Holiday in Exmoor - Dulverton and East Anstey Common

Today was again cool with sunny periods and cloudy which is what you want when walking really.
We drove a bit further today and parked in the village of Dulverton. After a quick look around the village, we set off across the bridge next to the car park over the River Barle then passing a cottage, up a steep path through woods. The path was well worn and hemmed in between two sturdy walls.

Dulverton Bridge

The path took us to the corner of a field. After crossing this field and entering a second one, Karen spotted about 25 Red Deer hinds in a field about 250 or 300 metres away. They were grazing unconcernedly in the field and several were lying down.

Red Deer Hinds

After watching the deer for a bit, we continued across another field and arrived on a narrow minor road. The map showed the route as crossing a field on the opposite side of the road, but we could see no footpath signs. After double-checking the map, we could see that the Public Right of Way continued through a gate into the field and down a shallow valley leading to woods and a footbridge across a stream.

An Ancient Sunken Track

We found a gate leading into the next field on the edge of the woods which was waymarked with a footpath sign so that confirmed we were on the correct route.
As we proceeded along the edge of the woods looking for the footbridge, Karen spotted some Early Purple Orchids growing on a grassy slope beside the stream also covered with primroses.

Early Purple Orchid

After taking photos of the orchids, we continued onwards looking for the footbridge and the continuation of our route. It was tricky to confirm exactly where we were on the map but by comparing our position with respect to a field boundary on the opposite side of the stream, I could see that we were very near here the footbridge should be. We didn't really need the bridge as the stream was so narrow you could jut step across it, but the way on continued from the other side of the bridge.
We dropped down the short distance to the stream and almost immediately found the footbridge. Crossing over, we continued on the Public Right of Way which rose diagonally across the slope of the field. Part way across, Karen spotted more Red Deer hinds in a field about 300 metres away.
We arrived at the small village of Higher Chilcott and followed a minor road for a short distance before turning off at a farm track which we followed for a couple of hundred metres before realising we had gone the wrong way.
We retraced our steps to the minor road and after a 100 metres found the footpath we should have followed. This led along a field boundary then veered off at 45 degrees, indicated by a signpost and a mown route through the pasture. After dropping down to a stream, the way led across a sloping field onto a track near a very large house which seemed to be newly built and not yet completed at Chiltons.
We then had about 500 metre of quiet road to follow Northwards before turning left at a junction leaving after 100 yards to Five Cross Way road junction, Here we re-entered Exmoor National Park and continued walking on the minor road crossing East Anstey Common.
A short way along the road was a gate into the Common itself which was a rough scrubland with the ancient Anstey Barrow not far away. Walking over to the Barrow, we sat among gorse bushes sheltering from the wind and and our lunch.

Afterwards we followed a path across the Common and Ventford Moor again arriving back on the minor road at a point where a track crossed which was part of the Two Moors Way long distance footpath.
We followed the initial wide dry mud track Northwards before branching off on a footpath leading down to join a minor road which dropped down to a bridge then steeply upwards. Leaving the road at a signposted gate, we crossed a field to the village of West Hollowcombe, then back on the road again for the short distance to Hawkridge.
From Hawkridge, we followed a track crossing several fields and came across yet more Red Deer hinds grazing some 75 metres away, until they saw us and shot off into the cover of nearby woods.
This track is part of the Exe Valley Way and follows through wood along the River Barle, All that remained was to follow this track for about 5 miles back to Dulverton.
Afterwards we rove to Exford and had a meal in The Crown pub.
I was wearing Asolo Fugitive boots, Berghaus trousers, Paramo Third Element jacket and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Holiday in Exmoor - The Hoar Oak and The Chains

Today was better weather-wise with sunny periods and no rain but till a bit windy. Although cool, it was a pleasant temperature for walking.

Wild Exmoor Ponies

We drove to Shallowford, which is basically a farm on the edge of moorland, and parked where the metalled track ended. From here we set off across the moorland reaching Hill Cottage where we followed a lane and then a bridleway across pasture land and several fields until we reached the large area of Furzehill Common.

A Rough Track with typical Devonian Walls

Furzehill Common has quite a few antiquities marked on the map including Tumuli, Cairns and Standing Stones. We spotted some Standing Stones on the map not far off our intended route and decided to make a short detour to see them. When we got to the Standing Stones, there was a small knee-high stone and several small stones lying on the ground which was a bit disappointing.
Continuing onwards, we dropped down onto a track passing a ruined farm building, until we arrived at the narrow stream of Hoar Oak Water near the ancient site of the Hoar Oak. There has been an oak tree at this location for centuries, although the tree has been replaced when required.

Path with the fenced-off Hoar Oak

We stopped by the stream where a path crossed over to the fenced off Hoar Oak, and ate our lunch. Next we followed the valley carrying the stream to the head of the valley where we met a junction of several paths at Exe Head, the source of the River Exe.
We chose the path heading westwards on moorland with short boggy sections, which were avoided by following a path on the top of a wide wall. We could see the Trig. Point on Chains Barrow on our right and continuing onwards passing through a gate and over a stile until we arrived at the small reservoir of Pinkery Pond.

Pinkery Pond

We stopped at Pinkery Pond to have another snack and drink, then continued onwards arriving at a gate next to the large mound of Wood Barrow. From Wood Barrow we followed a short detour of about a kilometre and a quarter passing some tumuli and Longstone Barrow to arrive at the single Standing Stone called the Long Stone which is about a metre wide and two and a half metres high.

Long Stone with Wood Barrow in background

On the horizon was yet another barrow called Chapmans Barrow. After having a look at the Long Stone, we retraced our route back to Wood Barrow. At Wood Barrow we headed on a grassy track northwards towards Saddle Stone then along a rough vehicle track which brought us back to where we had left the car at Shallowford.

Low Tide in Lynmouth Harbour

After a shower back at the hotel, we drove down to Lynmouth and had a meal at The Rising Sun pub to celebrate Karen's birthday which was today.

The Rising Sun, Lynmouth

I was wearing Asolo Fugitive boots, Berghaus trousers, Paramo Third Element jacket and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Holiday in Exmoor - Simonsbath

After breakfast we again had a wander around the shops, which were now open and bought some snacks for lunch.
As soon as that was finished, we drove to Simonsbath and parked in a car park. Setting off from the car park we followed a short way down the road before following a signposted bridleway through a small wood. This led us to a continuation of the bridleway across several fields with typical Devon field boundaries of stone walls covered with grassy earth and surmounted by small trees.
Passing through several fields with a cold northerly wind, we arrived at a section of open moorland with views down the valley to the River Barle and the ancient Landacre Bridge in the distance.

Landacre Bridge in the Distance

We dropped down towards the river with a group of Exmoor Ponies grazing happily in front before turning along a track through a gate leading on a parallel route to the river and being part of the Two Moors Way long distance footpath. Soon we dropped down to the river and after crossing a footbridge, we made use of a sheltered spot out of the cold wind to sit on section of wall and eat our lunch.

Exmoor Ponies

When lunch was completed, we continued onwards along the pathway, which veered away from the river for a short distance as it followed around the foot of a small hill called Cow Castle, which once had an Iron Age Settlement on its summit. The path again continued alongside the river and after a kilometre or so passed next to the fenced off shaft of the old Wheal Eliza mine.
Next to the disused mine were the ruins of old cottages and on the opposite bank, what looked like an old adit (a mine passage leading from the surface horizontally) which was blocked to prevent entry.

Wheal Eliza Mine

Continuing onwards, our route again continued around a small hill, this time Flexbarrow, and then along the River Barle. As we continued along the path, we heard a sheep bleating a short distance up a slope above us. Karen spotted that the ewe seemed to be stuck in a small patch of bramble bush so we walked up the slope to see if the ewe needed freeing from the brambles. As we got near, the sheep had a short struggle and freed itself from the brambles leaving behind a few wisps of fleece and seemed to have no problem once it had freed itself.

For the last kilometre we followed and alternative higher pathway which as a little muddy but nowhere near as muddy as the ancient sunken track lower down near the river.
This led us back to Simonsbath, where we had started our walk.
I was wearing Asolo Fugitive boots, Berghaus trousers, Paramo Third Element jacket and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack

Holiday in Exmoor - Watersmeet

After breakfast, we left Winster at 09.10 and with one stop at a Motorway services (Gordano on the M5), we arrived at the North Cliff Hotel about five hours later. Unfortunately, with the wind still from the North, it was quite chilly and also there as light rain and drizzle.

North Cliff Hotel

After dropping everything off in the room, we drove the short distance down to the neighbouring village of Lynmouth 700 feet below and next to the sea and after leaving the car in the car park we walked along the East Lyn River for a mile and a half or so to Watersmeet House.

East Lyn River

Watersmeet House has a lovely old cottage which now belongs to the National Trust and has a café and gift shop. I had a really nice rhubarb crumble and ice cream while Karen had a toasted tea cake as we sat under a porch roof outside as the other seating was wet from the earlier rain. Karen ended up giving a lot of the teacake to some chaffinches which hang around outside by the tables and chairs picking up any dropped crumbs.

Watersmeet House

Once we had finished eating and having a quick look around the gift shop, we walked back the same way and had a quick wander around Lynmouth, which since it isn't very large, didn't take very long.
We are staying in Room 2, where we have stayed before on previous trips, which not only has nice views across the Bristol Channel to South Wales, on a clear day anyway, but also overlooks the Cliff Railway just below.

Cliff Railway

The Cliff Railway links the village of Lynton above with Lynmouth, below and runs on a steep track down the cliff. It was installed in the Victorian era in 1890 and works by having two cars linked by a cable which is routed around large pulleys at each end. Each car has a top section for the passengers with a water tank beneath. Of course the floor in the car is flat despite the steep angle of the of the track. To begin with, there is a car at the top, and a car at the bottom. The car at the bottom, which has a partially empty water tank, is then pulled up the tracks be the car at the top, which has a full water tank and controlled by a brakeman on each car. In the middle section there are two parallel pieces of track so that the car can pass each other. This double-tracke section actually passed directly beneath our bedroom window and you can hear the railway whenever it is running.

Inside a Cliff Railway Car

When the car which started at the bottom reaches the top. its water tank is filled and the car which started at the top, and is now at the bottom, has its water tank partially emptied ready for the whole process to start again. No fuel is used and no carbon dioxide produced! Of course it does involve moving water from River Lyn about a mile away, but there is plenty of water!
In the evening, we had a wander around Lynton's shopping street in the drizzle before deciding we were getting a bit hungry. So we had some chips from the Fish and Chip shop and then returned to the hotel.
In the evening it got very windy and the room was very cool as the windows were quite draughty.

Win Hill

We parked near Yorkshire Bridge in Bamford on a colder and showery day and began the short but steep approach to Win Hill. This was a route which followed gritstone steps, bare rock and what looked like a broken down wall, which followed on one side of a small and shallow valley in woods.
As Karen and I neared the rocky summit, we saw the views all around with the Hope Valley on one side and the Derwent and Ladybower Reservoirs on the other. Then we had a short shower of small hailstones – not bad for the beginning of May!
Now out of the shelter of the woods, we could feel the fairly strong and cold wind. Near the summit we stopped for a drink in the shelter of some rocks near the trig. Point, and very soon after we could see another shower moving in.

Summit of Win Hill

Luckily the rocks offered good shelter from the cold wind and the shower and once it had finished, we continued on our way. This followed the broad ridge parallel to Ladybower Reservoir on the North side with extensive views across the Hope Valley to the South and the Edale Valley to the North-East.
The path and ridge approached the edge of a wood and at Woody Knoll we sat on part of a broken drystone wall in a well-sheltered spot and had our lunch while taking in the views across the Hope Valley while the sun was out.
Afterwards we dropped down steep, grassy ground to an old track marked as “course of Roman Road” on the map and followed this after letting a family in a Land Rover Discovery bump along past us. The track soon led to a junction with a path and we continued onwards dropping down a narrowing in the track meeting a small group of horse riders making their way towards us. The track passed through a gate into the woods and followed the track as it dropped down via a few bends to approach the river below and the beginnings of the reservoir.

We now followed the track at the edge of the woods with the flooded valley of the reservoir below increasing in width and saw a number of fisherman fishing. We continued along the track with increasingly wider views of the reservoir and after a few kilometres reached the dam.

All that remained was to continue on a path past the dam and along a small road to arrive back at the bridge where we had started earlier. Of course there had to be another short shower while we took our boots off!
I wore Keela stretch trousers, Asolo Fugitive GTX boots, Paramo Velez Adventure Light smock and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.

Caving in P8

After calling in at the Orpheus hut to collect a couple of ropes, Karen, Keith and I stopped of at the café in Monyash for breakfast then drove to park in the parking area for P8.
We met Martin Grayson there who was having a walk around the area checking on stiles, etc. and two cavers getting changed also planning to have a trip in P8.
Realising neither Keith nor myself had thought of bringing any krabs to rig the pitches, a quick count of the spare krabs we had between us confirmed that we had plenty to cope.
We had an enjoyable trip despite the unseasonably cold wind and found that although the water levels were low, the downstream sump was quite high so there must be a blockage of some sort downstream.
After changing we stopped of at Hith'n'Hike to buy a few bits of equipment and found Anne Soulsby, Jim Alder and Jess Eades mooching about. Afterwards it was back to Monyash for a meal to tide use over for the evening and then back to the hut to sort out the ropes. Then saying “good-bye” to Keith, he headed for home despite it being a Bank Holiday Monday tomorrow.

Caving in Knotlow Cavern

Karen and I met Keith in the Old Smithy café in Monyash and then drove to the Orpheus CC hut to meet Bell. The plan was to look at fixing brackets for the ladder which climbs up to the new extensions at the end of North West Passage and measure up for a gate.
It was decide to not fix the ladder permanently until the gate was in place. After measuring up, Keith planned to do a little digging at Cherty-Two Choke.
As there was no need for four of us to either measure up or to dig, Karen and I had a quick trip down Knotlow Cavern Climbing Shaft as far as the bottom of Waterfall Chamber where we washed some of the mud on our gear remaining form previous digging sessions in Water Icicle.
We met a group if three cavers on their way out from Knotlow Cavern as we approached the top of the Waterfall Pitch.