My Walks page. xY[kF~_![\53 )!7N&!s&ij43a kvF7VvyzU ~`c:fXHtA?z8GzL>: O_zj0 *C1Fucs{gb=L M:gvzl KGfgnD'!YHf9/vZ~QHp Obviously if you do exceptionally come across anything from. All Rights Reserved. x.type = 'password'; After the last Courtenay owner fell foul of Henry VIII in 1539, the castle declined into a ruin. See Walking Time Calculator, For advice on .gpx files see He suggested instead that the name derived from gwylfa, a watching place, noting its similarity with Brown Willy, the name of the highest hill on nearby Bodmin Moor, and suggested that a watch for beacon fires used to be kept here. Your email address will not be published. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. To get there, take the B3260 south west from The path diverts briefly around a walled area Obvious paths on the lower slopes make pleasant walking but these become intermittent on the higher slopes, the wild ponies being the most likely creators of many. Tiny rapidly moving dots scoured the landscape in perfect harmony. which protects some plant (water abstraction or whatever) but soon returns Heheard them too. A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. When you get to the large rock, there is a We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. hand outcrop which is Black Tor. wide and there are shallow vehicle ruts. x.type = 'text'; Meldon Reservoir is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the northwest section of the National Park. Exit the car park and cross the lane to a signed bridleway heading southwest. The difference in height between Yes Tor and High Willhays is a modest 2 metres, a little over 6 feet but if your quest is to walk to the highest point on Dartmoor then you need to go to the most southern of the tors at High Willhays, the OS Map shows which.Place a stone, make a wish, nod hello. All rights reserved. The dam was constructed in 1957 to provide water to the South Hams and the reservoir itself covers around 50 acres. The largest outcrop is crowned with a cairn. . You can find more walks near these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select). Hisnose sniffed the calm air and his eyes scanned the distant valley slopes. High Willhays is within one of Dartmoor's Danger Zones, areas used periodically by the British Army for exercises. disappointment, a freephone number (0800 458 4868) is available, which has a Keep right for the next 1.3 km and turn right, where you will find the car park on the left in 42 m. Head for the right What's Nearby Accommodation Sourton Down Caravan & Camping Park High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in the UK south of the Brecon Beacons. 13.6 km 4:05 h 410 m 410 m meldon reservoir carpark, up to high willhays, camp, down to the car park again in a loop. We all walk at a slightly different pace so use the slider to calculate the time you will take on the walk. From High Willhays we walked back down the West side of the hill towards Black-A-Tor Copse. stony and bends round to the right. Tracks across High Willhays to Yes Tor. 2 0 obj A shepherd on a quad bike was commanding three sheepdogs. It is worth mentioning here that this walk is in parts of the Okehampton firing range and it is worth checking the government website for firing times before you walk. You can also submit photos from walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir via our Facebook Page. The National Trust's Lydford Gorge, Devon, is the deepest gorge in the South West and has a spectacular 30m waterfall. Discover the best hikes and paths to High Willhays in Okehampton Hamlets, West Devon. . Yes Tor is 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. go4mailvariable=('walk_pics' + '@' + go4mailvariable) Ordnance Survey Map UV: Low;. Meldon Hill and Nattadon Hill are both popular with walkers, with a circular walk enabling you to take on both hills or each one independently. The military have been using Dartmoor for over 200 years and this walk is partly within a live firing range. Please enable javascript in your browser preferences). The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Meldon Reservoir. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). Arriving at the car park next to the stunning Meldon Reservoir at around 11am we sorted out our various bits of kit for the day's walk and headed off across the dam wall at the head of the reservoir. NB. Stay on the right hand side of the river, in You begin to question your judgement and route, if new to walking this area. The walk starts at the car park at Meldon Reservoir and takes you to the 621 metres (2,039 ft) summit via Longstone Hill and Black Tor. The views from Yes Tor and along the ridge to High Willhays is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (166th highest in England, 289th highest in England & Wales) High Willhays is also known as an English Nuttall (228th highest in England, 397th highest in England & Wales) and an English Marilyn (49th highest in England, 727th highest in the UK). 1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map(the ones with orange/yellow covers): 1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map(the ones with pink/magenta covers): Some Photos and Pictures from Walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir, West Mill Tor from Yes Tor with Okehampton and North Devon in background, High Willhays from the trig point on Yes Tor, The bridge at the southern end of Meldon Reservoir, . } You begin at Meldon Reservoir car park, where you will be immediately greeted by sweeping views of Meldon Reservoir, and an impressive dam, which reminds me of the one in . Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. 6500 trig points were constructed and many still survive today though modern technology has rendered them obsolete; just a folly now; a nod to the 1930s map makers. xYK7h*ZffwLr98^qmlHSil3;zT}z? undefined on the OS map. 1h 28m Moderate 3.8 (3) Ten Tors Circular Walk Dartmoor National Park Length: 11.9 km Est. Descend to the right of Black Tor to the From Meldon Reservoir car park, climb the steps next to the toilets and It was very wet underfoot and we saw many unprepared walkers struggling with inadequate footwear through bogs and over streams of water that wouldn't have been there during the warmer months. The Minister's decision letter backing the Meldon reservoir was published in November 1968. DICE Dental International Congress and Exhibition. Then cut across boggy marsh . following the broad track by the reservoir. go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited. The remains of the largest castle in Devon, in a stunning setting on a wooded spur above the rushing River Okement. Explore open moorland, dramatic tors and a Scheduled Monument: boasting a special combination of industrial heritage, wildlife and nature trails, Meldon is the perfect location to enjoy a unique day outdoors. The time refers to a. 3h 47m Moderate 4.1 (23) Granite Way: Okehampton to Lydford Dartmoor National Park Length: 14.3 km Est. We would love to see your walk photographs and pictures walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir. High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. Find new walk companions for walks in South West England, Get Directions to the start of walk de177, More easy-to-follow circular walks in Dartmoor National Park, More easy-to-follow circular walks in The South West, More easy-to-follow circular walks in Devon. to the riverbank. There is a warning out for the land to the west of the reservoir as it is now private so I therefore enjoyed an up and down over Longstone Hill. best route you can. Meldon Reservoir, or Meldon, is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the north west section of the National Park. google_ad_width = 120; s+-??|&xLj`wLpsQ!q~jJ&'y1}c89:g881i b50^y$8%!dTQ2$6{ Q% +*?q K.wmo$nR ( u(H:ZaRpS #[ ) ANA4SV,xJM2]FGVlP2#nD9mf@"Iv]>"0. The geology of High Willhays, like most of Dartmoor, consists of granite intruded about 280 million years ago. Maximum daytime temperature: 3 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: -1 degrees Celsius. The reality on this grey but dry day was a walk around the edge of Longstone Hill, take an obvious path due west of Yes Tor summit and walk eastwards up to the top and take a photo or three. {YwEc_P!''6G/b,U8G-EI_P//i\6}2,dO1}zIu80Adh)9#-Sy4VI+a4:.d Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). }. As we ascended the rain clouds seemed to hang over our destination and were beginning to clear the higher we got, however just as we approached Yes Tor the weather came rolling in once more from Okehampton and we were seemingly chased by ominous dark clouds. now need to be guided by the large rock close to the top of Yes Tor (see Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of high altitude oak woodland in Britain. I'd seen a photo of Black-A-Tor Copse SX566 890 on Instagram and thought it'd be a lovely place to take my camera. 15. [4], The Place-Names of Devon (1931) notes that the peak was named Hight Wyll in a document of 1532, and was known in 1827 as High Willows. The Reservoir has a surface of more than 730 acres and is more than 130 feet deep, making it one of the largest inland waters in the South West. Hi everyone!!! High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. (281 magnetic). Just as we reached the top of Yes Tor the heavens opened and so we took refuge under some rocks. I've been feeling rather overwhelmed this past couple of weeks with work and various life "stuff" so this camp was. In a previous life I was fortunate to be able to work in a water treatment plant, so I have a good understandingof all that is hidden below. Our eldest wasn't looking where she was going and ended up kneed deep in a bog, to our great amusement and bless her, she took it with good grace. sight of the trig. This National Nature Reserve of 170ha mainly consists of a model example of the upland heathland and has a wealth of moorland birds. From Meldon Viaduct I retraced my steps back towards the car park at the reservoir. It really was that easy. Photos cannot do the location justice. . relevant compass bearings. Head for these and you will soon catch The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor. Before Ordnance Survey measured accurately the heights of High Willhays and Yes Tor many people believed Yes Tor was the higher of the two, and it was only the local farmers and moormen that believed the contrary. High Willhays is just South of Yes Tor and there is a very clear track leading up to it. A walk from Meldon Quarry to High Willhays & return via Black Tor, Black-a-Tor Copse, The West Okement River & Meldon Reservoir Find the perfect meldon reservoir stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. We put on our spare jumpers and pulled our coats about us as we ate our sandwiches huddled together beneath our granite shelter. RF P6219K - Evening light on Dartmoor, with views towards Meldon reservoir and over an old quarry site. Explore open moorland, dramatic tors and a Scheduled Monument: boasting a special combination of industrial heritage, wildlife and nature trails, Meldon is the perfect location to enjoy a unique day outdoors. Meldon One of the beautiful reservoirs which is home to many water species and also the location is naturally beautiful for a picnic. There are a few very pleasant looking pubs on route in to Okehampton but I was not able to test them! The sharpness of the fractured rocks, the twists and turns of every footstep, water running from every crevice. The authors state that the name may simply be a compound of high and well (meaning spring), though they admit that the additional syllable at the end is hard to explain. The dam at the lower end of the Meldon Reservoir. 1. Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship; Contact; Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship . To our delight we discovered that it lies to the the West of Yes Tor and High Willhays beside the West Okement River, providing us with a delightful circular ro. Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). on the track recorded automatically as I walked so should be accurate. Once lunch had been gratefully consumed and the rain had eased slightly we decided to continue on towards High Willhays. With the exception of the tors, much of this walk is man-made. In my case it was the Hound of the Baskervilles. Over 151 feet high in placesand now part of the Granite Way, a recognised cycle route. Once I had found the correct road to Meldon Reservoir the route was very straightforward. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Dartmoor is bleak, unforgiving, stunningly beautiful and at the same time a cruel vicious landscape. Meldon Reservoir Toilets S, 181, 0.044 km 290 m Contour Ring, Meldon Tor E, 109, 0.149 km Meldon Tor E, 108, 0.158 km South Down North-East SW, 217, 0.250 km . Enough time to glance at the map and plot a compass bearing west towards Black Tor, overlooking West Okement River. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. Time was fading as it always does so I walked across the viaduct, wire mesh safety barriers prevent you from getting too close to the edge. The trail is. stream The city of Exeter is the county town. 1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map(the ones with orange/yellow covers): 1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map(the ones with pink/magenta covers): Some Photos and Pictures from Walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir, The bridge at the southern end of Meldon Reservoir, West Mill Tor from Yes Tor with Okehampton and North Devon in background, Ascending Longstone Hill from Meldon Reservoir with Sourton Tors on the horizon, . google_ad_slot = "2715819971"; Fernworthy is a great place to Discover the Dartmoor Story. Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). The Woodland lies next to the West Okement River and the ground here was particularly wet. However High Willhays is in an area of the northern plateau of the moor where the exposed rock has noticeably fewer of the large feldspar megacrysts that are typical of most of Dartmoor's tors. photo) which will be ahead of you. Expert Answers: Meldon Reservoir and Black Tor is a 4.6 mile loop trail located near Okehampton, Devon, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. go4mailvariable='go4awalk.com' (Guide Resolution = 300dpi. Devon is a county of England, reaching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south. Ansum! hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. Meldon Reservoir is situated northwest of Yes Tor , and northwest of High Willhays . Ordnance 13.8 km. Intermediate. For the return from Highwillhays, once again Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). var x = document.getElementById('password'); IntroductionThis Dartmoor walk to Yes Tor and High Willhays takes place to a large Wistmans Wood is in the Dart river valley and has views of wild Devon that you wont find anywhere else in the country. Really hope you're all ok!! Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor . All in all a very pleasant few hours. Begun soon after the Norman Conquest as a motte and bailey castle with a stone keep, it was converted into a sumptuous residence in the 14th century by Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, much of whose work survives. Before walking on the firing ranges you need to check online or by telephone for the published firing dates and on the day of your walk you should always check for red flags flying from the observation points along the marked range boundaries. Follow the track, pick my way around the granite boulders and arrive 619 metres above sea level. YES TOR, HIGH WILLHAYS, BLACK TOR WEST OKEMENT VALLEY AND MELDON RESERVOIR START POINT: MELDON RESERVOIR CAR PARK GRID REF: 562917 DISTANCE: 8 MILES This 8 mile walk up to the highest point on Dartmoor was led by Fran Allen on 15th August 04 and despite the earlier rain in the Plymouth area and the grading of Tagged: Black-a-Tor Copse, Dartmoor, Dinger Tor, Fordsland Ledge, High Willhays, hike, hiking, Lints Tor, Meldon, reservoir, walk, walking, Yes Tor. Parking at Meldon Reservoir SX561 918 (a pay and display carpark) we headed out of the carpark and turned left along the footpath towards the Dam. reservoir car park. United Kingdom high willhays hike and camp Top recommended route Difficulty moderate. Meldon Reservoir This was a pretty 7 mile circular trail which began at Meldon Reservoir and included a climb to the summit of High Willhays before descending to the West Okement River. } else { At the next fork (SX 568910), go left again. If visibility is clear, you should have no High Willhays is often mistakenly referred to as the highest point in England south of Kinder Scout. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. . High Willhays is near the northwestern edge of Dartmoor, about 2.5 km ( 112 miles) south east of Meldon Reservoir and about 5 km (3 miles) south of the town of Okehampton. Dartmoor Driving Tour in iconic Land Rover Discovery. I finished the walk off with a peer through the fencing at the gently decaying rolling-stock of theDartmoor Railway, their fully restored rolling-stock carries tourists and enthusiasts at certain times of the year over 15 miles of track. High Willhays (/wliz, wlhez/ WIL-eez, WIL-hayz), or according to some authorities High Willes,[3] is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 621 metres (2,039 feet) above sea level,[1][2] and the highest point in Southern England. Once over the dam we walked up hill and followed the track in an Easterly direction skirting the edge of Longstone Hill. Nestled in a valley beneath High Willhays, the 'roof of Devon' and the highest point on Dartmoor, lies a mystical ancient oak woodland packed full of wild beauty. photos. That'll be Shellstone Tor and High Willhays in the background. This site was designed with the . Do not follow this link or you will be banned from this site. In fact Black Mountain (703m) on the border between Herefordshire (England) and Powys (Wales) is considerably higher than both Crowden Head (Kinder Scout) (636m) and High Willhays (621m). The viaduct was opened in 1874 and is still standing proud in 2015. and we shall do our best to publish them. Where is Meldon dam? rocky outcrops below, which overlook the valley with the West Okement River To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all see Talk to Us. . Settling down on a flat slab of granite the wind died away to silence, no longer tugging at my collar. There was the very faint sign of previous passage to the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the % Work your way to the right of this Where2Walk 2023 - Walking in Yorkshire and the Lake District. feet have not always followed the same paths, so worn routes have not been Please indicate where each photo was taken. rock outcrops of the Tor proper. 2020 by Mum on Dartmoor. 3.4 km/h. Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. Apparently there used to be a circular walk around the reservoir but now only the path along the southern shore is open. A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. Availability can also be checked at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. Proudly created with Wix.com. The gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, flora and fauna. To close this message click anywhere outside this window. It's easy to get to the start of this walk as it's just off the A30, a major road linking Exeter to Cornwall and going over the top of Dartmoor. Island in Meldon Reservoir. Please indicate where each photo was taken. The track splits by some picnic tables next It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. June 30, 2022; this place is a shelter sheet music; hall and jordan funeral home obituaries As an Amazon Associate I The city of Exeter is the county town. Nothing too fancy, just a flat rock with a view. } The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Yes Tor is 2031ft (619m) and Once I had found the correct road to Meldon Reservoir the route was very straightforward. MELDON RESERVOIR TO HIGH WILLHAYS VIA A ROUNDABOUT ROUTE START POINT: MELDON RES GRID REFERENCE: 562917 John Skinner had planned a route from Meldon Reservoir going upto the Moors via Okehampton Station but F&M restrictions put paid to that and he had to rejig the walk to avoid restricted areas. When was Meldon reservoir built? function myFunction() { 7. All rights reserved. Meldon Reservoir2.85km from High Willhays Meldon Reservoir is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the northwest section of the National Park. Expert Answers: Meldon Reservoir and Black Tor is a 4.6 mile loop trail located near Okehampton, Devon, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Sent to us by Andrew Ross, a viewer, this walk was a great day on Dartmoor. I apologise for the lack of drama in my opening words, the failing to enthuse. . Start by crossing the dam wall and taking the initial zig zag path up the hillside ahead. Here there are clear paths, at least in its lower slopes. highest summit on Dartmoor until piped at the post by its companion High The reservoir sits behind this dam wall and extends to the foot of . Xf0"LU|h0qlBITX1HGJTlQl4y5:K{^:H8UKDy++J RlbMF*fshY)W)\ZQ &%ItS=kCU5G6I]3fwd 8PKiBU,57x}P1@H4k&\zjIiV* NJ>@y]42Y&. 12.1 km. This Dartmoor adventure was far from over, I had one more ace up my sleeve; the impressive, the immense, the towering Meldon Viaduct. High Willhays despite the howling wind was sporting a rather fine cairn. I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.Steven Spielberg. Construction began in 1970 in response to increasing demand for domestic water supply. More than a stepping stone to High Willhays and Yes Tor, Meldon Reservoir is in high open moorland, almost 300 metres above sea level. They each have a certain attraction and charm, perhaps thats the engineer in me looking at things. begin with, when I did the walk but I would not guarantee its presence long why does my girlfriend disagree with everything i say, female push dagger necklace, sundance canyon academy,