Dartmoor: Forest Perambulation Part Three: Runnage to Princetown

Cobwebs on gorse

Foiled by the weather, a month ago, in our attempt to walk the Dartmoor Perambulation in three straight days, we returned, minus Simon and Cat, who had to work. We left Halwill Junction Base Camp early, making the hour journey to Runnage, driving into Dartmoor on a magical morning. With sunshine and mist, the colours were more akin to an African plain!

We set off from Runnage Farm at 7:30 am. The first section of the days perambulation saw us divert from the Walla Brook, thanks to no access. So it was over Cator Common to the small hamlet of Sherwell, where we rejoined the river.

Earling morning mist across Cator Common

Clapper bridge across the Wallabrook

Soon after we passed a clapper bridge, we reached Boundary Mark #19: Walla Brook Foot (WALLEBROKESFOTE), where the river flows into the East Dart. The walk to Dartmeet was the best part of the day, seeing the gorse bushes along the river bank shrouded in cobwebs for as far as the eye can see.

Webs on gorse

We had a quick toilet break at Boundary Mark #20: Dartmeet (DERTAM USQUE DERTAM). Although it was now 9:50 am, there were few people around, and nothing was open to grab a cup of tea, so we carried on.

Pulling out of the valley, we ascended towards Huccaby, following a bridlepath down to Week Ford. By now the sun had really got his hat on, and it was obvious to all it was going to be a tough day.

Over the hill towards Huccaby

Week Ford is where we had to cross the West Dart, as it meanders east to meet up with the East, at Dartmeet. They are fine stepping stones, and on a calm day like today, no issue in crossing.

Week Ford stepping stones

Week Ford stepping stones

We now reached Boundary Mark #21: O'Brook Foot (OKEBROKYSFOTE). We followed this brook up to Saddle Bridge, crossed the road, and then over rough ground up to Boundary Mark #22: Dry Lake Foot (DRYEWORKESFOTE).  By the time we had reached Dry Lake Foot, at 11:47am, we were all knackered! I called lunch and we took a break under some trees by the river.

Jude ascending Ryder's Hill

The climb up from Saddle Bridge to Ryder’s Hill had taken longer than expected and the heatwave was taking its toll. We followed the water course to its source at Boundary Mark #23: Drylake Head (DRYEWORKESHEDE).

We eventually arrived at Boundary Mark #24: Ryder's Hill (BATTYSHULL) at 12:38pm.

Ryder's Hill

Quick map check

Hot as it was, we had a little respite in the knowledge that the next leg was fairly flat to Snowdon and then downhill to the River Avon. On our way, we visited Boundary Mark #25: Western Wellabrook Head (WESTER WELLABROKESHEDE), and rather than traverse through the old workings around this stream, we returned to the path over Snowdon and Puper's Hill. 

Looking from Snowdon, it was hard not to look at the task ahead from the River Avon, a stiff climb up to Eastern White Barrow. But first, we crossed over Puper's Hill, had a quick break, then turned left to pick up the Two Moors Way down to the Avon. We rejoined the previous stream at Boundary Mark #26: Western Wellabrook Foot (WESTER WELLABROKESHOTE) where it trickled into the Avon.

It would have saved time to cross the Avon here, across Bishop's Meads, and head straight south up the hill to our next mark, but the river was wide and deep enough for a soaking. Instead, we wen east along its bank, with the Two Moors Way, to a Clapper Bridge that kept our feet dry.

Clapper Bridge across the River Avon

Thankfully, the climb wasn’t as bad as it looked from afar. The usual long grass, and ankle turning traps, but the ascent was gradual.

We reached Boundary Mark #27: Eastern White Barrow (ESTER WHYTEBURGHE) by 3:06 pm.

Eastern White Barrow

Lynn on Eastern White Barrow

By now, we were feeling better, the worst of the heat had gone, and we turned west, over Eastern White Barrow, and down to Boundary Mark #28: Redlake Foot (REDELAKESFOTE)

What a difference eight weeks makes! When I last reached Redlake Foot, on my recce, I was knee deep in water and mud.  Now it was a breeze to follow the bank where Red Lake meets the River Erme.  We continued up the bank, through Erme Pits, to Boundary Mark #29: Erme Head Ford (GRYMSGROVE).

Erme Pits

From here, we strayed a little too north, but we climbed higher and got a better view of where our next goal lay. We eventually dropped down again, crossing the River Plym near some old tin workings, and made our way up to Boundary Mark #30: Eylesbarrow (ELYSBURGHE).

Bound for the River Plym

Eylesbarrow

With the end in sight, Lynn and Paul changed into their beer legs, and raced off down the hill, passed Boundary Mark #31: Siward’s Cross (CRUCEM SYWARDI) and our final Boundary Mark #32: South Hessary Tor (YSFOTHER), with a sideways glance.

Siwards Cross

South Hessary Tor

They were soon at the Plume of Feathers pub, in Princetown. Jude and I traipsed in 10 minutes behind them, at 7:30pm. Another twelve hour day!

Finished, at Princetown

Team Members: Paul Buck, Paul Worthington, Lynn Vivian, Jude Kidd.

OUR PERAMBULATION LOG:

Saturday 8th September 2007

07:30 - RUNNAGE FARM

09:00 - WALLABROOK FOOT (WALLEBROKESFOTE)

09:50 - DARTMEET (DERTAM USQUE DERTAM)

10:24 - O'BROOK FOOT (OKEBROKYSFOTE)

11:47 - DRYLAKE FOOT (DRYEWORKESFOTE)

12:27 - DRYLAKE HEAD (DRYEWORKESHEDE)

12:38 - RYDERS HILL (BATTYSHULL)

12:53 - WESTERN WELLABROOK HEAD (WESTER WELLABROKESHEDE)

14:02 - WESTERN WELLABROOK FOOT (WESTER WELLABROKESFOTE)

15:06 - EASTERN WHITE BARROW (ESTER WHYTEBURGHE)

16:37 - REDLAKE FOOT (REDELAKESFOTE)

17:03 - ERME HEAD FORD (GRYMSGROVE)

18:21 - EYLESBARROW CAIRN (ELYSBURGHE)

18:40 - SIWARDS'S CROSS (CRUCEM SYWARDI)

19:13 - SOUTH HESSARY TOR (YSFOTHER)

19:30 - PRINCETOWN