Dartmoor Walk May 28th 2015: Merrivale, Sampford Spiney Circular

Off to Dartmoor yesterday for a supposedly 5 mile walk, which came in at 6.5 miles (surprise, surprise) - not that the extra mile or so was a problem as the route was a good one. Starting in a car park just outside of Merrivale, we headed down a mixture of footpaths, tracks and quiet lanes roughly following the course of the Walkham River to Ward Bridge. From there we headed to the hamlet of Sampford Spiney and then back to our starting point via open moor around Pew and Vixen Tors. The weather was mixed and a total contrast to our recent steamy days in Cyprus. The route is given below. We crossed the Walkham at Point A (Ward Bridge) and Point B (Merrivale Bridge) and, from the walk elevation profile, it can be seen that the river drops some 400 feet between these two points. This rapid descent is typical of the rivers coming off the escarpment of the moor and is a guarantee of spectacular torrents most of the year. There is never a shortage of water in these parts!  As ever, I've included a few more photographs for the record.

The view from our starting point, out across the moor to the Staple Tors. In the middle are the remains of the Merrivale Granite Quarry which closed down in the 1980s. At one time there were a couple of rows of workers' cottages and a chapel, all now demolished. And the white building? The Dartmoor Inn.

Although the bluebells were passed their best, there were enough around to give a good indication of what they must have looked like.

We've walked this way a few times and I always like coming across this gate. To me, it seems like a portal between one world and the next.

I only saw one orchid and this is it - the Common Spotted Orchid.

Self-explanatory?

 

Making the best use of local materials to edge a lane. These lined both sides of the lane and extended for at least half a mile. Think of the total weight of material used and the effort of getting it all down off the moor and shaped.

I wonder how long these will be a feature of our walks? A letter box from the reign of Queen Victoria. This one is in a fairly isolated spot but still gets a daily collection (except for Sundays, of course). With the privatisation agenda of Posh Dave's Boys, I wouldn't bet on these continuing for very much longer. Another nail in the coffin of rural living.

The tower of the church at Sampford Spiney peeping through the trees. At the beginning of the reign of Henry II (1154-1189) the Manor of Sampford belonged to one Gerard de Spineto. This family remained at the manor for many generations and it is thought that their family name eventually led to the Parish being called Sampford Spiney. As good an explanation as any.

We come across examples of worked granite quite often on our walks. This one looked as if it was destined for some substantial construction - a bridge? harbour wall? Why was it left there? Surplus to requirements, perhaps? I do hope the poor worker who chipped away at this was paid for his efforts.

A view of Vixen Tor, which changes shape with each angle you look at it. It was a popular place for walkers and climbers...........

...........until the landowner changed and the new one, despite vehement public protests, prevented access. Boo, hiss. what a shame.