Thursday, 9 December 2010

man v wilderness in the northern wastes........

Before the return of hot and sweaty running temperatures it was time for a blast round the 'north moor' which has a bit of a reputation down here as being a bit roughty toughty and not to be messed with. Bless.

After a bit of planning to make the most of as many lumps as we could, Spook and I set off from Row Tor, down to Cullever Steps and followed Irishman's Wall up and over Belstone Tor. Splashing through the ford we found the track which picks its way up to Cosdon and from there on one of the best tracks Dartmoor has to offer to Hangingstone Hill. Judging by the lack of bootprints in the snow or frost I was the the first here for the best part of a week.

Lots of wilderness here (its between the observation shelter and the flagpole)

Off down the track and splashing through the infant River Taw we climbed to OP15 (the observation posts are numbered) and down Sammy Arnold's Lane to Dinger Plain. The last climb of the run from here was up to High Willhays and after a brief visit to Yes Tor it was time for the swoopy loopy run up and over West Mil and Row Tors and back to the car.
13 miles in about 3 hours.
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12 comments:

  1. chris mcpeake9 December 2010 at 08:20

    That looks like one chilly tough run, talk about fun

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  2. 4 Winds9 December 2010 at 08:30

    Hi Chris - it was just about right temp-wise. I suffer in the heat, so anything cold is just the ticket. Hope to visit your neck of the woods some day. Now THAT's wilderness and no mistake!

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  3. sbrt9 December 2010 at 10:56

    Some great place names

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  4. whoisthechallenger9 December 2010 at 16:11

    Will you quit it already?!? :D Oxford English Dictionary call Wilderness "an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.
    a neglected or abandoned area". I think that is Dartmoor. (Except for the bit between the FP and the OP here, obviously)

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  5. 4 Winds9 December 2010 at 23:59

    No on all counts.

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  6. Stu Stod10 December 2010 at 04:43

    Like sbrt, I too am liking the place names....

    "down Sammy Arnold's Lane to Dinger Plain"

    Sounds amazing!

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  7. 4 Winds10 December 2010 at 09:54

    My Dartmoor favourites are Ephraim's Pinch and Golden Dagger Mine. Not that keen on Jackman's Bottom though......

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  8. whoisthechallenger10 December 2010 at 18:11

    Don't ignore Hangerdown Clump, Deadmans Bottom, Whisky and Soda Wood, Branscombe's Loaf and Cowflop Bottom

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  9. ultra collie10 December 2010 at 20:59

    like 'where's wally?'..'spot spook'
    looks like a grand run

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  10. 4 Winds11 December 2010 at 01:28

    Whisky and Soda Wood sounds interesting!
    Spooks got that 'being made to stop for a photo shoot' look.

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  11. Simon13 December 2010 at 05:30

    When are those hot and sweaty temperatures coming back?! Set for another big chill up here this week...

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  12. 4 Winds13 December 2010 at 11:29

    Gimme below zero anyday! Rumours down here of snow on Friday - yeehaa!

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