Walks 2018

Schedule of Walks during 2018

2018 turned out to be another good year with the group being able to complete eleven walks, with just the March walk having to be cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions on the day. The Christmas walk, on 12th January, was once again well attended by fifteen walkers, with Glenn and Bev. joining us for the meal at the Tradesman's Arms, in Scorriton. We then lost the March walk due to the bad weather forecast for the day. The July walk, from Hexworthy, turned out to be a very bitter/sweet experience for the group. Firstly, Dave B. had a couple of nasty turns on the walk across to Whiteworks from Swincombe Farm. Colin came to the rescue by volunteering to return to his car and drive around to Whiteworks to pick Dave up and get him back to his car. Colin later rejoined us on the walk near Skaur Ford on the O'Brook. After leaving Whiteworks, the group made a successful maiden attempt at crossing the infamous Foxtor Mires, chalking up another first for the group. Thankfully, after a major operation Dave is now recovering well from his health issues.

User notes for viewing the walk Photos, Research Notes and Track are shown at the foot of the page.

The details of our walks during 2018 are shown below:

Friday 7th December 2018		Distance: 7.86 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
David M.	Widecombe, Church Way, Hameldon Ridge, R.A.F. Memorial Stone, Natsworthy Gate, Honeybag Tor/Chinkwell Tor Bridle Path, Bonehill Rocks and return down the road.	In the shelter of the forest wall at Natsworthy Gate.	Strong winds, heavy showers, occasional clear spells and cold when exposed to the wind.	Blackbird, Nuthatch, Ravens.	Nigel and Carol got very wet and cold and retuned direct back the road from Natsworthy gate.
Maurice & John B.
Bob W.
Nigel & Carol

Friday 9th November 2018		Distance: 8.31 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
David M.	Haytor (lower) car park, Haytor Quarry, Templer Way Stone, Haytor Tramway, western corner of Yarner Wood, Yarner Wood main entrance, B3387, Lowerdown Cross, Stentiford Lane, Challabrook Farm, Bovey Tracey. (Templer Way route from Haytor to Bovey Tracey).	In the comfort of the Yarner Wood bird hide.	Cloudy, mild and breezy in the morning, rain came over from 2.00pm.	Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Coal Tits, Crows, Great Tits, Marsh Tits, Pigeon, Raven, Sparrows, Thrushes.
Maurice
Bob W.

Friday 19th October 2018		Distance: 8.11 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Maurice & John B.	Meldon Reservoir car park, West Okement valley, Red-a-Ven Brook, Black Down, Red-a-Ven Brook, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Fordsland Ledge, Black Tor, Longstone Hill and return over the Meldon Reservoir dam.	High Willhays.	Warm, bright sunshine, a light breeze on Yes Tor/High Willhayes - starting to cloud over p.m.	Meadow Pipits, Raven, Butterflies & Ladybirds.
Bob W.

Friday 14th September 2018		Distance: 8.91 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Bob W.	Bennet's Cross car park, Hurston Ridge Stone Row, Fernworthy Forest, Assycombe Stone Row, Merripit Hill, Runnage Bridge, Sousson's Wood, Vitifer Mine & return to car park.	On the bank of the Vitifer Mine Leat, Merripit Hill.	Cool & cloudy with a stiff breeze a.m. - brightened up and warmer p.m.	Buzzard, Crow, Goldfinches, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, Swallows, Speckled Wood Butterfly, Dragonfly & Garden Tiger Moth Caterpillar.
Maurice & John B.
Colin

Friday 24th August 2018		Distance: 10.70 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Bob W.	O.P.22 (near East Okement Farm), Ring Road to O.P. 15, Okement Peat Pass, West Okement River, Black Ridge Peat Pass, Great Kneeset, Kneeset Nose, Dinger Tor, Ring Road to New Bridge & return to O.P. 22.	Great Kneeset Summit.	Cloudy and cold, with a strong breeze and heavy showers.	Buzzard, Kestrel, Meadow Pipits, Ravens and two Frogs.
Maurice

Friday 13th July 2018		Distance: 8.64 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
David & Peggy	Hexworthy (behind the Forest Inn), Fairy Bridge, Swincombe Farm, Bridleway to Whiteworks, across Foxtor Mires, Goldsmith's Cross, Gold Box (Kist), Childe's Tomb, Mount Misery Corner, Ter Hill Crosses, Down Ridge & return along the Miner's path.	Whiteworks.	Dry, hot, humid, with some cloud and sunny intervals.	Heron, Meadow Pipits, Ravens, Skylarks, Snipe, Swallows, Wheatears, Frog, Lizard & Dragonflies.	(Dave B. felt unwell towards Whiteworks and Colin went back for his car and drove him back to the start point. Colin later rejoined the walk near Skaur Ford).
Maurice & John B.
Bob W.
Colin & Dave B.
John & Brenda
Sue S. & Val D.

Friday 15th June 2018		Distance: 8.49 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
David M.	Car Park up the lane from the Dartmoor Inn (Lydford), River Lyd Ford/Footbridge, Brat Tor, Arms Tor, Great Links Tor, Higher & Lower Dunnagoat Tors, Dick's Well, Sharp Tor, Hare Tor, Wallabrook Head, Doe Tor and return across High Down.	Sharp Tor.	Dry, cool & cloudy with a stiff breeze, occasional sunny spells.	Buzzards, Chaffinch, Cuckoo, Herring Gulls, Meadow Pipits, Mistle Thrush, Pigeons, Ravens, Skylarks, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Large Red Damselfly, Small Tortoiseshell & Common Blue Butterflies.
Maurice & John B.
Bob W.
John & Brenda
Dave B.

Friday 11th May 2018		Distance: 8.45 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
David M.	Shilstone Tor, Kennon Hill & Settlement, Ruelake Pit, Gartaven Ford, Wild Tor, Watern Tor, Rival Tor, Buttern Hill Stone Circle, Buttern Hill Tor, Buttern Farm and return on the road.	Wild Tor.	Cloudy & Cold with a stiff Breeze. Rain came in during the afternoon.	Chaffinch, Crow, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Swallow, Wheatear, Field Vole and Rabbit.
Maurice & John B.
Bob W.
Sue S.

Friday 13th April 2018		Distance: 9.19 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
David & Peggy	Two Bridges, Wistman's Wood, Longaford Tor, Higher White Tor, Lower White Tor, Brown's House, Rough Tor, Crow Tor, Devonport Leat, Beardown Farm and return.	Brown's House.	Cloudy, Dry & Humid - very wet underfoot.	Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits, Raven, Skylarks and Frogspawn/ Tadpoles.
Maurice & John B.
Bob W. & Dave B.
John & Brenda
Colin, Ann & Sue S.

Friday 9th March 2018

The walk cancelled at 5pm on Thursday 8th March, due to a severe weather forecast for the following day.

Friday 9th February 2018		Distance: 9.45 Miles
Walkers	Route	Lunch Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
David & Peggy	Car park at North Bovey, Fursdon, Narramore Farm, Brinning, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor Way footpath, Bearland, Footpath through the grounds of Bovey Castle, Hele Cross, Barramoor, Langdon and return via Olde Yarde.	In the woods, just inside the grounds of Bovey Castle.	A bit of everything - Clear with some cloud, sunshine and a light snow shower, warm in sheltered spots and a cold breeze in the open.	Blackbirds, Bullfinch, Fieldfare, Great Tit, House Sparrows, Jackdaws, Jay, Nuthatch, Pigeons, Robins, Rooks and a Grey Squirrel.	Chris & Tim returned direct after leaving the grounds of Bovey Castle.
Maurice & John B.
Bob W. & Dave B.
Colin & Ann
John & Brenda
Chris & Tim
Val & Liz.

Friday 12th January 2018		Distance: 4.63 Miles
Walkers	Route	Coffee Break	Weather	Wildlife	Notes
Colin & Ann	The Tradesman's Arms (Scorriton), Michelcombe, Holne, Holy Brook, Wrey Consols Wheelpit, Hawson's Cross, Combe & return.	In a field at Langaford.	Cold, Overcast & Misty start, warming up during the morning.	Blackbird, Crows and Pied Wagtail.	Glenn & Bev joined us for the meal in the Tradesman's Arms.
David & Peggy
Maurice & John B.
Bob W.
John & Brenda
Tim & Val
Dick & Jenny
Hywel & Sandra

Notes:

1) Photos
a) In order to be able to view the photos, you must have both a Flickr account (free) and be a member of the "GOBS Group" within Flickr. Further notes on this are shown on the GOBS Home page.
b) To view the photos for a particular month, simply click on the red link at the head of that month's walk (above). This will open a new browser window and take you directly to the Flickr site.
c) If you are not already signed-in to Flickr, you will be taken to a Flickr page which shows an error '403'. Don't panic! just click the blue sign-in box and sign-in to Flickr by entering your user name (email address) and password.
d) If you are already signed in, or have just signed in now, you will automatically be taken to the start of that month's album.
e) Click into the first photo of the presentation, under the main banner, and that photo will open up the presentation.
f) The photos can be navigated forwards and backwards by clicking the arrows on the right and left-hand sides of the screen. Please be aware that adverts will occasionally appear and these can simply be skipped by clicking an arrow.
g) The photos, normally 25 to a set, are numbered and a brief description is shown below the photo.
h) There is also a photo reference and a name to show the photo's owner below the description. This makes it easier to contact us if you would like a copy of any of the photos.
i) Some photos may show a link to the research notes and this can be used to read up more about the photo.
j) Although the photos are of a decent size on the page, they can be enlarged further by clicking on a photo. A second click on the photo will take it back to it's normal size.
k) When you've finished viewing a presentation you can, if you wish, click the 'Back to album' in the top left-hand corner and then 'Back to albums list'. This will show all the available albums and any can be selected by clicking into them.
l) A running three years of walk's photos are held on the site. I do have copies of some previous presentations but I have insufficient space within my Flickr allowance to show them all on-line.
m) When you've finished viewing photos, click on the circular camera image in the top right-hand corner of your screen and select 'Log out'.

2) Research
a) If we have written up research notes on any walk, a red 'Research' button will be shown at the head of that month's walk details.
b) Clicking on this link will take you to the correct year's research page, at the point where the month's research notes are shown.

3) Walk Track
a) A prerequisite of being able to view the walk track is to have Memory Map, or similar compatible software, loaded onto the computer that you are using to view this website.
b) Click the red 'Track' button at the head of a walk month's details and this will start the track being downloaded to your computer.
c) You will be able to see the download take place in the bottom left-hand corner of your computer screen.
d) When the download is complete, click the 'Open file' option and this will automatically start up Memory Map, if not already open, in your computer and the track will be shown as a continuous red line of the route we took for the walk.
e) Once showing on Memory Map, a track can be deleted or saved by right-clicking it, on the red line, and choosing the option you wish to take.