RobL's world of wonder

Committed to Dartmoor!!

“I’ve had a great idea”, said Adrian, lets have a walk on the moors one weekend!!
 
So began a feat of organisation, determination, resilience and human endeavour the like of which has not been seen at CBW’s Plymouth office since Jen organised the skittles evening a couple of weeks beforehand!
 
Sunday 21^st May 2006
   
We met up on the moor above Ashburton at Cold East Cross at 10am (O/S grid reference SX741743).  The portents for the walk were not too good, it had been raining almost continuously since the previous Wednesday, Saturday had cleared a bit but Sunday morning was apparently going to make up for it!!
 
The die hard few who turned up and were all set for a walk in the rain though  (rain type #243 ‘bucketing it down’) comprised Liz and Dave, Peter and Sharon, Rob and Mel, Jenni and Wayne and Rob with Debs son Aaron and ‘the great white hound’ (also known as Saxon).
 
From Cold East Cross we walked across open moorland following a track across Blackslade Down, crossing (carefully) a moorland stream almost to the foot of Hollow Tor.  The walk up to Top Tor was ruled out due to the conditions and the lack of any view at all.  At this point Jenni and Wayne who were admittedly drenched conceded defeat and headed back to their car. 
 
From here we headed south and then east for a short but steep climb and a cut across Pudsham Down where we reached the road which then continues for a little over a mile downhill through the hamlet of Venton and ultimately to The Old Inn in the middle of Widecombe in the Moor.  Having shortened the walk slightly and made good time we were a little too early for the Pub so instead went in search of coffee and tea at a nearby tearoom before meeting up with Jenni & Wayne, Julian, Val & Katya and Debs at the Old Inn for Sunday lunch where we were very well catered for.