Holiday - Cornwall - Day 4 - Fox Tor Walk

Cornwall Holiday

Sunday 28th October 2018

We had planned to go  service ringing this morning in Launceston, but after we had a lie in we realised we wouldn't get there in time!  We had a relaxed morning and the eventually headed into Launceston to get some bread and a pasty for lunch.  

Back at the cottage we had a look at the maps and decided where we were going to go for a walk - we decided to head over the hills behind where we are staying.

We parked up at Tolcarne and walked up onto the Moor towards Fox Tor.

From the top of Fox Tor we made our way to a ring cairn that marked the top of East Moor.  The ring was only just visible!

So far the going had been good and we had not come across any access issues - we even found some way markers!!

The next point on the Moor we aimed for was Greymare Rock - a large strange rounded boulder in the middle of nowhere!

Next stop was Carey Tor.

Dodging round the edge of Watery Marsh we walked up onto Ridge to find a Tumulus.

We made our way off the top of the hill and rejoined the path we started our walk on.

It was a nice walk and even better that there were no access issues and no rain!

Back at the cottage we got warmed up and had some dinner followed by a relaxing evening.  

Unfortunately tomorrow is home time.  We are going to go to the climbing wall at Exeter on the way and the onto Portland to collect Doughnut bunny.

Holiday - Cornwall - Day 3 - Dartmoor Walk

Cornwall Holiday

Saturday 27th October 2018

We decided that today we would go over to Dartmoor for a walk.  The weather forecast was looking better to the East.  We made some lunch, packed out rucksacks and set off for Meldon Reservoir.

We parked up and set off. Very soon we had a hail shower!  Thankfully the only one of the day.  We turned away from the reservoir and followed the stream up to some trees below Black Tor and then stopped for some lunch.

After lunch we carried on up to Black Tor.

The next Tor was High Willhays - the highest point on Dartmoor.

After a stop for a hot drink and shelter from the cold wind we continued on to Yes Tor for the obligatory trig point photo!

It was very windy and cold on the top so we didn't hang around!  We took the path off the top towards Black Down with a quick diversion up onto West Mill Tor as we were passing!!

On the way back down we joined a stream back to the reservoir.

It was a nice walk though it was a bit chilly but thankfully it remained dry after the initial hail flurry!

This evening we decided to try out a local pub for some dinner and then back to the cottage for some pudding and to light the fire!

Given the wind and cold we have decided that climbing is probably not the best idea.

Holiday - Cornwall - Day 2 - Minions Walk

Cornwall Holiday

Friday 26th October 2018

This morning we woke up to glorious sunshine. We decided we would head to Minions and go for a walk on Bodmin Moor.  After having some breakfast and making a packed lunch the heavens opened! Thankfully it didn't last long and we set off to Minions.  

We planned to start off walking towards Cheesewring as there are climbs in the quarry there!  We took the climbing book with us so we could have a look at what was what.  It began to rain so we sheltered at the edge of the quarry.

From the quarry we walked up onto the top of Cheesewring and then over towards Sharptor.  We got down to the road and walked up and down trying to identify the route over to Sharptor but failed!  We have had come across access issues on Bodmin Moor before! We set off on a different route towards another quarry we could see.  On the way we met a couple of blokes from one of the farms we passed so we clarified the route to Sharptor - we decided not to go that way as it was much further back from where we had got to!

We got to Gold Diggings Quarry and found a sheltered spot to have some lunch.  

We had just finished eating when we had some more rain and then hail!

From here we followed a track away from the quarry and then turned off in a straight route across the Moor to Tregarrick Tor.  Once again it rained!  This time though we could see a lovely rainbow!

We could see the reservoir we were walking to next.  We walked straight down off the Tor towards Siblyback Lake.  We came across more access issues and ended up finding an appropriate place to climb over a wall!

After a short section walking along the reservoir and another downpour we had to make up a bit of route to rejoin the path! We made our way back through fields and finally back onto open access land back towards the carpark at Minions.

On the way back we called into the village shop in Minions for a few bits we forgot to get in Launceson. 

Back at the cottage we got changed and cleaned up and made a hot drink to warm up.  It had got very cold while we were out.

This evening we (mostly Tim!) made a roast for dinner and had a relaxing evening with the fire going.

Tomorrow we are going to head over to Dartmoor for a walk to the highest point High Willhays.

Holiday - Cornwall - Day 1 - Journey to Cornwall

Cornwall Holiday

Thursday 25th October 2018

This morning we eventually got ourselves ready and packed the car to head to Cornwall. We packed Doughnut bunny and set off for Portland where Doughnut was going to have his holiday with his bunny friends Rodney and Dylan!  On our way out of Weymouth we stopped at Sargent Buns Bakery to get some lunch and then we were finally on our way to Cornwall. We called into Launceston for a Tesco shop before we got to Trevadlock.  We got to the cottage a bit before 4, it was all left open and warm for us - even a freshly baked cake out for us!

This evening we had some soup for dinner and then relaxed with the fire going watching The Mentalist!

Holiday - Lake District - Day 15 - Home Time

Lake District Holiday

Saturday 7th July 2018

Today was home time.  We were both sad to be leaving as we had had a great holiday.  We have done so much in 2 weeks but there are more things we would like to do.  A return visit is definitely required at some point!

We got packed up quite quickly and set off just before 9am.  We had a good journey and were back home around 15.30.  Next we had to unload the car and sort it all out and put everything away before we could sit and relax!

Holiday - Lake District - Day 14 - Dow Crag Climbing and Scrambling ad Old Man of Coniston

Lake District Holiday

Friday 6th July 2018

Today was our last day here in the Lake District.  We had a very adventurous day out planned.  We set off from the apartment and made our way down to Coniston.  We parked the car in a disused quarry not far out of Coniston.  

We got our back packs on and set off just gone 9am for the base of Dow Crag.

The walk out took us round the side of the Old Man of Coniston and then up to Goat's Water.  At the beginning of the Tarn we could see the full extent of the climb we had ahead of us.

The route was 100m long and finished up at a small grassy ledge called Easy Terrace.  From there we could either descend or carry on up to the summit.  We carried on up to the base of the climb.  We could see that there were no other climbers on the route already so we could get ourselves kitted up and get going.

The route wasn't to hard to follow we just had to have a look around and use the most worn route up the rock.  The guide divides up the climb into 7 pitches but a lot of what we had read about the climb said pople tent to divide it into 5 instead.  We thought we would just see what happens! We did it in 5 in the end.  It was a good climb with only one tricky bit that needed careful negotiation.  A broken flake of rock was sitting in a precarious position and care was needed not to kick it off on to anyone below.  Tim had a look at the patch and decided to take us a slightly different way round that bit.  A good choice when I got up there to see the dodgy area!  100m later we were sat on Easy Terrace and could have some lunch.  It was a good climb and we were glad we chose to do it.

Once we had eaten and rested we had a think about what we wanted to do next.  We were both quite keen to continue up if it looked appropriate.  We had read that the scramble zigzags to the top and the lower bit that we were now above was the harder section.  The downwards option was going down the lower section of the scramble.  We walked along Easy Terrace and identified where both routes went.  As we were both keen to continue up that is where we went.  The scramble was well trodden and pleasant.  The main thing was to not look down as we were already 100m up!  I didn't take us long and we were climbing up on to the top.

From where we joined the ridge we only had a short way to go to get to the summit of Dow Crag.

From the top of Dow Crag we had a few options depending on how far we wanted to walk.  We decided to continue along the ridge and up over the Old Man of Coniston and back down the far side.

After another small section of up hill effort we were on the top of the Old Man on Coniston.

Down hill from there onwards, it was very steep in places!!  As we got down to the Tarn the path turned to go through a disused slate mine.  There were old ruined buildings, tunnels and even some old railway tracks!

The route down of the hill felt long and never ending.  My feet certainly knew about it!!  Eventually we were back at the car.  It had been a great climb, scramble and walk.  Made for a great last day of the holiday.  This evening we were planning on going to the pub for dinner.  It was about 6 when we got back to the car.  We felt that by the time we had got back and showered it would be a bit late to go to the pub in Ambleside.  We decided instead to visit one of the pubs in Coniston.  It was a good choice the food was really nice and came quickly.

Back at the apartment we did a little tidying up ready for going home but we very quickly ended up flopping on the sofa as we were both shattered!!