Day 4 Saturday October 22nd Tavistock and moor

 

Today arrived with dry weather and we were optimistic about getting a decent walk across the moor.  We had a quick walk into the town visiting the Saturday Farmers' market which is always a good view.  We bought some supplies (Sausage rolls and saffron buns), got our outdoor gear together and loaded the car.  The forecast was better for the morning and so we wanted to get going.

Another sheep

We parked in the familiar Pork Hill car park and found the weather was deteriorating - mist covered the tors and periods of heavy rain.  Sheep were happily grazing near the cars. We put our waterproofs and boots on, decided to go for it and ventured out for a shortish walk heading south.  You sometimes wonder why you come to places like this for a holiday in inclement weather but a few hundred yards later when you away from civilisation with only sheep and the wilderness for company then all becomes well with creation.  We 

Dew Tor

carried on, deciding to aim for Dew Tor but came across an insurmountable obstacle for us. 

The leat

 Grimstone and Sorbridge Leat was swollen by all the rain of the previous 24 hours, it was fast flowing and the stepping stones at the crossing points were under water.  We went upstream to where the Windy Post Granite Cross is positioned (Google it) and at that point gave up.  By then it was becoming misty again and we 

Windy Post Granite Cross

lost sight of Dew Tor.  It was then a fairly straightforward walk to complete the circle back to the car.  Waiting for us were mugs of coffee we had prepared at the hotel and the supplies from the farmers' market.

We sat for a while reading/browsing and watching the frequent heavy rain.  By this time an ice-cream van had arrived in the car park corner and Christine went and bought us each a 99er with clotted cream - not the right weather but we are on holiday and well deserved and very delicious.  We sat for a time, changed our shoes and drove back to the hotel through the mist.

We relaxed for a time and then went to a local pub for a good meal which rounded off an interesting if not classic Dartmoor day.