Dartmoor: A search for rocks in Fernworthy Forest

Fernworthy Reservoir

I had been reliably informed by Phil Sorrell (@DaylightGambler) that if I wanted to bag Lowton and Hemstone Rocks, within Fernworthy Forest, I shouldn't leave it too long as they were being incarcerated by the growth of the trees. With that prevalent in my mind, I hot footed it over there before it was too late.

Dartmoor: The Tors around Gidleigh

Shilstone Tor

Parking below Shilstone Tor, on the north-east edge of the north moor, saved us a good half hour walk out of the last public car park, at Sticklepath. I was fully aware we would need the extra time because the tors and rocks we had our eye on were likely going to take a while tracking down and trying to attain. Such are the joys of exploring the rural areas of Dartmoor National Park, as opposed to the obvious towers high on the open moor.

Dartmoor: A stroll up the East Okement

The wonderful East Okement Valley

I was fortunate to have to drive down from Uxbridge to Okehampton mid week because British Telecom were finally installing a phone and, more importantly, broadband, into base camp. With that all sorted on the Thursday, it left me with a couple of days to go a wandering. I started with a short walk from my front door, one which took me into a wonderful woodland paradise that I am blessed to call my local patch, and left me baffled as to why I had never been there before!

Dartmoor: The Tors near Lee Moor

Rich and I on Blackalder Tor

With our trip around Ditsworthy Warren and a wildcamp complete, Matt (@hillplodder), Rich (@FlintyRich) and I jumped back in the car and started off to visit some more tors in the area before the bad weather set in. We stopped off at the quarry car park near Burrator first so Matthew could bag Claig Tor, then drove over to the village of Lee Moor for a short walk.

Dartmoor: The Tors and Rocks around Ditsworthy

An Akto between two Scarps

Way way back on the Saturday of 12th September 2015, I picked Matthew (@hillplodder) and Rich (@FlintyRich) up at the bus stop in Yelverton early and we then drove to the Fox Tor Cafe, Princetown, to fuel up. Well fed, we went out to the Scout Hut near Ditsworthy Warren. I was apprehensive about leaving the car here overnight, so, as we set off, I secretly harboured hopes our circular walk might not involve a wild camp (more on that later).