|
|
|
|
|
There was much
puffing and blowing before we finally reached the stony top.
Here we found it was quite chilly. Susan was having difficulty
because the gorse was sticking to her paws. Every time this happened
she simply sat down and refused to move. Every bit of the gorse
had to be removed by Diane before she would move any further. [The Journal shows that David and I had led another party on an almost similar route on March 2nd of the same year but no mention is made of the navigational difficulties at Rippon Tor described above. On the previous occasion we travelled from St. David's station to Newton Abbot and then boarded the Tor bus which took us to Haytor Hotel. What is mentioned is the following: "Reaching the summit of Rippon Tor (1,564 feet), we found that a fox hunt was in progress and, while we were having lunch, we saw the fox break cover and dash across open country pursued by the hounds and the huntsmen. At once the party was divided into a heated argument for and against hunting." Of course, we never thought on that day that this was a controversy which would rage on and still be unresolved forty years later. On both these walks - in March and November, we were blessed with beautiful weather on the moor and they stick firmly in my memory. I think that, if ever I contemplated a fortieth anniversary walk, this would be it. *I almost walked past these stones without a second glance but one of the party called to me and pointed to the inscriptions. She was puzzled by them and we discussed them for a few minutes and others collected round and listened. This small incident at the stones was to have totally unexpected repercussions. It placed an idea in someone's mind and ideas can grow and grow and achieve an existence all of their own. But that is another story and I must leave it for another time. Perhaps in some warm and comfortable place with the wind howling outside and the glasses full.......then the stories can unfold.] |
We did not stay
long on the summit but made our way down the path to the Logan
stone. Two of the girls climbed on to the balancing rock for
photographs. 
We then went down to the road junction.
If you leave the north-south road and take the one going west
you soon reach a path on the left which goes directly to Buckland
Beacon. This time we followed the road south and after three
quarters of a mile entered the field gate on the right and made
our way upwards across the field. There was a wall on the right
and finally a wicket gate was reached which gave directly on
to the summit of Buckland Beacon. Here there is a very surprising
panoramic view of Buckland in the Moor and the River Dart far
away below. There are several interesting inscriptions on the
rocks (10 commandments etc.) and we pondered over these for a
while. *
We stayed at the summit for about
15 minutes taking photographs. We then took the path north following
the marking stones. Ultimately we crossed the road mentioned
and continued north along the path until we joined the main road
and so reached the Hemsworthy Gate. It was just before 4:00 p.m.
and I wanted to go further north to get a view of Widecombe .
So we took the Widecombe road and after a while diverted to climb
to the summit of Top Tor. The sun was now low in the sky and
Tony took a good photograph with one of the party on a rock in
the foreground. We could just make out the tower of Widecombe
church far away below in the valley.
As we turned to descend we saw our coach coming along the road
from Haytor. We waved to Mr.McMartin who stopped at Hemsworthy.
Hastening down, we thankfully climbed aboard. From Top Tor we
had obtained a good view of Haytor and the saddle of Saddle Tor.
