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Friday, 16 April 2010
Sleepy Time
For a variety of reasons, I'm putting The Leat to bed for the time being. Apologies to the few people who've enjoyed reading.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Thurlestone
A village and a rock formation, but not in one.
Today was spent performing family duties interspersed by a visit to Thurlestone beach where we found waves - for Clover - pebbles - for the camera - and an easy to follow coast path for Ros.
Here's the pebbles (with scenery attached) ...
And this is the bole of a tree ...
For the overly enthusiastic, here's a long shot of Thurlestone - the rock not the village.
Today was spent performing family duties interspersed by a visit to Thurlestone beach where we found waves - for Clover - pebbles - for the camera - and an easy to follow coast path for Ros.
Here's the pebbles (with scenery attached) ...
Here's the waves (but not the ones Clover chased) ...
And this is the bole of a tree ...
For the overly enthusiastic, here's a long shot of Thurlestone - the rock not the village.
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Dizzard!
It being Easter and no doubt some appointed day amongst such an amalgum, we went to the beach. But not just any beach - Crackington Haven is, for the next few months, dog free - so instead we went to Dizzard, or to be more precise, Foxhole Strand, a stretch of pebbles and shingle sitting below looming cliffs composed of angled rock strata.
Here's the view back towards the cliffs south of the strand.
Here's a similar view but with a handy pool in the foreground.
Another thing that separates Dizzard from Crackington Haven is that while you are unable, by law, to remove rocks and pebbles from Crackington, at Dizzard ...
Here's the view back towards the cliffs south of the strand.
Here's a similar view but with a handy pool in the foreground.
And here - cheating because the batteries died today - are the rock strata as recorded in 2008.
Another thing that separates Dizzard from Crackington Haven is that while you are unable, by law, to remove rocks and pebbles from Crackington, at Dizzard ...
Which one's you favourite?
The final attribute of Dizzard is its suitability as a swear word. And this isn't a simple thing you understand. A swear word has to be useful in a variety of literary circumstances. As a noun - you Dizzard - as a verb - I'll Dizzard you - and so on. I'll leave you the reader to find a use for it.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Ripples on Crazywell
It's certainly the case that locations are variable. Last time at Crazywell, the pool was becalmed - at least until Abby put a paw in - this time there was something more than a breeze. Let's call it a biting wind! It was Winter's Return, which is certainly good enough for a Fantasy Sequel, but not, notice, the final volume; that would have to be something hopeful and stirring.
I could go on and on given that introduction, but that's not the purpose here. We did a loopy walk yesterday - me, Ros and Clover - parking beside Devonport Leat above Burrator, following its course to climb the Cascades, before dropping down to Crazywell and from there onto the track to Norsworthy. The hardest part of the walk was the climb back to the car, but the coldest was the ascent of the Cascades.
So, given the conditions, here's Crazywell without a mirror-smooth surface. Bad for reflections, but great for textures.
A quick note on Crazywell. The pool isn't, especially in this kind of weather, a standing, stagnant bowl of water. The cutting you can see in the photo above serves as an outlet and, apart from the usual run off from the surrounding slopes, there's a definite inlet with its own little waterfall. As such, Crazywell is much like a toilet cistern but with a pretty constant inflow and outflow, and given that, it will never rise much above the level you see in the photo. It can, however, fall if there's a sustained drought.
And texture ...
There's a side bar there somewhere. I'll play with that.
Subsequent note, pictures on the sidebar seem to be restricted to a silly number of pixels, so no textured distraction - at least until I can find a work round.
I could go on and on given that introduction, but that's not the purpose here. We did a loopy walk yesterday - me, Ros and Clover - parking beside Devonport Leat above Burrator, following its course to climb the Cascades, before dropping down to Crazywell and from there onto the track to Norsworthy. The hardest part of the walk was the climb back to the car, but the coldest was the ascent of the Cascades.
So, given the conditions, here's Crazywell without a mirror-smooth surface. Bad for reflections, but great for textures.
A quick note on Crazywell. The pool isn't, especially in this kind of weather, a standing, stagnant bowl of water. The cutting you can see in the photo above serves as an outlet and, apart from the usual run off from the surrounding slopes, there's a definite inlet with its own little waterfall. As such, Crazywell is much like a toilet cistern but with a pretty constant inflow and outflow, and given that, it will never rise much above the level you see in the photo. It can, however, fall if there's a sustained drought.
And texture ...
There's a side bar there somewhere. I'll play with that.
Subsequent note, pictures on the sidebar seem to be restricted to a silly number of pixels, so no textured distraction - at least until I can find a work round.
Monday, 29 March 2010
A rather dour Stour
With apologies for a prolonged absence and the missing Vernal Equinox - a lack which wasn't down to laziness but bad weather, because you can't take a picture of the sunset when there's no sun.
But there's always next year and certainly the Autumn.
The sun has been missing because the weather has turned away from the fine but cold arctic flows back towards the wet but mild Atlantic systems. Not being cold is a good thing of course, but I'd take the clean crisp air and crunchy grass anyday over driving misty rain and sodden turf. But, of course, this is Dartmoor and you have to take the downs to get the considerable highs.
And in that vein, it was interesting to have an excursion eastward to the ouskirts of Bournemouth (for a family do) where I found the 'dour Stour'.
But there's always next year and certainly the Autumn.
The sun has been missing because the weather has turned away from the fine but cold arctic flows back towards the wet but mild Atlantic systems. Not being cold is a good thing of course, but I'd take the clean crisp air and crunchy grass anyday over driving misty rain and sodden turf. But, of course, this is Dartmoor and you have to take the downs to get the considerable highs.
And in that vein, it was interesting to have an excursion eastward to the ouskirts of Bournemouth (for a family do) where I found the 'dour Stour'.
Taken from the hotel window at dawn - four pints of Ringwood Forty Niner is not condusive to late sleeping for some reason - this was just about the most vibrant picture available that morning. The next one, cropped to diminish the grey sky, was taken some four hours later from the top of the island that you can see in the first picture.
At this point the Stour is on an upward meander amidst its inexorable drive south east towards its destination at Christchurch Harbour. Although you can't get a sense of it from these pictures, it's an extremely fast flowing river that befits the sernse of its description as dour - obstinate, sullen.
Follow the Stour upstream, taking its eatern arm when given the choice (but not choosing the Winterbourne because that would just be pedantic), you eventually get to Hod Hill, an imposing Iron Age Hillfort that was taken by Vespasian on his passage west. After the assault, the victors, just to be sure, built their own fort; showing the locals exactly how this fortifcation thing was done.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Wet Dog
A pretty standard walk today, along the tramway to the northern slope of Leeden Tor and a beautiful clear, bubbling stream that has its own little bridge and handy bank.
Perfect for launching dogs into the water.
Jack, naturally, is the aspiring candidate and this is he, in the water, out of it, shaking it from his coat and generally just showing off.
Perfect for launching dogs into the water.
Jack, naturally, is the aspiring candidate and this is he, in the water, out of it, shaking it from his coat and generally just showing off.
Friday, 5 March 2010
Shades of Grey
By a certain climatary quirk, while the sky today was crystal clear - indeed blue - as the day wore on the air itself gradually condensed into a weak mist. We could still see to Kit Hill and beyond but each subsequent ridgeline was feinter than the last. Somewhere, almost certainly, there was a professional photographer doing all the necessaries to end up with that perfect cropped shot of shaded hill tops.
Not me though. Suffering from lower back pain I was only up to shuffling along the tramway while Ros and Rachel, encircled by busy dogs, strode on regardless, legs striding, mouths and tongues working hard to produce an enviable stream of chit chat. And you can't get that on camera with ease.
In two weeks time or there abouts, it'll be March 20th - the Spring Equinox - and the next installment of our Down Tor Stone Row fascination. Just to recap, we found out that the row was Not a Winter Alignment. Not even close. So the next obvious appointment with the ancients would therefore be when the year was a quarter of the way through.
I have to say I've got some doubts, but you never know, we might end up with an Indiana Jones moment as the westering sun glints its way through the secret stone hole to alight a single beam on a singular pinpoint of rock that opens into a dank passageway ....
Of course, the chances are that it'll be wet with mist and the sun will be conspicuously absent. That never happens in the films does it, but then every one of those special moments takes place in a warm climate in the Summer. By definition, that can't happen here. The countdown continues.
Postscript. By virtue of another quirk, this one concerned with nomenclature, a row of new housing in the village has been named 'The Leat'. Naturally I'll be contacting my solicitor forthwith.
Not me though. Suffering from lower back pain I was only up to shuffling along the tramway while Ros and Rachel, encircled by busy dogs, strode on regardless, legs striding, mouths and tongues working hard to produce an enviable stream of chit chat. And you can't get that on camera with ease.
In two weeks time or there abouts, it'll be March 20th - the Spring Equinox - and the next installment of our Down Tor Stone Row fascination. Just to recap, we found out that the row was Not a Winter Alignment. Not even close. So the next obvious appointment with the ancients would therefore be when the year was a quarter of the way through.
I have to say I've got some doubts, but you never know, we might end up with an Indiana Jones moment as the westering sun glints its way through the secret stone hole to alight a single beam on a singular pinpoint of rock that opens into a dank passageway ....
Of course, the chances are that it'll be wet with mist and the sun will be conspicuously absent. That never happens in the films does it, but then every one of those special moments takes place in a warm climate in the Summer. By definition, that can't happen here. The countdown continues.
Postscript. By virtue of another quirk, this one concerned with nomenclature, a row of new housing in the village has been named 'The Leat'. Naturally I'll be contacting my solicitor forthwith.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Skirting Pew Tor
The weather's turned mild now, a welcome change from the chill air that has been camped across Dartmoor for the last couple of months and a certain sense of warmth enthused us as we took Clover and Jack on an hourlong jaunt around Pew Tor.
Parking the noddy car close to Oakley Cottage, we crossed the leat and followed it roughly before edging towards Feather Tor and then down somewhat in the direction of Vixen Tor. A right turn - more of a sedate course amendment - soon had us walking alongside a dry stone wall along the designated footpath (green dashes on the map) and then another right and we went back almost over Pew Tor and back down.
Vixen Tor, an unapproachable landmark because the owner doesn't want to be made liable for anyone falling off.
Parking the noddy car close to Oakley Cottage, we crossed the leat and followed it roughly before edging towards Feather Tor and then down somewhat in the direction of Vixen Tor. A right turn - more of a sedate course amendment - soon had us walking alongside a dry stone wall along the designated footpath (green dashes on the map) and then another right and we went back almost over Pew Tor and back down.
Vixen Tor, an unapproachable landmark because the owner doesn't want to be made liable for anyone falling off.
A view up to Heckwood Tor ...
I spent a good few seconds lining up the next shot only for Jack to come charging back along the path and jump straight into both puddles. Another minute or so was spent waiting for the water to calm down again.
Here's a busy shot.
Finally a view across to Brentor, looking like a virulent pimple on the skyline. If you open it up in a photo editor and zoom in, you can see the church.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
The Tramway
The tramway under consideration runs from Dousland to Princetown via the Swelltor and Foggintor quarries. But let's put all of that into the past tense because tramway and quarries are no longer functioning; the former now acting as a sure-foot path all the way to Princetown and the latter existing as a collection of close-cut gorges and pools.
Today we limited ourselves to the stretch between Gypsy Rock and Ingra Tor. On the way back we met Graham the farmer. We think his eyebrows could generate electricity, but ordinarily we're just happy to listen to the man because he's one of those fountains of local lore.
Here we go ...
This is a view out towards Kit Hill, the various layers starting with the land descending into the Walkhampton Valley, then the rise that is Sampford Spiney, followed a partial view of Plaster Down, after which stuff generally gets less discernible.
Next we've got a slightly different direction with a view of five Tors. On the skyline, from left to right, are Cox Tor, Middle Staple Tor, Great Staple Tor and Roos Tor. Below the skyline, rising up from the western slope of the Walkham Valley is Vixen Tor.
Lastly, and continuing the general fascination with the sky and the clouds and all that ....
Today we limited ourselves to the stretch between Gypsy Rock and Ingra Tor. On the way back we met Graham the farmer. We think his eyebrows could generate electricity, but ordinarily we're just happy to listen to the man because he's one of those fountains of local lore.
Here we go ...
This is a view out towards Kit Hill, the various layers starting with the land descending into the Walkhampton Valley, then the rise that is Sampford Spiney, followed a partial view of Plaster Down, after which stuff generally gets less discernible.
Next we've got a slightly different direction with a view of five Tors. On the skyline, from left to right, are Cox Tor, Middle Staple Tor, Great Staple Tor and Roos Tor. Below the skyline, rising up from the western slope of the Walkham Valley is Vixen Tor.
Lastly, and continuing the general fascination with the sky and the clouds and all that ....
And finally ...
Monday, 15 February 2010
North Tawton
A mini adventure that was partly successful, a mite intriguing, but utlimately deserving of greater effort.
First things first, Clover and I couldn't actually get to the Roman Fort at North Tawton. If I'd been on my own, I'd have probably climbed over the barbed wire fence that wasn't supposed to be there, but seeing as Clover was with me, I decided agaist it. The unanticipated fence was found as an extension of the tree-lined bank that lies along the same north south direction as the eastern ditch of the fort as seen on the OS map. You can see that tree line on Google Maps here.
Despite not getting into the relevent field, there are some interesting observations. Firstly there is a distinct series of old trees that marks the line of the Roman Road as it approaches the fort and the river crossong below it. You can see an impression of that line in the following photo ...
First things first, Clover and I couldn't actually get to the Roman Fort at North Tawton. If I'd been on my own, I'd have probably climbed over the barbed wire fence that wasn't supposed to be there, but seeing as Clover was with me, I decided agaist it. The unanticipated fence was found as an extension of the tree-lined bank that lies along the same north south direction as the eastern ditch of the fort as seen on the OS map. You can see that tree line on Google Maps here.
Despite not getting into the relevent field, there are some interesting observations. Firstly there is a distinct series of old trees that marks the line of the Roman Road as it approaches the fort and the river crossong below it. You can see an impression of that line in the following photo ...
The afore-mentioned tree-lined north-south boundary lies perpendicular to the road and - the intriguing part - incorproates a distinct ditch suggesting a possible outer defensive work facing east. Here's the ditch ...
As you can see - if you look carefully - the bank that marks the field boundary is distinctly higher than the ground to the east of the ditch (we're looking north here). If this is in fact an outer defensive work, then the general line of it dates back two thousand years or so, just as the line of the fort proper follows the same line. If you now go back to the OS map view, and follow the course of the road eastwards, you'll see a different set of field boundaries following a different line (some cross the railway line, some don't), until you get to where the road is labelled - Roman Road (course of) - at which point the boundaries again become perpendicular and match up with what is now a track that emanates from the 'yellow' road labelled Itton Moor. Notice also that the 'yellow' road follows the same direction as the Roman Road for a short stretch.
All of which suggests a very old set of field boundaries that merits the attention of a man with a dog.
A few more mouse drags eastward and the course of the Roman Road disappears. However, if you imagine that line continuing, you'll see it (perhaps) re-appearing as the odd field boundary running east-west and then, along roughly the same line, you end up at Keymelford where there's a crossing of the River Yeo. Once across the Yeo, it's feasible that the Roman Road coincides with the modern road as it passes Brandise Cross and Gunstone Cross, both road junctions.
More to do then ...
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Trees above Deancombe
Just a quicky I'm afraid ...
I also took some mossy stone pictures that I'll try and stitch together. If only I had a wide angle lens.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
A line along the Taw
The Taw is a North Devon river that runs from the centre of Dartmoor down east of Okehampton and then winds its way north up to Barnstaple where it enters an estuary that is also attached to the Okement River. Both rivers start their course from a boggy morasse in the centre of Dartmoor that's easier to call Cranmer Pool than anything else. In fact, there's less than a half a mile between the two river 'heads' and, within the space of perhaps two square miles, you can find the sources of four principle rivers, the others being the East Dart and the Teign.
But that's mostly incidental; the Taw is of concern because it positions a Roman fort and also - because this isn't just interesting, but might be related - it traces a collection of Grove-related placenames that certainly have a Brittonic (Celtic for those who have a preference) root, but are also composed of Germanic elements with the same meaning. The British element is Nymet, incorporating the Latinised Nemeton, and the Germanic element is Beer, Bear or Beere.
The fort in question is sited just south of North Tawton along the line of the Roman road from Exeter - at that point now the A3072, which spurs off the current A377 but was, at the time, the same road. Other forts are at Bury Barton and Okehampton. The North Tawton fort is actually one of perhaps two or three that, at different times, evidently defended a good crossing point of the Taw.
Current thinking has it that the forts date to the immediate post-conquest phase of Roman Britain - immediate meaning a few decade after - at a time when the 2nd Legion under Vespasian was consolidating its hold on the south west peninsular, in the process subduing the Dumnonii tribe. However, if that was exclusively the case, then the forts would have probably existed for just a finite time. That the Roman Road survives and that it crosses the Taw at pretty much the same point as it did two thousand years ago, makes a good case that the forts were in existence longer and that they, or what they generated in the local surrounds, was still active well after Britain was removed from the Empire.
So, because I'm a boring bugger who's got an interest in all of this, I'm establishing a project of sorts to visit the forts, hopefully trace the Nymet-related places and generally make a nuisance of myself for a time. Most likely I'll do this on my own - I don't doubt that even Gloria, the invented Witch of Sheepstor, would be bored rigid by such a venture ...
But that's mostly incidental; the Taw is of concern because it positions a Roman fort and also - because this isn't just interesting, but might be related - it traces a collection of Grove-related placenames that certainly have a Brittonic (Celtic for those who have a preference) root, but are also composed of Germanic elements with the same meaning. The British element is Nymet, incorporating the Latinised Nemeton, and the Germanic element is Beer, Bear or Beere.
The fort in question is sited just south of North Tawton along the line of the Roman road from Exeter - at that point now the A3072, which spurs off the current A377 but was, at the time, the same road. Other forts are at Bury Barton and Okehampton. The North Tawton fort is actually one of perhaps two or three that, at different times, evidently defended a good crossing point of the Taw.
Current thinking has it that the forts date to the immediate post-conquest phase of Roman Britain - immediate meaning a few decade after - at a time when the 2nd Legion under Vespasian was consolidating its hold on the south west peninsular, in the process subduing the Dumnonii tribe. However, if that was exclusively the case, then the forts would have probably existed for just a finite time. That the Roman Road survives and that it crosses the Taw at pretty much the same point as it did two thousand years ago, makes a good case that the forts were in existence longer and that they, or what they generated in the local surrounds, was still active well after Britain was removed from the Empire.
So, because I'm a boring bugger who's got an interest in all of this, I'm establishing a project of sorts to visit the forts, hopefully trace the Nymet-related places and generally make a nuisance of myself for a time. Most likely I'll do this on my own - I don't doubt that even Gloria, the invented Witch of Sheepstor, would be bored rigid by such a venture ...
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Tied up with no place to go
A non-capitalised title; that's a sure fire clue to a post without content. Don't ask why that might be, you'll have to just accept on trust that I don't know what I'm going to write. In fact the only real content is implied by the title - I've got stuff to do (a report to write as it happens) and as such have not been able to get out to produce the necessary content with which to construct what, in this blog at least, might be construed as a valid post. That's content.
"What about me!"
Blimey, it's him, the invented person.
"Him! HIM!! You really know how to insult a woman, don't you."
Work that one out. I invent a character, I decide what gender that character will be, and suddenly the character's there saying how I've got it wrong and he's now a woman.
"I'm here you know. There's no need to talk over my head, that's just plain rude."
It's called narration dear.
"Don't you 'Dear' me. You have no clue do you, no clue at all about what makes the mind of a woman tick. And what makes her explode. We've been talking for what ... a minute and you've already wound me up to breaking point. Is this how you treat her? The other half of the 'we' you keep referring to. I bet she gets wound up too."
Blimey. Remind me not to write fiction again.
"And exactly what's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm not real?"
The only thing I can say for certain is that I get to decide when a post ends.
"You really believe that don't you?"
I'll tell you what I believe. In fact I'll tell you what I've decided, because - and trust me on this - I really do have a very big say on what goes on around here.
"Not for long ... "
No, really.
"Alright then Mr High and Mighty - and no, I don't find assertive men attractive - alright then, tell us what you've decided."
What I've decided Gloria, Witch of Sheepstor, is securely contained in the content of this sentence.
"Bastard!"
Indeed.
"What about me!"
Blimey, it's him, the invented person.
"Him! HIM!! You really know how to insult a woman, don't you."
Work that one out. I invent a character, I decide what gender that character will be, and suddenly the character's there saying how I've got it wrong and he's now a woman.
"I'm here you know. There's no need to talk over my head, that's just plain rude."
It's called narration dear.
"Don't you 'Dear' me. You have no clue do you, no clue at all about what makes the mind of a woman tick. And what makes her explode. We've been talking for what ... a minute and you've already wound me up to breaking point. Is this how you treat her? The other half of the 'we' you keep referring to. I bet she gets wound up too."
Blimey. Remind me not to write fiction again.
"And exactly what's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I'm not real?"
The only thing I can say for certain is that I get to decide when a post ends.
"You really believe that don't you?"
I'll tell you what I believe. In fact I'll tell you what I've decided, because - and trust me on this - I really do have a very big say on what goes on around here.
"Not for long ... "
No, really.
"Alright then Mr High and Mighty - and no, I don't find assertive men attractive - alright then, tell us what you've decided."
What I've decided Gloria, Witch of Sheepstor, is securely contained in the content of this sentence.
"Bastard!"
Indeed.
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Crazywell
There's a pool, with the inevitable Faustian associations, called Crazywell. We didn't walk around it seven times or even three. Noticeably, and perhaps for good reason, there are no stories linking the Devil's appearance with taking reflection type photographs. Fortunate that.
Here's an alternative ...
As it happens, the Devil doesn't figure at all in the legends associated with Crazywell. To make up for it, there's the 'Witch of Sheepstor' to deal with and an 'Oracle' in the pool, that may or may not be the ghostly voice that predicts who will be the next person of Wakhampton Parish to die. And of course, like so many other variants, the pool is bottomless. I hesitate to say that none of this is true ... but not for long. None of this is true.
Except for the bit about a witch.
Friday, 22 January 2010
Eylesbarrow Attained
"About time", I hear someone say, "about bloody time you got to that god-forsaken ... and I suppose you took some more photos as well. You did, didn't you. How many this time? I bet there's a sky-scape thing with golden clouds and not much ground. I bet there is. I bet."
Well of course we didn't leave her there. Not for an eternity. We'll go back tomorrow.
"Hold on. Wait a moment. I don't believe you left Clover for the night, but you slipped something in back there. You mentioned Roman Forts. That sounds interesting. I mean really interesting."
Patience, invented person. Patience. And while you're going about patiently, you might want to go back a few posts and read about the fort at Calstock. That was Roman.
"Oh .... well I suppose it was."
Alright, just to cheer you up, here's another cloud-scape thingy.
"Oh! ... So what's that then?"
Moss, actually. Moss with the sun coming in over the top. Moss that's grown atop a stone which once marked the top of a wall that, apparently, led down to one of the shafts around Eylesbarrow Tin Mine.
To be honest, there's not too much to see once you get there. Most likely, ninety-five percent of the structures have long since been robbed of stone and now make up the walls in a good number of houses in Sheepstor and the immediate vicinity. Despite the lack, it turns out that Eylesbarrow was once the most prosperous of the 19th century tin mines on Dartmoor - certainly comparable with other examples such as Whiteworks and those in the Birch Tor area.
I got that bit from the 1999 Devon Archaeological Proceedings. Very exciting reading. It goes on about adits, comditches, flat rods, reaves and, my current favourite, whims. Super stuff.
Oh alright, it's not quite as exciting as Stone Rows or Roman Forts, so here's Clover, striking a natural pose, the kind of pose that all dogs strike when they're sitting in a barren window frame while nervously wondering whether she'll be left there for eternity.
Well of course we didn't leave her there. Not for an eternity. We'll go back tomorrow.
"Hold on. Wait a moment. I don't believe you left Clover for the night, but you slipped something in back there. You mentioned Roman Forts. That sounds interesting. I mean really interesting."
Patience, invented person. Patience. And while you're going about patiently, you might want to go back a few posts and read about the fort at Calstock. That was Roman.
"Oh .... well I suppose it was."
Alright, just to cheer you up, here's another cloud-scape thingy.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Strung Behind the Sun
Out to Down Tor Stone Row in the company of Ros, Anne, Jack and Clover. No incidents, just some nice doctored photos.
First off, an enhanced image of old mine buildings down on the Deancombe track close to Rachel's Rest.
Coming back down and a view towards Burrator with the defracted sun reflecting off the reservoir.
And finally, another doctored image of the sun sinking below the slopes of Sheepstor.
First off, an enhanced image of old mine buildings down on the Deancombe track close to Rachel's Rest.
Here we are up at the Row and Jack's a bit concerned about what the idiot in red is doing this time. You'll have to zoom in to see the expression on his face. Meanwhile the girls, long since accustomed to such nonsense, are checking out the scenery.
Coming back down and a view towards Burrator with the defracted sun reflecting off the reservoir.
And finally, another doctored image of the sun sinking below the slopes of Sheepstor.
For anyone who's been pulled in by a search for a Green Pajamas track with the same name as the post title, I hope you didn't have a wasted trip! And no, it's not a coincidence. Look out for the Elusive Dr D.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Bellever Thaw
Bellever is a place, not a construct.
Leaving the Noddy Car at Postbridge, Ros, Clover and I walked out of the valley incorporating the East Dart River, over the rise and back down to Bellever and its Clapper Bridge. Well, half of one at least.
Despite the thaw that has settled on Dartmoor, the East Dart was not coming down with excessive gusto and was running clean with a nice hint of brown mineralisation. If I was any type of fisherman I'd probably have a fine saying to go with such a description and know just what bait to employ to catch whatever type of fish. But no. I'm neither fish nor fisherman.
Coming back over the rise, we descended towards Postbridge at just the right angle to get a photo of another pairing of new and old bridges.
Lunch was had at the East Dart Hotel. There weren't any fisherman there, at least none that looked (and smelled the part). Instead it was serving what appeared for the most part to be monied locals eating very good but essentially basic fayre. I had a pork baguette featuring hot meat from the carvery. Ros had a tuna mayo baguette - no surprise there - and Clover had a small chip and the last vestige of a crusty bit.
Leaving the Noddy Car at Postbridge, Ros, Clover and I walked out of the valley incorporating the East Dart River, over the rise and back down to Bellever and its Clapper Bridge. Well, half of one at least.
Despite the thaw that has settled on Dartmoor, the East Dart was not coming down with excessive gusto and was running clean with a nice hint of brown mineralisation. If I was any type of fisherman I'd probably have a fine saying to go with such a description and know just what bait to employ to catch whatever type of fish. But no. I'm neither fish nor fisherman.
Coming back over the rise, we descended towards Postbridge at just the right angle to get a photo of another pairing of new and old bridges.
Lunch was had at the East Dart Hotel. There weren't any fisherman there, at least none that looked (and smelled the part). Instead it was serving what appeared for the most part to be monied locals eating very good but essentially basic fayre. I had a pork baguette featuring hot meat from the carvery. Ros had a tuna mayo baguette - no surprise there - and Clover had a small chip and the last vestige of a crusty bit.
Friday, 15 January 2010
Banks and Ditches across The Tamar
For the uninitiated, The Tamar is the demarcation line between Devon and Cornwall. This side of the river everyone is civilised. That side people often have a third eye and talk a different langauge. At least those who haven't retired there - which leaves scant few with ocular distrurbancies.
The Tamar also marks the boundary of Roman intervention in Britain. Let's re-phrase that. Tradition has it that the Romans did not get past the Tamar into Cornwall. Ego dictates that the Romans couldn't conquer the territory. Sense has it that there wasn't any place called Cornwall two thousand years ago and that what we now know as that county is a mixture of indigenous Britons, Irish settlers, emmets and grockles.
Unfortunately, the Romans weren't much for tradition and had little respect for the ego; turns out that they did get over the Tamar and there are forts enough to testify to the fact. Two of those forts - and let's note that these are the forts that have been discovered, as opposed to those forts that did in fact exist - two of those forts, at Restormel and at Nanstallon, are situated within a matter of miles from each other, but were built on two , unconnected river estuaries, the Camel and the Fowey. Sitting in between, a modern monster hiding a potential ancient jewel, is Bodmin. (Or Baaardmin, if you have a third eye).
The third fort, discovered soon after Restormel, sits above Calstock on the Tamar - the wrong side of the Tamar - and whilst the first two are comparatively small at between 80 and 100 metres down one side, the Calstock fort is almost twice the size, at 160m by 170m. It's not just the size that's important though. The site, which easily surrounds the Church and its environs, also appears to incorporate the still surviving road that leads down to Calstock proper.
As yet, the archaeologists responsible for the dig have yet to publish their results and if past experience is anything to go by, we may have to wait a very long time for that to happen. However, if there's any connection between the three forts, it may be concerned with the brevity of their use. Nanstallon certainly was occupied for just a couple of decades in the first century AD and because of the geographic connection with Restormel, it's likely that both establishments were part of the same strategic development.
Perhaps though the size of the Calstock fort and the characteristics of its construction may indicate a longer life. Certainly, there is medieval documentary evidence of an 'old fort' at Calstock which would suggest that the banks and ditches were prominent enough to have survived for more than a millenia.
The other intriguing aspect of the Calstock fort is that it doesn't fit in with the traditional view on Roman incursions into the South West peninsular. A brief chain of marching camps to the north of Dartmoor, have led to the conclusion that soon after the AD43 invasion (soon perhaps meaning decades), the legionary force at Exeter pushed round Dartmoor, crossed the Tamar somewhere and moved into what became Cornwall. The Bodmin forts fit in with that notion quite well. However the Calstock fort is a long way south from any projected route from north of the moors and may imply a southern route or perhaps a second advancing column.
Yet all that speculation is centred on the assumption of a military campaign. That all three forts reside on river systems - three different rivers note - could lead to the conclusion that there was no heroic marching campaign at all and that the structures were naval stations used to stock mined materials - tin or silver - before they were shipped back to somewhere in the Empire.
Now, I promise we'll go out in the next few days and take some piccies ...
The Tamar also marks the boundary of Roman intervention in Britain. Let's re-phrase that. Tradition has it that the Romans did not get past the Tamar into Cornwall. Ego dictates that the Romans couldn't conquer the territory. Sense has it that there wasn't any place called Cornwall two thousand years ago and that what we now know as that county is a mixture of indigenous Britons, Irish settlers, emmets and grockles.
Unfortunately, the Romans weren't much for tradition and had little respect for the ego; turns out that they did get over the Tamar and there are forts enough to testify to the fact. Two of those forts - and let's note that these are the forts that have been discovered, as opposed to those forts that did in fact exist - two of those forts, at Restormel and at Nanstallon, are situated within a matter of miles from each other, but were built on two , unconnected river estuaries, the Camel and the Fowey. Sitting in between, a modern monster hiding a potential ancient jewel, is Bodmin. (Or Baaardmin, if you have a third eye).
The third fort, discovered soon after Restormel, sits above Calstock on the Tamar - the wrong side of the Tamar - and whilst the first two are comparatively small at between 80 and 100 metres down one side, the Calstock fort is almost twice the size, at 160m by 170m. It's not just the size that's important though. The site, which easily surrounds the Church and its environs, also appears to incorporate the still surviving road that leads down to Calstock proper.
As yet, the archaeologists responsible for the dig have yet to publish their results and if past experience is anything to go by, we may have to wait a very long time for that to happen. However, if there's any connection between the three forts, it may be concerned with the brevity of their use. Nanstallon certainly was occupied for just a couple of decades in the first century AD and because of the geographic connection with Restormel, it's likely that both establishments were part of the same strategic development.
Perhaps though the size of the Calstock fort and the characteristics of its construction may indicate a longer life. Certainly, there is medieval documentary evidence of an 'old fort' at Calstock which would suggest that the banks and ditches were prominent enough to have survived for more than a millenia.
The other intriguing aspect of the Calstock fort is that it doesn't fit in with the traditional view on Roman incursions into the South West peninsular. A brief chain of marching camps to the north of Dartmoor, have led to the conclusion that soon after the AD43 invasion (soon perhaps meaning decades), the legionary force at Exeter pushed round Dartmoor, crossed the Tamar somewhere and moved into what became Cornwall. The Bodmin forts fit in with that notion quite well. However the Calstock fort is a long way south from any projected route from north of the moors and may imply a southern route or perhaps a second advancing column.
Yet all that speculation is centred on the assumption of a military campaign. That all three forts reside on river systems - three different rivers note - could lead to the conclusion that there was no heroic marching campaign at all and that the structures were naval stations used to stock mined materials - tin or silver - before they were shipped back to somewhere in the Empire.
Now, I promise we'll go out in the next few days and take some piccies ...
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Necessary Updates
1. Rachel's Ankle. We have it on impeccable word, Rachel's herself, that the ankle suffered a sprain, not a fracture or break. This is not to downplay the severity of the incident - I can testify myself that there was a lot of pain present - but at least we know that the recovery time will be a lot shorter. 'Until I can get the boot back on', the woman said.
2. The Boiler. The man - and note that this is a different man than the man I was referring to as the man - the man said that the problem was a photocell, or something with a similar name and purpose. I'm not sure myself what that purpose was, only the result, a bloody cold house and the threat of frozen pipes. But not now. Thanks to the man, we're warm and unsmelly. This year, we've decided, will be the year to invest in a wood burning stove - this will ensure, absoluitely, that we won't get a cold spell like this one for many years to come.
3. The Detail. Rachel has since told me that she'd like a little more detail on the incident and what followed. She says that she can't remember. Well, being as it interests me for some sad reason, I thought I'd expand on the decision about routes.
View Larger Map
This snapshot from Google Maps shows where we were when the incident occured. You can see that the boundaries, banks topped by dry stone walls, encroach upon the open ground to form a funnel of sorts. This would have been used by Dartmoor farmers to push cattle or sheep, possibly ponies though a gate and into more enclosed field systems.
For us, the obvious thing to do was to follow the route down and thence choose the best option to get onto the track. Both Paul and I agreed that it was better to get to a situation where we could use the Land Rover rather than make Rachel hobble too far.
My normal route back from here is to cut right - westward - after going through the funnel, and following what is normally a well-trodden path. Unfortunately I'd forgotten that this path involves crossing a minor stream by way of a large step between two boulders. I didn't remember this until I'd passed through two fields - I was rushing ahead to locate a path - and so when I returned I was rather frustrated.
Meanwhile, perhaps because of the time it was taking, Paul had pushed south, dropping down into Deancombe and had found a better alternative. A quick discussion convinced me that he was right and so while he stayed with Rachel, I headed south along what on the following snapshot is a very clear path.
View Larger Map
Although it seems fairly inoquious, it was somewhat rocky in places, especially where it cut slightly east through the trees to reach the track in the combe. As I went down I cleared the snow away as much as I could, ridding the path of loose rocks, so that Rachel, following on her crutches wouldn't have too hard a time.
Once on the track, I found a spot within the remains of an old building, probably mine works, though it might have been a farm building. Here I set my survival blanket against an a wall that served as a shelter from the easterly wind. It also meant that Rachel couldn't see the weather moving in from a direction that is as unusual on Dartmoor as it is severe.
Here's the spot.
View Larger Map
And if you utlise your mouse, you can trace the route Paul had to run and the same route he drove the Land Rover to get back.
What's lucky about this spot is that it marks the limit of a functionable track. While the Land Rover might have got beyond that point, or might have climbed a short way out of the combe, the chances are that if we'd stationed Rachel higher up the slope, she'd still have been required to walk down in any case.
At least amongst ourselves, I feel we might rename that deserted building. Rachel's Rest might do it.
2. The Boiler. The man - and note that this is a different man than the man I was referring to as the man - the man said that the problem was a photocell, or something with a similar name and purpose. I'm not sure myself what that purpose was, only the result, a bloody cold house and the threat of frozen pipes. But not now. Thanks to the man, we're warm and unsmelly. This year, we've decided, will be the year to invest in a wood burning stove - this will ensure, absoluitely, that we won't get a cold spell like this one for many years to come.
3. The Detail. Rachel has since told me that she'd like a little more detail on the incident and what followed. She says that she can't remember. Well, being as it interests me for some sad reason, I thought I'd expand on the decision about routes.
View Larger Map
This snapshot from Google Maps shows where we were when the incident occured. You can see that the boundaries, banks topped by dry stone walls, encroach upon the open ground to form a funnel of sorts. This would have been used by Dartmoor farmers to push cattle or sheep, possibly ponies though a gate and into more enclosed field systems.
For us, the obvious thing to do was to follow the route down and thence choose the best option to get onto the track. Both Paul and I agreed that it was better to get to a situation where we could use the Land Rover rather than make Rachel hobble too far.
My normal route back from here is to cut right - westward - after going through the funnel, and following what is normally a well-trodden path. Unfortunately I'd forgotten that this path involves crossing a minor stream by way of a large step between two boulders. I didn't remember this until I'd passed through two fields - I was rushing ahead to locate a path - and so when I returned I was rather frustrated.
Meanwhile, perhaps because of the time it was taking, Paul had pushed south, dropping down into Deancombe and had found a better alternative. A quick discussion convinced me that he was right and so while he stayed with Rachel, I headed south along what on the following snapshot is a very clear path.
View Larger Map
Although it seems fairly inoquious, it was somewhat rocky in places, especially where it cut slightly east through the trees to reach the track in the combe. As I went down I cleared the snow away as much as I could, ridding the path of loose rocks, so that Rachel, following on her crutches wouldn't have too hard a time.
Once on the track, I found a spot within the remains of an old building, probably mine works, though it might have been a farm building. Here I set my survival blanket against an a wall that served as a shelter from the easterly wind. It also meant that Rachel couldn't see the weather moving in from a direction that is as unusual on Dartmoor as it is severe.
Here's the spot.
View Larger Map
And if you utlise your mouse, you can trace the route Paul had to run and the same route he drove the Land Rover to get back.
What's lucky about this spot is that it marks the limit of a functionable track. While the Land Rover might have got beyond that point, or might have climbed a short way out of the combe, the chances are that if we'd stationed Rachel higher up the slope, she'd still have been required to walk down in any case.
At least amongst ourselves, I feel we might rename that deserted building. Rachel's Rest might do it.
Friday, 8 January 2010
On the slopes of Down Tor
As such things do, today's excursion happened more on a whim than a plan. Fortunately, extremely fortunately, even though there was little in the way of preparation, all parties concerned packed just enough of what was needed with one important, but not catastrophic, exception. From the start though.
This morning we had a call from Rachel offering two seats in their Land Rover on a shopping trip to Yelverton. As tame as that sounds, considering we hadn't been to the shops in four days - because Noddy Cars don't do snow and ice - it was an especially welcome invitation. You don't need to be bored with what we bought, the six pints of milk will suffice to give a suggestion of what we think there is to come in the next few days.
On the way back, Paul let slip that they were planning a walk to Down Tor Stone Row this afternoon. Naturally, I was tempted, but knowing that Ros would be on her own with no heating and only a slim promise of a boiler man, I decided not to say anything. I was still hedging against the trip when I chatted with Rachel on MSN half an hour or so after we got back. But Rachel said please and Ros relented, so, with just half an hour to prepare, I started rushing round - making cheese rolls (with salad cream), brewing a flask of tea, packing the ruck sack and prising on thermal long johns, waterprrof trousers, boots, gaiters and ice gripper things.
At 12.45 I was still just approaching the meeting point when Rachel and Paul arrived in the Landy. In short order, we'd stowed Clover and Jack, the latter on loan from Anne because she was working, in the back with Daisy, Abby and another Pointer, Biba, an eight-month old chocolate drop of energy. Not more than twenty minutes later, we were parked up at Norsworthy and soon tramping up the preliminary slopes of Down Tor.
To set the scene, this is the road round Burrator. The signpost in the left of the picture is a bus stop.
Scenic then, photogenic naturally and not, given what we were wearing, too cold considering that Rachel's thermometer displayed a range of temperatures beginning at around 2 degrees centigrade and finishing at somethings passed 5 below.
From Norsworthy, we climbed up to the first and second outcrops that lead up to Down Tor proper before skirting round to the north. With both Paul and myself stopping frequently to take photos, our progress was significantly slower than usual, made worse by the snow that served to hide the usual footpaths. A combination of the wind and the terrain had served to create some wonderful effects in the snow, deep drifts in places - certainly enough to swamp a dog or two - and in others, wonderful wave formations.
Coming to a tall outcropping stone north of Down Tor, we halted briefly for a piece of nutty, sticky fruit cake that Paul had brought with him, a quick mug of strongly brewed tea followed by a snifter of sweet, fruity alcohol from Paul's flask. Whilst there, Jack and Biba put on a show of friendly dog wrestling that produced the following cropped image.
Continuing round the Tor we gave ourselves the opportunity of pushing on to the Stone Row, but time and a degree of sense made us continue along a contour. Just before we reached this decision, I took the next shot, a view towards the gully that runs along the northern edge of the rise of ground - off to the right here - where the row is situated. Approximately here, using Streetmap.
A further decision was made to head more directly for the hard track that runs along Deancombe and it was as we were dropping down towards the lowest point in the field system - approximately south-south-west from the arrow on the map - that Rachel sank too deeply into a snow drift and did some severe damage to an already weak ankle.
I'll save on the detail from here if you don't mind. In summary, utilising a couple of old fence posts for support, Paul helped Rachel down to the hard track along a route that I scouted. While I stayed with the injured party, serving hot tea, cheese and salad cream rolls, a survival blanket and two dogs, Paul ran back along the track, jumped in the Landy and drove it along Deancombe to pick us up - a feat in itself.
Here's an image that doesn't come with a photo. On arriving back at their house, Paul decided that the best means of getting Rachel indoors was with the use of a wheelbarrow. I did ask if I could get my camera out, but Rachel politely turned down the opportunity.
Meanwhile, back at home, I arrived to the pleasing sound of a boiler chucking hot air out into the cold; surely a waste of energy, but blessed relief to a stinky walker who needed a shower.
This morning we had a call from Rachel offering two seats in their Land Rover on a shopping trip to Yelverton. As tame as that sounds, considering we hadn't been to the shops in four days - because Noddy Cars don't do snow and ice - it was an especially welcome invitation. You don't need to be bored with what we bought, the six pints of milk will suffice to give a suggestion of what we think there is to come in the next few days.
On the way back, Paul let slip that they were planning a walk to Down Tor Stone Row this afternoon. Naturally, I was tempted, but knowing that Ros would be on her own with no heating and only a slim promise of a boiler man, I decided not to say anything. I was still hedging against the trip when I chatted with Rachel on MSN half an hour or so after we got back. But Rachel said please and Ros relented, so, with just half an hour to prepare, I started rushing round - making cheese rolls (with salad cream), brewing a flask of tea, packing the ruck sack and prising on thermal long johns, waterprrof trousers, boots, gaiters and ice gripper things.
At 12.45 I was still just approaching the meeting point when Rachel and Paul arrived in the Landy. In short order, we'd stowed Clover and Jack, the latter on loan from Anne because she was working, in the back with Daisy, Abby and another Pointer, Biba, an eight-month old chocolate drop of energy. Not more than twenty minutes later, we were parked up at Norsworthy and soon tramping up the preliminary slopes of Down Tor.
To set the scene, this is the road round Burrator. The signpost in the left of the picture is a bus stop.
Scenic then, photogenic naturally and not, given what we were wearing, too cold considering that Rachel's thermometer displayed a range of temperatures beginning at around 2 degrees centigrade and finishing at somethings passed 5 below.
From Norsworthy, we climbed up to the first and second outcrops that lead up to Down Tor proper before skirting round to the north. With both Paul and myself stopping frequently to take photos, our progress was significantly slower than usual, made worse by the snow that served to hide the usual footpaths. A combination of the wind and the terrain had served to create some wonderful effects in the snow, deep drifts in places - certainly enough to swamp a dog or two - and in others, wonderful wave formations.
Coming to a tall outcropping stone north of Down Tor, we halted briefly for a piece of nutty, sticky fruit cake that Paul had brought with him, a quick mug of strongly brewed tea followed by a snifter of sweet, fruity alcohol from Paul's flask. Whilst there, Jack and Biba put on a show of friendly dog wrestling that produced the following cropped image.
Continuing round the Tor we gave ourselves the opportunity of pushing on to the Stone Row, but time and a degree of sense made us continue along a contour. Just before we reached this decision, I took the next shot, a view towards the gully that runs along the northern edge of the rise of ground - off to the right here - where the row is situated. Approximately here, using Streetmap.
A further decision was made to head more directly for the hard track that runs along Deancombe and it was as we were dropping down towards the lowest point in the field system - approximately south-south-west from the arrow on the map - that Rachel sank too deeply into a snow drift and did some severe damage to an already weak ankle.
I'll save on the detail from here if you don't mind. In summary, utilising a couple of old fence posts for support, Paul helped Rachel down to the hard track along a route that I scouted. While I stayed with the injured party, serving hot tea, cheese and salad cream rolls, a survival blanket and two dogs, Paul ran back along the track, jumped in the Landy and drove it along Deancombe to pick us up - a feat in itself.
Here's an image that doesn't come with a photo. On arriving back at their house, Paul decided that the best means of getting Rachel indoors was with the use of a wheelbarrow. I did ask if I could get my camera out, but Rachel politely turned down the opportunity.
Meanwhile, back at home, I arrived to the pleasing sound of a boiler chucking hot air out into the cold; surely a waste of energy, but blessed relief to a stinky walker who needed a shower.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Drifting
For want of a better alternative, but mostly because it was just too beautiful outisde, we ventured up the hill past the Church this afternoon. Whilst there's no real path up to the Church, the way is well marked in ordinary times - trampled grass in effect rather than mud - but with the snow in measurable quantities, there's a distinct record of passing.
While we're walking passed, it's worth mentioning the Church and noting the unusual layout. Though Streetmap doesn't actually show it, the building follows the general flow of the fields in facing a south-west and north-east rather than the normal east, west direction. Why this should be remains, for the moment, an unknown, though word in the village has it that it faces towards the rising sun in mid-summer. This is certainly possible, but it should also be noted that early churches were set up to face the sun rise on the day of the dedicated Saint.
This possibility should, however, be balanced against the fact that, until relatively recently, the Church did not have any such dedication. This may mean that a saintly dedication was once there and was lost. It may also turn out that there never was such a dedication and that the Church faces the direction it had to given the circumstances of its construction.
If it does align to the setting or rising sun for any particular day, it may also give an indication that it was built on the site of a pre-existing stone alignment. This wouldn't be unusual at all, though it would have been expected that the alignment would have been altered to east-west at some point. More in due course.
We'd hoped to walk along the road towards the old railway line but found instead our way obstructed by four foot snow drifts. This was certainly reward enough for the walk up the hill.
Here's Clover giving you an impresson of scale ...
While we're walking passed, it's worth mentioning the Church and noting the unusual layout. Though Streetmap doesn't actually show it, the building follows the general flow of the fields in facing a south-west and north-east rather than the normal east, west direction. Why this should be remains, for the moment, an unknown, though word in the village has it that it faces towards the rising sun in mid-summer. This is certainly possible, but it should also be noted that early churches were set up to face the sun rise on the day of the dedicated Saint.
This possibility should, however, be balanced against the fact that, until relatively recently, the Church did not have any such dedication. This may mean that a saintly dedication was once there and was lost. It may also turn out that there never was such a dedication and that the Church faces the direction it had to given the circumstances of its construction.
If it does align to the setting or rising sun for any particular day, it may also give an indication that it was built on the site of a pre-existing stone alignment. This wouldn't be unusual at all, though it would have been expected that the alignment would have been altered to east-west at some point. More in due course.
We'd hoped to walk along the road towards the old railway line but found instead our way obstructed by four foot snow drifts. This was certainly reward enough for the walk up the hill.
Here's Clover giving you an impresson of scale ...
Here's Ros doing something similar ...
And here's an arty shot of a snow-covered hedge ...
Heating update. There is none. Which is to say, until the man can get down into the village, we're stuck with no central heating.
Frozen in ...
Our pub decided to celebrate New Year's Eve with an 'Eighties' night. This was far too late for those of us still residing in the Sixties or Seventies. Up to twenty years too late - depending on what's being played. We are, happily, frozen in time.
Yes, predictably enough, the boiler went on strike again. I've checked the oil tank, the water pressure, I've pressed the button and I've not kicked a thing. We are, until the man arrives, frozen indoors.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
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