A bleak walk from Bagga Tor

It's been ages since I last described on of our walks. I simply got out of the habit of regular posting and I'll have to see what I can do to recover my blogging mojo. So, let's start off with one we did last week into a less-visited part of Dartmoor. Some would say it's less-visited because there's nothing there but moor. And that's its attraction.

We started in what passes for a car park in the shadow of Bagga Tor.and then headed up and around Lynch Tor. It came in at just over 5 miles but, with the cross-country tussock-hopping component taken into account, it was quite strenuous. To describe the walk in three words: bleak, blowy and beautiful.

The view from the car park, looking eastwards, with Sharp Tor and Hare Tor looming over Tavy Cleave. Blue sky!

For part of the way we were following in the footsteps of medieval church goers on the Lych Way. The path was used by people travelling from their farms on the moor to the church in Lydford. It's also known as the 'Way of the Dead' as people would carry their dead to the graveyard for burials as well. The path runs for nearly 12 miles and is quite challenging, even without a coffin to carry.

And here is Bagga Tor, with lots of clitter on its sides. Note to self: return with grandchildren so that they can clamber on the rocks.

The track heading towards Lynch Tor. We went to the slight depression on the far left, cutting across bleak, open country. And against a rather irritatingly strong head wind.

Looking across Standon Down to Standon Hill. An isolated vista but a keen eye will make out the signs of the military presence - it is an active firing range. In fact where we were walking was part of another range but no red warning flags today. And the signs to look out for? The hut on the top of Standon Hill and a few red and white range boundary markers.

Probably my best ever photograph of a Skylark, with the crest clearly visible. And the only good one on this walk. Lots of out-of-focus shots of the bird in flight and nothing worth showing.

An oddity near Walkham Head that had us puzzled until we could access Mr Google. One large standing stone, with two others, recumbent, nearby, with evidence of an unnaturally flat rectangular area. It turns out that this is known at the Turf House. Not a house, as such, but a store for the peat which was cut locally. The stones held up the roof. The peat was dried and was then transported, more or less along our route, to the lead mines at Horndon and Mary Tavy. It was used as fuel for the metal smelters there.

Standon Hill with standing sheep and me standing to take the photograph and the others standing, waiting for me.