater Spotted Woodpecker and a Weasel.
Bob D. & Colin H.
Colin & Ann
Dick & Jenny
Chris & Tim.
Hywel & Sandra

Friday 10th March 2006		Distance: 11.80 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice	Widecombe, Hameldown, Natsworthy, Kitty Jay's Grave, Moorhayes, Swallerton Gate, Hound Tor Village, Becka Brook, Holwell Tor, Hemsworthy Gate, Top Tor & return to Widecombe.	In the shelter of Hound Tor Village.	Dry & Sunny, but with a strong North-Westerly Wind.
Bob D. & Colin H.
Dave B.
Chris & Tim.

Friday 3rd February 2006		Distance: 11.00 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice	Princetown, Nun's Cross, Older Bridge, Raddick Plantation, Norsworthy Bridge, Leather Tor, Ingra Tor & return to Princetown along the disused railway track.	Below Leather Tor, beside the Devonport Leat.	Very Cold, Overcast & Frosty Start - Brighter p.m.		As we were starting the walk at Princetown, we were met by small groups of soldiers marching off the moor with hair rimed with frost.
Dave B.
Brenda & John
Brian
Dick & Jenny
Chris & Tim

Friday 6th January 2006		Distance: 7.50 Miles
Walkers	Route	Coffee Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Colin & Ann	Lydford, Willsworthy, Wheal Jewell Reservoir, Black Down, White Lady Waterfall (Lydford Gorge) & return to Lydford.	Not known.	Cold & Dry with Sunny spells.		David M was unable to walk with us, but joined us for the meal.
Maurice
Peggy
Dick & Jenny
Brenda & John
Brian & June
Chris
Hywel & Sandra
Graham & Ian