Something About Dartmoor: At The Going Down of The Sun.

We will remember them.

Walk 1.

Sunday, 24th April 2022.🕞

Late afternoon walk starting at 3:30 pm from the ‘Fox and Hounds’ car park on the A386 —— walking through the beautiful River Lyd valley — up and over the whale-back of Great Nodden — onwards to Tiger Marsh after sunset — to the crash site on Christmas Day 1943 —— of a lost B17 Flying Fortress aircraft. Five crew members died at the crash site — three survived. The impact area is permanently blackened — the grass has never grown back. The wreckage serves as a memorial to those who gave their lives in the line of duty; it is strictly forbidden to remove any of the wreckage. There’s a feeling of great solemnity there – in the middle of a boggy marsh, in the middle of nowhere —— on Dartmoor. Other than grazing sheep, ravens, bumblebees and skylarks — we never met a living soul there — or back. 🕤

Our gateway to the Moor. Dusty footpath from the ‘Fox and Hounds’ —— Widgery’s Cross ahead.

‘Goldsworthy Stacks’ in the Lyd Valley. Two-and-a-half beehive-shaped stone cairns —— circa lockdown 2020!

Across the gently burbling River Lyd…

Eye of Heaven. View over to Bodmin Moor from half-way up Great Nodden.

View of Great Nodden cairn looking across the Lyd Valley to Great Links Tor.

Left: Great Links Tor. Right: Great Nodden. Middle ground: A hardy Hawthorn.

Sunset from disused Rattlebrook Railway track – used in the old days for transporting peat from the high moor to Bridestowe. Onwards and upwards to the crash site at Tiger Marsh.

Tom picking his route out of the marshy ground.

Terra firma! Walking away from the crash site —— back up and over Great Nodden —— arriving back at the car park after dark.

My son and walking companion, Tom.

Great Nodden looking sleepy.

Walk 2.

Seize The Day!

Tuesday, 26th. April 2022.

🕒 A long circular walk starting in a direct line from Sourton Church — up the steepest incline of Sourton Tors to the trig point — onwards to Gren Tor — Hunt Tor — Kitty Tor — stodgy Steng-a-Tor or Stinka Tor (surrounded by its own bog) — sideways down a very steep escarpment into the West Okement valley — stopping at crash site(s) of the ‘Lost Liberator’ bomber (scattered over four crash pits) — customary Dairylea tea opposite Blackator Copse — on to Prewley Moor Beech trees arriving after sunset — up Sourton Tors again!!! — finally back at Sourton Church after dark.🕙

Before the off! A cool, reflective moment out of direct sunlight inside St Thomas a Becket Church, Sourton.

Seize The Day!

“Put a stout heart to a steep hill.” Tom sets the pace!

Taking a breather at Sourton Tors trig point. St Thomas a Becket church lies slightly right of the green arrow.

Looking back at Sourton Tors.

Lonely cloud over Great Links Tor and Arms Tor.

Two darling little ‘Blackface Sheep’ lambs that came to us unbidden on the Rattlebrook Railway track; they weren’t lost, their mother was close by.

Blue sky and shadows as we head on over the horizon.

Hunt Tor looking across to Great Links.

Hunt Tor.

Queen of all I survey! Kitty Tor on the horizon from Hunt Tor.

The lie of the land. ‘The Far Tor’ or ‘Fur Tor’ far-left of centre. ‘Green Tor’ and ‘Bleak House’ chimney stack middle ground. Higher Dunnagoat Tor right of centre. All images can be enlarged in a new window just by clicking on them!

Terrain between Hunt Tor and Kitty Tor —— but thankfully there’s a grassy army track that cuts through the middle of it all to purposely stride across to Kitty Tor.

Kitty Tor.

Looking across to an old friend from Kitty Tor —— the sphinx-shaped stack of Lints Tor centre.

Across to sitting camel-shaped Steng-a-Tor but not in a direct line!!! Deceptively wet ground even after April’s prolonged dry spell.

Characterful Steng-a-Tor sits in its own stagnating bog hence its other name Stinka Tor! Expect wet, smelly boots!

‘Lovely’ Stenga from terra firma!

Over the edge of the world —— sideways fashion down into the West Okement valley.

At the going down of the Sun. A timely arrival at the first wreckage pit of the ‘Lost Liberator’.

There are tangles of metal scattered over four pits; paying our respects at all four. . .

Looking back from the bank of the West Okement river to Lints Tor.

Not bushes! —— but the ancient pedunculate woodland of Blackator Copse.

Tea! Leave No Trace —— litter collection bag at the ready.

Smile. Only the sounds of a pair of contented walkers munching —— a pair of very vocal Ravens in Blackator Copse —— and the burbling West Okement wending its way through the valley.

A backward glance to Blackator Copse going to sleep.

Followed by a purposeful march to the windswept Beech trees of Prewley Moor by the close of day.

Arriving back where we started at St Thomas a Becket Church, Sourton at 10:00 pm.

Lest We Forget. Our letterbox stamp found in a rock crevice at the edge of one of the crash pits of the ‘Lost Liberator’.

A brilliant video about the locations and history of two of Dartmoor’s lost aircraft —— ‘B17 Flying Fortress’ at Tiger Marsh —— and ‘Liberator PB4-1’ on the side of the West Okement Valley. . .

Something About Dartmoor…

Something About Dartmoor: At The Going Down of The Sun.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply