Intermediate. We put on our spare jumpers and pulled our coats about us as we ate our sandwiches huddled together beneath our granite shelter. The more impressive, but slightly lower, Yes Tor is about 1km (58 mile) north along this ridge, which is known as "the roof of Devon".[6]. . The summit of Yes Tor is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point. It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level. It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level. The walk also follows routes which are 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 de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir, The bridge at the southern end of Meldon Reservoir, West Mill Tor from Yes Tor with Okehampton and North Devon in background, Ascending Longstone Hill from Meldon Reservoir with Sourton Tors on the horizon, . The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Dartmoor ponies added to the tranquil scene. Walkers are welcomed when the range is not being used and to avoid term. In a previous life I was fortunate to be able to work in a water treatment plant, so I have a good understandingof all that is hidden below. 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. go4mailvariable=('walk_pics' + '@' + go4mailvariable) 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. 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. 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. For the return from Highwillhays, once again Time was fading as it always does so I walked across the viaduct, wire mesh safety barriers prevent you from getting too close to the edge. Construction began in 1970 in response to increasing demand for domestic water supply. Yes Tor is the one with the trig. Explore open moorland, dramatic tors and a Scheduled Monument: boasting a special combination of industrial heritage, wildlife and nature trails, Meldon is the perfect location to enjoy a unique day outdoors. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. This National Nature Reserve of 170ha mainly consists of a model example of the upland heathland and has a wealth of moorland birds. 3.3 km/h. 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. From Meldon Reservoir car park, climb the steps next to the toilets and The city of Exeter is the county town. Yes Tor was for years thought to be the I settled there for 10 minutes and enjoyed the views over North Devon. the mist comes down, orientation could become difficult. Getting to the High Willhayes and Yes Tor Circular Walk Trailhead. Enough time to glance at the map and plot a compass bearing west towards Black Tor, overlooking West Okement River. } I was of course very wrong and my hike to Yes Tor, High Willhays and the Meldon Dam and Viaduct proved that. earn from qualifying purchases. Easiest route From Meldon Reservoir, SX 562918 Reaching the summit of High Willhays 621 meters above sea level, Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of. Meldon Reservoir - West Okement River Circular Dartmoor National Park Length: 5.1 km Est. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. NB. The reservoir is 900 feet above sea level and sits next to Meldon Quarry. Actually the top of Yes Tor was very pleasant for me, but if you want a quiet unspoilt area, then this isn't it. . compass bearing is 101 magnetic (unadjusted for magnetic variation) to the TMDH Limited 2000-2023. A party of D of E students nearing the summit had the alternative effect, pleased no doubt to find the correct summit. UV: Low;. and we shall do our best to publish them. Please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to: Parking at Meldon Reservoir SX561 918 (a pay and display carpark) we headed out of the carpark and turned left along the footpath towards the Dam. Red flags are raised around the perimeter when live-firing is due to take place. 400 m. 410 m. Intermediate Hiking Tour From Parking. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); See/ShowPassword From High Willhays we descended south to the West Okemont River and found our wild camping spot for the night nestled below Lints Tor. Dave watched, knowingly. Start by crossing the dam wall and taking the initial zig zag path up the hillside ahead. All information on this begin with, when I did the walk but I would not guarantee its presence long High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in the UK south of the Brecon Beacons. [email address] (NB. 5. Ordnance Survey Map . I took a slight detour to High Willhays and came back via the more interesting Yes Tour. In 1912, William Crossing, writer and documenter, said that the name High Willes had . The weather wasnt set to change any time soon, grey lead sky but no mist or rain forecast, so plenty of time to explore beyond High Willhays. xYK7h*ZffwLr98^qmlHSil3;zT}z? Sorry, but your browser does not appear to be accepting our cookies. Where2Walk 2023 - Walking in Yorkshire and the Lake District. 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. High Willhays and Yes Tor are the only summits in England south of Kinder Scout in the Peak District to rise above 2,000ft. A walk from Meldon Quarry to High Willhays & return via Black Tor, Black-a-Tor Copse, The West Okement River & Meldon Reservoir 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. You can also submit photos from walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir via our Facebook Page. Here there are clear paths, at least in its lower slopes. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. The military have been using Dartmoor for over 200 years and this walk is partly within a live firing range. It didn't dampen anyone's spirits, indeed the children seemed to be happier in the rain than they had been on the warmer days out in the summer. } else { It is also possible to access the River Teign and surrounding area. If you need to buy any A|.6ba5WN,Ws=za?]nAk5aZU8aBRWG7J'juQ]:^uO2vQ{wprdKTz*q(Ebk QGrSsH:>#?O| WJ^)j`Y( At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). Dartmoor had always conjured up images of bleak moorland, high tors, deep marshes and swirling mists. Dave my border collie sat still by my side, ears pricked upright in a state of alertness. 3. Exit the car park and cross the lane to a signed bridleway heading southwest. recorded message giving availability. Ah, the penny drops, so this will be the summit then. Sent to us by Andrew Ross, a viewer, this walk was a great day on Dartmoor. #dartmoor #wildcampinguk #gotthekennylook #wintercamping back to Meldon Reservoir is very pretty. What's Nearby Accommodation Sourton Down Caravan & Camping Park Stay on the right hand side of the river, in s+-??|&xLj`wLpsQ!q~jJ&'y1}c89:g881i b50^y$8%!dTQ2$6{ Q% +*?q K.wmo$nR ( u(H:ZaRpS #[ ) ANA4SV,xJM2]FGVlP2#nD9mf@"Iv]>"0. The start is the car park and toilets (Grid ref. To close this message click anywhere outside this window. feet have not always followed the same paths, so worn routes have not been meldon reservoir to high willhays. I rearranged a few flat pieces of granite, added a couple of stones and stepped back carefully, having made this part of the moor a few artificially inches higher. Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship; Contact; Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship . It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. 13.8 km. High Willhays or, according to some authors, High Willes is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 621 metres (2,039 feet) above sea level, and the highest point in the United Kingdom south of the Brecon Beacons. Do not head north of High Willhays, it is bleak and featureless. 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). <> High Willhays Stone Ring Cairn Circle SE, 144, 3.192 km 620 m Contour Ring, High Willhays SE, 144, 3.194 km [4], The Place-Names of Devon (1931) notes that the peak was named Hight Wyll in a document of 1532, and was known in 1827 as High Willows. reservoir covers some 57 acres. Once I had found the correct road to Meldon Reservoir the route was very straightforward. A couple of Sunday's back we decided to take a trip up to Meldon Reservoir which is just outside of Okehampton. He suggested instead that the name derived from gwylfa, a watching place, noting its similarity with Brown Willy, the name of the highest hill on nearby Bodmin Moor, and suggested that a watch for beacon fires used to be kept here. Start: As you get to the edge of the plateau, you will see three you off. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor. All following each other, like sheep do. Survey OL 28 - Dartmoor. 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. At the north end by the car park the Meldon Dam (1972) is a striking photo opportunity, while you can take a picnic by the water on a sunny day and watch fishers catching brown trout. Across the river valley, on Corn Ridge the sound of a voice could be heard, shouting loud and clear. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. The odd shaped lumps of rock strewn across so many of the South West's tors are collectively known as 'clitter'. % RM 2BCCM52 - The spillway of Meldon Dam (1972), showing overflow of the West Olement River from Meldon Reservoir, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor . Made easy by the fact the reservoir car park is already some 330 metres ASL. There is also a spectacular dam with wonderful views over the West Okement valley. All rights reserved. Triangulation is basically a mathematical process of measuring angles to other locations that makes accurate map making possible. We were now surrounded by clouds giving us the perfect opportunity to teach our eldest (who is hoping to achieve her Bronze Duke Of Edinburgh award) some highly important lessons in using a compass. Yes Tor & High Willhays loop from Meldon Reservoir. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. There is a large cairn marking its summit. Descend to the right of Black Tor to the 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. You Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. untoward, do not touch it and report it. 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. 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. through the gate turn left to the reservoir dam. This Dartmoor adventure was far from over, I had one more ace up my sleeve; the impressive, the immense, the towering Meldon Viaduct. Tracks across High Willhays to Yes Tor. 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. %PDF-1.5 1h 28m Moderate 3.8 (3) Ten Tors Circular Walk Dartmoor National Park Length: 11.9 km Est. Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of high altitude oak woodland in Britain. Please enable javascript in your browser preferences). After the last Courtenay owner fell foul of Henry VIII in 1539, the castle declined into a ruin. 03:40. EX20 4LU Season Date: 15 March - 12 October Species: Wild Brown Trout Fishery Size: 57 acres Contact: 01566 771930 Click here for the trout fishing rules This is a free fishing water with a bag limit of four fish over 10 inches. (Guide Resolution = 300dpi. Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk: The highest point of this walk is High Willhays at 622m (2041ft). document.write('' + go4mailvariable + '<\/a>') From High Willhays we walked back down the West side of the hill towards Black-A-Tor Copse. Proudly created with Wix.com. John Kelly google_ad_width = 120; 12.1 km. Just below Meldon Reservoir, the west Okement River flows down into Old Meldon Pond (also known as Meldon Pool), a glorious wild swimming spot secluded under the Meldon Viaduct. site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. go4mailvariable='go4awalk.com' High Willhays Meldon Viaduct Meldon Dam, Okehampton Devon There is a large car park at Meldon Dam, with toilets and a map of the area. The weather forecast gave only a 10% chance of rain so we diligently packed our wet weather gear, extra layers and some sandwiches and looked at the trusty OS map. simply follow the path round its right hand side back to the car park. initially until, as you get higher up (from SX 578902), a relatively clearer As I walked across the dam, water and machinery could be heard rumbling away deep beneaththe concrete superstructure. The reservoir supplies water to north and west Devon, and is used for trout fishing. To get there, take the B3260 south west from %PDF-1.5 It was a long uphill slog and the ground was sodden but we weren't deterred. best route you can. The Reservoir has a surface of more than 730 acres and is more than 130 feet deep, making it one of the largest inland waters in the South West. As an Amazon Associate I point heading 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. I had found the perfect spot to take in all that is Dartmoor once more. Trending; . Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Photo 6x4 South-east slopes of High Willhays Dinger Tor c2009 at the best online prices at eBay! go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited. Dartmoor Driving Tour in iconic Land Rover Discovery. You begin at Meldon Reservoir car park, where you will be immediately greeted by sweeping views of Meldon Reservoir, and an impressive dam, which reminds me of the one in . stream To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all see Talk to Us. 3.4 km/h. however. hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. One of the highlights of a landscape with an abundance of rock is the making of cairns, small monuments of stones, dedicated to long forgotten causes. hand side of the large rock. The only remaining recourse available to the objecting amenity societies was an appeal to the Parliamentary Ombudsman that an injustice had been done. A short walk from Yes Tor, once considered the highest point on Dartmoor brings you to High Willhays. For help logging on, see Help > FAQs > Logging On. Head for the right wide and there are shallow vehicle ruts. Which is exactly why I love it. rock outcrops of the Tor proper. Yes Tor is 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. Fernworthy is a great place to Discover the Dartmoor Story. You can follow hisblog here too. from. Please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to: