Availability can also be checked at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. The average height of the moor, however, is around 1,200ft (366m). There is a warning out for the land to the west of the reservoir as it is now private so I therefore enjoyed an up and down over Longstone Hill. extent across the Oakhampton Military Firing Range but do not let this put I had found the perfect spot to take in all that is Dartmoor once more. The reality on this grey but dry day was a walk around the edge of Longstone Hill, take an obvious path due west of Yes Tor summit and walk eastwards up to the top and take a photo or three. Devon is a county of England, reaching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south. Ascended from Meldon Car Park via Yes Tor on a clear, dry August day. High Willhays is a very attractive county top. The view across Dartmoor and to Black Tor is a highlight. Returned by following the West Okement river to Meldon Reservoir; a beautiful route in summer albeit with some leaps to make to avoid . The only remaining recourse available to the objecting amenity societies was an appeal to the Parliamentary Ombudsman that an injustice had been done. We put on our spare jumpers and pulled our coats about us as we ate our sandwiches huddled together beneath our granite shelter. Meldon Dam Car Park: OS Grid Ref: SX 56154 91787 Longstone Hill: OS Grid Ref: SX 56942 90492 Yes Tor: OS Grid Ref: SX 58072 90155 High Willhays: OS Grid Ref: SX 58032 89217 Black Tor: OS Grid Ref: SX 56627 89490 West Okement River: OS Grid Ref: SX 56052 89827 Meldon Reservoir: OS Grid Ref: SX 55969 90842 Meldon Viaduct: OS Grid Ref: SX 56444 92302. the left are the red and white poles which mark the boundary of the Hisnose sniffed the calm air and his eyes scanned the distant valley slopes. Sunrise: 06:51; Sunset: 18:05. //--> 1h 28m Moderate 3.8 (3) Ten Tors Circular Walk Dartmoor National Park Length: 11.9 km Est. google_ad_height = 600; google_ad_slot = "2715819971"; xYK7h*ZffwLr98^qmlHSil3;zT}z? Fernworthy is a great place to Discover the Dartmoor Story. Dartmoor is bleak, unforgiving, stunningly beautiful and at the same time a cruel vicious landscape. Last ditch attempt to save Meldon Gorge. Nothing too fancy, just a flat rock with a view. For help see Help. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Meldon Reservoir Enjoy a waterside walk around this lovely reservoir on Dartmoor. I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.Steven Spielberg. It is worth mentioning here that this walk is in parts of the Okehampton firing range and it is worth checking the government website for firing times before you walk. Meldon Reservoir. Always useful. 3h 47m Moderate 4.1 (23) Granite Way: Okehampton to Lydford Dartmoor National Park Length: 14.3 km Est. load all 29 walk photos from Walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir, Send us your photographs and pictures from your walks and hikes. created. per adult. He also posited a possible link to the word gwili meaning winding or tortuous, but said it was unlikely this was where it originated from. Exit the car park and cross the lane to a signed bridleway heading southwest. to the water (SX 562913).Take the left fork. . They each have a certain attraction and charm, perhaps thats the engineer in me looking at things. For help see Help. It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. The River Lyd rises at Lyd Head by Corn Ridge to the north of Woodcock Hill. Now back at Meldon Dam, I followed a finger-post sign directing me north-east towards the viaduct. The gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, flora and fauna. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); See/ShowPassword It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level. Ordnance Survey Map Thanks to Malcolm Oakley of South Downs Walking. 3.3 km/h. The army military clear up This site was designed with the . The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. 7. Meldon Hill and Nattadon Hill are both popular with walkers, with a circular walk enabling you to take on both hills or each one independently. Oakhampton Military Firing Range. Head to the left of these and you will see the point heading When the track splits, take the left fork, You } Avon Dam Reservoir is one of eight Dartmoor reservoirs. Take the turn off to Meldon and follow the signs for the through the gate turn left to the reservoir dam. Construction of the dam started in 1970 and was completed in 1972.The Ordnance The reservoir once a natural now flooded valley and the awesome (yes I will use that word) viaduct is very much man-made over nature. Xf0"LU|h0qlBITX1HGJTlQl4y5:K{^:H8UKDy++J RlbMF*fshY)W)\ZQ &%ItS=kCU5G6I]3fwd 8PKiBU,57x}P1@H4k&\zjIiV* NJ>@y]42Y&. go4mailvariable='go4awalk.com' The authors state that the name may simply be a compound of high and well (meaning spring), though they admit that the additional syllable at the end is hard to explain. % The remains of the largest castle in Devon, in a stunning setting on a wooded spur above the rushing River Okement. Start: Devon is a county of England, reaching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south. Once I had found the correct road to Meldon Reservoir the route was very straightforward. Meldon Reservoir and Black Tor is a 4.6 mile loop trail located near Okehampton, Devon, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. High Willhays is within one of Dartmoor's Danger Zones, areas used periodically by the British Army for exercises. Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. William Crossing stated that High Willhays was the highest point in England south of Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales,[4] but since then surveys have shown that Kinder Scout is also higher (albeit less prominent). It's easy to get to the start of this walk as it's just off the A30, a major road linking Exeter to Cornwall and going over the top of Dartmoor. 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. Copyright | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement, Find New Walking Friends & Walking Groups, Questions & Answers about Walking & Hiking, load all 24 walk photos from Walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir. highest summit on Dartmoor until piped at the post by its companion High document.write('' + go4mailvariable + '<\/a>') For the return from Highwillhays, once again It is also possible to access the River Teign and surrounding area. Obvious paths on the lower slopes make pleasant walking but these become intermittent on the higher slopes, the wild ponies being the most likely creators of many. Walking up to the reservoir is pretty straight forward. Once I had found the correct road to Meldon Reservoir the route was very straightforward. As you get to the edge of the plateau, you will see three Large red words on the OS Map spell out a warning to hikers and tourists alike: Danger Area restricted access. load all 24 walk photos from Walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir, Send us your photographs and pictures from your walks and hikes. Yes Tor & High Willhays loop from Meldon Reservoir is an intermediate Hiking Tour. As the army use the section of Dartmoor which includes High Willhays and Yes Tor it is worth checking the free phone number (0800 4584568) to see if it is in use. From Meldon Reservoir car park, climb the steps next to the toilets and venture on to open moors without a compass and the knowledge to use it. Please enable javascript in your browser preferences). I've been feeling rather overwhelmed this past couple of weeks with work and various life "stuff" so this camp was. Then cut across boggy marsh . I was of course very wrong and my hike to Yes Tor, High Willhays and the Meldon Dam and Viaduct proved that. High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in the UK south of the Brecon Beacons. 6. Wistmans Wood is in the Dart river valley and has views of wild Devon that you wont find anywhere else in the country. 1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map(the ones with orange/yellow covers): 1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map(the ones with pink/magenta covers): Some Photos and Pictures from Walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir, West Mill Tor from Yes Tor with Okehampton and North Devon in background, High Willhays from the trig point on Yes Tor, The bridge at the southern end of Meldon Reservoir, . There are the remains of extensive peat works to the southeast of Lyd Head including the evocatively named Bleak House. the mist comes down, orientation could become difficult. 2 0 obj Please enable javascript in your browser preferences). A circular and fairly strenuous walk through typical Dartmoor landscape in Devon. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. (Guide Resolution = 300dpi. Our eldest wasn't looking where she was going and ended up kneed deep in a bog, to our great amusement and bless her, she took it with good grace. Before walking on the firing ranges you need to check online or by telephone for the published firing dates and on the day of your walk you should always check for red flags flying from the observation points along the marked range boundaries. From High Willhays we descended south to the West Okemont River and found our wild camping spot for the night nestled below Lints Tor. x.type = 'password'; Yes Tor was for years thought to be the The viaduct was opened in 1874 and is still standing proud in 2015. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. That brooding sky. Red flags are raised around the perimeter when live-firing is due to take place. Hi everyone!!! feet have not always followed the same paths, so worn routes have not been It sits on the River Avon which rises just over four miles away NW close to Ryder's Hill. riverbank and turn right to follow the path along the right hand riverbank. The gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, flora and fauna. untoward, do not touch it and report it. Your email address will not be published. //-->, High Which is exactly why I love it. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. High Willhays, the highest point on Dartmoor. Dartmoor ponies added to the tranquil scene. xY[kF~_![\53 )!7N&!s&ij43a kvF7VvyzU ~`c:fXHtA?z8GzL>: O_zj0 *C1Fucs{gb=L M:gvzl KGfgnD'!YHf9/vZ~QHp Leave a comment. The views from Yes Tor and along the ridge to High Willhays are very good and the West Okement River valley you follow back to Meldon Reservoir is very pretty. Construction of the dam started in 1970 and was completed in 1972.The reservoir covers some 57 acres. Recommended. I took a slight detour to High Willhays and came back via the more interesting Yes Tour. 562917) located at the northern end of the dam containing Meldon reservoir. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor . The walk starts from Meldon Reservoir. photos. Hiking info, trail maps, and 55 trip reports from High Willhays (621 m) in the Dartmoor of United Kingdom. Can you walk up high Willhays? In fact Black Mountain (703m) on the border between Herefordshire (England) and Powys (Wales) is considerably higher than both Crowden Head (Kinder Scout) (636m) and High Willhays (621m). IntroductionThis Dartmoor walk to Yes Tor and High Willhays takes place to a large You can follow hisblog here too. From there it was up to Yes Tor and High Willhays, where the wind really was blowing something. After the last Courtenay owner fell foul of Henry VIII in 1539, the castle declined into a ruin. Find new walk companions for walks in South West England, Get Directions to the start of walk de177, More easy-to-follow circular walks in Dartmoor National Park, More easy-to-follow circular walks in The South West, More easy-to-follow circular walks in Devon. Yes Tor, which for many years was thought to be the highest point, and has an O/S pillar to prove it, was recently demoted in favour of the less spectacular High Willhays. It was very wet underfoot and we saw many unprepared walkers struggling with inadequate footwear through bogs and over streams of water that wouldn't have been there during the warmer months. Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk: The highest point of this walk is High Willhays at 622m (2041ft). there is no distinct path. The walk starts at the car park at Meldon Reservoir and takes you to the 621 metres (2,039 ft) summit via Longstone Hill and Black Tor. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. A vast dam . Meldon Reservoir and Black Tor is a 4.6 mile loop trail located near Okehampton, Devon, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. There are the remains of extensive peat works to the southeast of Lyd Head including the evocatively named Bleak House. I took a slight detour to High Willhays and came back via the more interesting Yes Tour. His instincts, his breeding told him this was something he could do, he understood this view. Undaunted, 16 ramblers gathered at the start point on the track recorded automatically as I walked so should be accurate. Overview Walking up High Willhays. The time refers to a. The sharpness of the fractured rocks, the twists and turns of every footstep, water running from every crevice. The undisputed highest point in Dartmoor and the South West. The track splits by some picnic tables next Construction began in 1970 in response to increasing demand for domestic water supply. The weather was nice and we enjoyed the rare pleasure of sitting outside of our tent for a bit, rather than rushing inside to escape cold and rain as so often is the . photo) which will be ahead of you. Only when beyond the false summit (the cairnvisible from the west) do you then see the trig point and radio mast. DICE Dental International Congress and Exhibition. Nestled in a valley beneath High Willhays, the 'roof of Devon' and the highest point on Dartmoor, lies a mystical ancient oak woodland packed full of wild beauty. Meldon Reservoir, or Meldon, is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the north west section of the National Park. Willhays. I'd seen a photo of Black-A-Tor Copse, 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is. %PDF-1.5 This is a great time to point out that though we'd all been fairly warm on our ascent we all got cold very quickly whilst sheltering from the rain and I can not iterate enough the importance of carrying extra layers and gloves. Was a bloody chilly morning (and night) on Prewley Moor but what a view! which protects some plant (water abstraction or whatever) but soon returns Now dont imagine for one moment this would be an easy walk in thick mist, pouring rain, ice and hail. I'd seen a photo of Black-A-Tor Copse SX566 890 on Instagram and thought it'd be a lovely place to take my camera. As mentioned in all the walking guides, Yes Tor is not actually as high as High Willhays but the view is much better, and the top is more, erm, interesting shall we say. [email address] (NB. Stay on the right hand side of the river, in 3. Tagged: Black-a-Tor Copse, Dartmoor, Dinger Tor, Fordsland Ledge, High Willhays, hike, hiking, Lints Tor, Meldon, reservoir, walk, walking, Yes Tor. Walkers are welcomed when the range is not being used and to avoid The range is marked by red and white posts on the Moor. We stopped here a while and I decided that it was still just about warm enough for me to take an Autumn dip in the West Okement. The geology of High Willhays, like most of Dartmoor, consists of granite intruded about 280 million years ago. As we ascended the rain clouds seemed to hang over our destination and were beginning to clear the higher we got, however just as we approached Yes Tor the weather came rolling in once more from Okehampton and we were seemingly chased by ominous dark clouds. Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). Unlike sunsets that donthold his attention for long, this working landscape captivated him whilst I watched and ate my humble lunch. All in all we had a very pleasant day and everyone agreed that it had been really enjoyable despite the rainy weather. The walk starts from Meldon Reservoir. Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. Do not follow this link or you will be banned from this site. United Kingdom high willhays hike and camp Top recommended route Difficulty moderate. meldon reservoir to high willhays. I had an idea what to expect but until I stood directly beneath the towering superstructure I really didnt know justhow awesome it would be. if (x.type === 'password') { Dartmoor had always conjured up images of bleak moorland, high tors, deep marshes and swirling mists. Anyone been there? Very much part of the attraction for me; what the eye doesnt see, the mind starts to imagine.The plan was to walk from Meldon Reservoir in an easterly direction up to Yes Tor, a location for years I had always wanted to visit. Meldon Reservoir is situated northwest of Yes Tor , and northwest of High Willhays . rock outcrops of the Tor proper. If visibility is clear, you should have no reservoir car park. Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). . High Willhays 6 miles (9 km) Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. For help logging on, see Help > FAQs > Logging On. go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited. When was Meldon reservoir built? Available for both RF and RM licensing. 420 m. It lies in some high moorland which can be bleak in bad weatherlovely in good. site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any 2. High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in the UK south of the Brecon Beacons. The walk starts at the car park at Meldon Reservoir and takes you to the 621 metres (2,039 ft) summit via Longstone Hill and Black Tor. I walked west to Black Tor, hoping to find a nice spot for lunch. stream Ah, the penny drops, so this will be the summit then. The approach to Yes Tor from the west is deceptive, you cannot see the trig point and radio aerial at all. //--> From High Willhays we walked back down the West side of the hill towards Black-A-Tor Copse. Meldon Reservoir - West Okement River Circular Dartmoor National Park Length: 5.1 km Est. Please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to: