A walk up Tavy Cleave

 We were probably stretching the definition of what 'staying local' means but we had a hankering for a walk on Dartmoor. The weather looked reasonable and the MOD website told me that the Firing Range was inactive, so it was off to Willsworthy for a walk up Tavy Cleave. It was not an easy walk, it was a 'serious' walk and, at the end of it, we both felt that we had accomplished something. As ever, a few images as a record of the day.

The route was quite straightforward: up the Tavy Cleave to Rattle Brook and from there to Hare Tor and Ger Tor. It came in at almost bang on 5 miles. If you look at the route profile, you'll notice that the first 3.5 miles was on an upward slope. After that, it was a relatively gentle descent back to our starting point at the Willsworthy car park. The red lines on the map show the limits of the Willsworthy Firing Range. 'On the ground' it is marked by red poles and, when the range is active, red flags on flagpoles on the high points. When walking in this area, it is always a good idea to check the status of firing on the MOD website.

Dartmoor ponies are commonplace on our walks and I don't often bother to photograph them. But this one by Nattor Farm was rather fluffy so 'click'.

Soon after we set out, we came across our portal into the Tavy Cleave - the Wheal Jewell Mine Leat. And Cleave? A local Dartmoor word for 'valley'. The leat is quite tranquil in places and rather more lively in others, as the video below shows.

After about 1.5 miles, we came across the point on the River Plym where the water for the leat is taken off. The leat dates from around 1800 and originally provided water, and power, to Wheal Jewell and Wheal Friendship in Mary Tavy. It contours its way to the mines and is around 6 miles long. Since 1937 or so, the leat feeds into the Wheal Jewell reservoir. From there, the water runs in pipes to a hydroelectric generating station at Mary Tavy. The leat is still meeting its original purpose - providing power. I think the efforts of the original labourers, who dug it out in horrendously difficult terrain, were well worth it.

There were not many birds around but we did see a few Meadow Pipits flitting from rock to rock. Oooops, I almost forgot that we heard our first Skylark of the year as well. A true sign that the seasons are moving on.

A cascade of shallow shelves in the Plym.

Mrs P in her natural element.

Looking up the Cleave, with Cleave Tor to the left. This is one of the few stretches, and it wasn't that long, where the footpath was quite obvious.

The first of a couple of reasonably deep pools which.............

....together with this one, are popular spots for wild swimming. I'm afraid I just don't get the attraction for immersing yourself in cold water, no matter how attractive or remote the surroundings. Out of curiosity I looked at a few websites dealing with wild swimming and I think some of them are quite irresponsible in the way they describe access to these sites. It is hard going getting to them and it would be daft to do it without proper walking kit. But look at the websites I mentioned and you'd think you could get there in a few minutes wearing sandals and with your towel over your shoulder. I'll admit to being an old curmudgeon and say that I would be mightily p***ed off if I came to this remote space to be greeted by people splashing about in the water. You have been warned.

Looking back down the Plym into the Cleave. Footpath? What footpath? Exactly. There really isn't much of one and getting to this point involves a lot of rock hopping and boulder scrambling.

The point where the Rattle Brook, coming from the left, enters the Plym. The Plym curves around to the right and, after a few hundred yards, dwindles to the Amicombe Brook.

Heading up the Rattle Brook to the next waymark, a stone pillar marked WD 21. This is one of twenty two such pillars which mark the boundary of the area purchased by the War Department around 1900. At this point, we turn left and head for Hare Tor.

Hare Tor reveals itself from this angle of approach rather slowly. Dartmoor feels different to Bodmin Moor but we can't quite fully articulate why.  

Hare Tor stands at 531 metres and is a good place to 'tor spot'. To the north can be seen, from right to left, Sharp Tor, Chat Tor, Brat Tor and Doe Tor.

To the west is where we headed next, Ger Tor. And the name 'Hare' is thought to derive from 'Higher' rather than any fanciful resemblance to the said lagomorph.

The walk to Ger Tor was a fairly straightforward ridge trek, with a few boggy bits thrown in for added interest. Ger Tor stands at 422 metres and its name is probably derived from 'Great' or 'Gert'.

From the top of Ger Tor, the views down into Tavy Cleave are fantastic in one direction...

..and down onto the leat in another.

In the distance, under the rather heavy sky, keen eyes can make out Kit Hill. We live on the other side of that.

St Michael's Church on the top of Brent Tor in the distance.

Almost back at the start and we cross the leat one more time.

We were up there! Ger Tor looking much flatter than it seems when you are there.

Minions to Siblyback and return

 A rather hazy day with a rather dull sky but that did not deter us from getting out on to Bodmin Moor. Due to a discrepancy between the planned route and the one we actually took, it was a little longer than anticipated. But it was none the worse for that. We don't often walk across this part of the moor so it was something different for us.

Starting and ending at Minions (again), we headed out across Craddock Moor to Tregarrick Tor and thence to Siblyback Lake. We walked around that and then headed back to Minions via the hamlet of Common Moor. The distance was clocked up at 7.7 miles - so much for the estimate of 6 miles. But the reasons for this difference can be rationalised, so that's OK.

Visible from the car park, Craddock Moor mine was where we headed. Little is known about this copper mine and in the foreground can be seen the remains of the surface workings - the remnants of streaming, lode-back working and associated dumps.

The small engine house that serviced Edmond's Shaft.

Infra-red image of the above.

Tregarrick Tor was a very obvious landmark to head for and the walking was relatively easy, with only a few boggy encounters, The tor itself stands at just over 1000' and is the site of an undated prehistoric hillfort and a number of cairns. There was so much in the way of granite clitter around that it was difficult to make any of these features out.

Infra-red image of Tregarrick Tor. I like the effect on this one.

Looking down on Siblyback Lake from Tregarrick Tor. This is where our domestic water comes from. If it were labelled something like 'Bodmin Spring', they could sell it in bottles. Lucky us get it out of our taps. And lucky us were able to have a rather delicious brunch at Olive & Co, the cafe at Siblyback. Highly recommended.

Looking northwards from Tregarrick Tor further into Bodmin Moor. Lots of boulders, many of which have a story to tell.

An aerial view gives a much better idea of what the landscape contains - Bronze Age settlement, with hut circles, and a mediaeval field system. Lumps and bumps at ground level and quite difficult to discern what is what.

A tangle of vegetation at the 'top end' of the lake.

Looking down the lake from the 'top end'. Look closely and you can make out a Mallard and, sadly, some plastic detritus.

Near the dam, looking across the lake with Tregarrick Tor in the distance.

The promise of delights to come. Lots of buds but very few flowers. Give it another week or so and this bank will be a blaze of yellow. It was noticeable that the daffodils up here, on the high parts of the moor, were at least a couple of weeks behind ours at home.

Looking down from the dam onto the water overflow. The water flows into the River Fowey, which is used as a channel from the reservoir to abstraction points further downstream. 

Our Cotehele Walk

 Just simply, a description of our 'usual' walk at Cotehele. It's one that we do regularly and at all times of the year. It never fails to please and always bears repeating.

We begin and end at Cotehele Quay and it's just under 3 miles, with enough ascent to make the effort worth it.

We go past the smaller of the quays and.........

....take the track towards the mill.

Usually the water wheel at the mill is turning under the power of water delivered by the leat taken from the Morden Stream........

Unfortunately the weir was washed away in a storm before Xmas 2020 and the leat is now dry.

All the way around there are daffodils, lots of daffodils.

Once through the woods and along a stretch of lane, we come to Cotehele House.

As well as daffodils (the snowdrops and crocuses are now gone), Snakes Head Fritillary are starting to show their heads.

Butter and Eggs Daffodil. A variety dating from the 17th Century or so the label told us.

We go around the house and walk through the main orchard.

We always take time to sit by the pond and take in the atmosphere - it's always so peaceful here, particularly when there's no other people around. But it is a shame that more people cannot enjoy the daffodils at their best.

From the pond, we go around the back of the house and head for the river path.

We always stop to admire the view towards Calstock. Oooh, we are creatures of habit. We must be getting old.

The viaduct in all its glory - again. Apart from members of the family, this is probably the structure I've taken most photographs of.

And then it was down alongside the 15th Century chapel..........

......accompanied by the singing of a Robin.

And it's back to our starting point but not before we pass this bank of Primroses.