reg the bullmastiff
2012-09-29 13:45:19
Hi all planning a short walk tomorrow 30th September! (gulp) from Postbridge to Lydford via Fur Tor and Cut Hill. Looking on the map there is a letterbox at Fur Tor 587 831 ish. IT WOULD BE A SHAME NOT TO PICK IT UP ON THE WAY? Can anybody narrow it down a bit for me as I hope to make the walk a bit of a sprint and don't want to spend too long searching about MANY THANKS.
Best regards Reg the BULLMASTIFF. :wink:
The Wandering Artist
2012-09-29 19:20:16
There was a box in the cave on the West side of the main stack - on a shelf at chest height - that was a while (!) ago; and, though the wooden box remains, the contents of the 'original box' have it seems long gone!
reg the bullmastiff
2012-09-30 06:10:40
MANY THANKS now lets see what's out there. :o
Kenton Kestrel
2012-10-01 09:37:12
How did you get on with your 'short walk' ?
reg the bullmastiff
2012-10-01 14:22:51
I have been wanting to do that walk for some time. This weekend I took the Friday and Monday off of work, Friday I hoped to repair my bike and Monday I Should have been travelling back from Silverstone but a last minute parts supply issue meant I had the chance to tick that Dartmoor box.
I started at the post office at Postbridge having left my car at the Fox and Hounds near Lydford and got the long suffering wife to run me over to the other side. (If they only made complaining a national sport?)
Anyway I started off in good weather and good spirits but that didn't last long! I don't usually visit that side of the moor and now I know why, what a blank featureless desert it is over there? I thought I must have had map upside down! Open tundra for mile after mile punctuated all too often by bogs.
I pre planed a route using the letterbox clue book and my GPS but finding the first box robed out and the GPS playing up. I just took out the good old mark one OS compass and headed west. There was nothing on the skyline to take a bearing on and as I couldn't really travel in a strait line because of the softness of the terrain over there so I just though Westerly would do until I picked up on a feature I knew about. I was hoping for Brown's House but I missed that, and after a couple of hours bog hopping I found myself near the crater at Flat Tor Pan left by the Seavixen. So I was quite pleased at that as I knew from there on in I would have a target to head for in Cut Hill Fur Tor etc, although I realised I would have to double back if I wanted to see Beardown Man, but the wind was high and the weather was closing in so I thought I would leave that for another day. I found Cut Hill peat pass OK but could not find the letterbox on Fur Tor, but I did leave a box up there that I will check on on new years day.
On the approach to Fur Tor I noticed a couple in front of me, and a couple behind with two very energetic dogs both sets of hikers about a mile distance and both having come down from the north disappeared from view as I struck out for Rattlebrook hill and was engulfed in mist and drizzle. I can't tell you how good it felt to find Chat Tor. Now I was in familiar territory and on solid ground a quick whistle over Brat Tor checked on my old box.... yes still missing, and off the Moor via Nodden gate.
I was plastered in mud tired and sore but I changed in the car park and went into the Fox and Hounds for a well deserved pint of Jail Ale. When I was in there I listened to several groups of hardy hikers still wearing muddy boots patting each other on the back and outdoing each other with tales on how far they had been. Some to Brat tor and some all the way to Sharp Tor!!!! I was thinking "ASK ME!" but alas with my GPS and camera to verify my claim nobody did. I guess as I wasn't treading mud into the poor landlords carpet I wasn't "one of them?" (Fringers! ha ha)
However THANK YOU for asking KK I had a great time. Would I do it again?........ NO.... but now I know what I am up against I would do a shorter trip Postbridge to Peter Tavy (one day) AND how many letterboxes did I find in my eight hours on the Moor?........... ONE! at Flat Tor. Hay Hoe.
Sowerby Streaker
2012-10-01 16:02:49
Well done Reg - a great effort, especially with compass and OS map readings. Just wondered which route you would have taken then if you were going to Beardown Man. Crossing the West Dart from Flat Tor I'm not surprised you were bog hopping. And if you had gone to Beardown Man I would think the ground from Cowsic Head upwards to Fur tor would have been knee deep in bogs. You picked a much more achievable route by going via Flat Tor. Bet you were really chuffed to find the Sea Vixen crater. That must have been a bonus for you. Did you spot the gnome by the pool? Sadly some mindless cretin had smashed it leaving just its legs cemented in its base.
BTW did the dog go with you???????
Kenton Kestrel
2012-10-01 18:41:08
Great to hear you made it in one piece. Another highly entertaining account.
I bet that pint of Jail Ale was one of the finest you have ever tasted!
reg the bullmastiff
2012-10-01 21:22:36
UNFORTUNATELY reg has been unable to shake off a bout of cancer he picked up in November despite 3 opps' and £2,000 at the vets. So he had to sit that one out. Just as well really. Reg has a huge head but there are no brains in it, I think he would of used all his energy up pulling himself out of the bogs.
I am unfamiliar with that part of the Moor So I guess I should but down my success to good luck? Dartmoor let me off this time. I was thinking I was going to be punished for my trespass. Like I said "the plan" was to go to Silverstone.
I never got that close to the crater S.S. however I did stop at Flat Tor as it was the only dry pace to but my bag down, and yes you are right K.K. that pint was FANTASTIC!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my sponsors, Berghause Boots and gaiters, the north face, heinz big soup and of course Mother Nature.... for not kicking my arse........ THANKS MUM
Kenton Kestrel
2012-10-01 21:34:38
Sorry to hear the news about Reg. Hope to see him at full speed on the moor one day.
Dartymoor
2012-10-02 05:57:58
Nice to hear about your walk, sounds like one to remember for a good while :)
Nik - KOTM
2012-10-12 07:54:10
It is nice when you accomplish something like that... especially with a pint to top it :)