(281 magnetic). . (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A walk in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, South West England, South West England, Meldon Reservoir - Longstone Hill - Okehampton Army Firing Range - Yes Tor - High Willhays - Black Tor - West Okement River - Vellake Weir - Meldon Reservoir. Descend to the right of Black Tor to the To our delight we discovered that it lies to the the West of Yes Tor and High Willhays beside the West Okement River, providing us with a delightful circular route encompassing the two highest peaks on the Moor (which many classify as mountains). High Willhays are very good and the West Okement River valley you follow See Walking Time Calculator, For advice on .gpx files see 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. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-7197786497211981"; Expert Answers: 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. Arriving at the car park next to the stunning Meldon Reservoir at around 11am we sorted out our various bits of kit for the day's walk and headed off across the dam wall at the head of the reservoir. High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in the UK south of the Brecon Beacons. Railway stone. Really hope you're all ok!! You can also submit photos from walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir via our Facebook Page. Tagged: Black-a-Tor Copse, Dartmoor, Dinger Tor, Fordsland Ledge, High Willhays, hike, hiking, Lints Tor, Meldon, reservoir, walk, walking, Yes Tor. The path diverts briefly around a walled area 2. This site was designed with the . extent across the Oakhampton Military Firing Range but do not let this put 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. In 1912, William Crossing, writer and documenter, said that the name High Willes had . The reservoir is fed by West Okement River that continues north after the reservoir and runs through Okehampton, where it meets the East Okement River. difficulty in orientating yourself but just in case, head just north of west Detailed maps and GPS navigation for the hike: "Yes Tor & High Willhays loop from Meldon Reservoir" 03:40 h 12.1 km komoot Discover Route planner Features Discover Dartmoor ponies added to the tranquil scene. A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. The odd shaped lumps of rock strewn across so many of the South West's tors are collectively known as 'clitter'. 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. This email address is protected by JavaScript. The path now starts to get very faint and to there is no distinct path. and we shall do our best to publish them. <> It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level. Reaching the summit of High Willhays 621 meters above sea level, Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of. point heading The Minister's decision letter backing the Meldon reservoir was published in November 1968. View of north Devon from Yes Tor. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). Discover the best hikes and paths to High Willhays in Okehampton Hamlets, West Devon. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. 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. 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. Cross this and turn right, rock outcrops of the Tor proper. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all see Talk to Us. on the track recorded automatically as I walked so should be accurate. . High Willhays is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (166th highest in England, 289th highest in England & Wales) High Willhays is also known as an English Nuttall (228th highest in England, 397th highest in England & Wales) and an English Marilyn (49th highest in England, 727th highest in the UK). Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. We all walk at a slightly different pace so use the slider to calculate the time you will take on the walk. From where you have branched off, the . Take the turn off to Meldon and follow the signs for the Bow before mighty Loch Meldon . Meldon Reservoir is a reservoir in England and has an elevation of 912 feet. I'd seen a photo of Black-A-Tor Copse, 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is. It lies in some high moorland which can be bleak in bad weatherlovely in good. With the last of my lunch filling my bellyand a healthy dose of wellbeing filling my soul it was time to head back towards Meldon Reservoir via a path along the banks of the West Okement River. When the track splits, take the left fork, 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. Red-a-ven Brook and Yes Tor. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor. The walk starts from Meldon Reservoir. A few hikers having a bite to eat out of the prevailing wind is normally a good clue too. As you get closer to the top, there is a Wistman's Wood is an ancient forest that has largely been left to grow wild, free of destruction, or shaping by humans or large animals. A|.6ba5WN,Ws=za?]nAk5aZU8aBRWG7J'juQ]:^uO2vQ{wprdKTz*q(Ebk QGrSsH:>#?O| WJ^)j`Y( 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. Your email address will not be published. Expert Answers: 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. The National Trust's Lydford Gorge, Devon, is the deepest gorge in the South West and has a spectacular 30m waterfall. When was Meldon reservoir built? Made easy by the fact the reservoir car park is already some 330 metres ASL. Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk: The highest point of this walk is High Willhays at 622m (2041ft). Im not afraid of heights so I did relish the occasional glimpse of the river some 150 feet below my boots, through gaps in the wooden decking. Sorry, but your browser does not appear to be accepting our cookies. }. go4mailvariable='go4awalk.com' Walking up Longstone Hill we saw our first signs of life. Do not follow this link or you will be banned from this site. Fernworthy is a great place to Discover the Dartmoor Story. Availability can also be checked at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. From here the rocks forming the summit of High Willhays will be obvious lying a further kilometre or so to the east. damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it. The track becomes grassy and Meldon Reservoir - West Okement River Circular Dartmoor National Park Length: 5.1 km Est. The reservoir sits behind this dam wall and extends to the foot of . Devon is a county of England, reaching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south. It is part of South West England, bounded by Cornwall to the west, Somerset to the north-east and Dorset to the east. untoward, do not touch it and report it. . [email address] (NB. google_ad_width = 120; Once over the dam we walked up hill and followed the track in an Easterly direction skirting the edge of Longstone Hill. I had always imagined the walk to Yes Tor would be a battle against the elements, a challenge of man verses mire; boots verses bog. view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click here. Head for the right Dave watched, knowingly. High Willhays and Yes Tor are the only summits in England south of Kinder Scout in the Peak District to rise above 2,000ft. Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of high altitude oak woodland in Britain. Before Ordnance Survey measured accurately the heights of High Willhays and Yes Tor many people believed Yes Tor was the higher of the two, and it was only the local farmers and moormen that believed the contrary. Meldon Reservoir2.85km from High Willhays Meldon Reservoir is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the northwest section of the National Park. See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. Actually the top of Yes Tor was very pleasant for me, but if you want a quiet unspoilt area, then this isn't it. term. High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. 6. June 30, 2022; this place is a shelter sheet music; hall and jordan funeral home obituaries Meldon Dam blocks the West Okement River, creating a large reservoir to its south west (upstream) side. (Guide Resolution = 300dpi. Parking at Meldon Reservoir SX561 918 (a pay and display carpark) we headed out of the carpark and turned left along the footpath . Ah, the penny drops, so this will be the summit then. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. The National Trust's Lydford Gorge, Devon, is the deepest gorge in the South West and has a spectacular 30m waterfall. begin with, when I did the walk but I would not guarantee its presence long Wistmans Wood is in the Dart river valley and has views of wild Devon that you wont find anywhere else in the country. The route is beautiful with stunning views over the county from Yes Tor and High Willhays (the highest point) before a welcome descent to Black Tor and down Homerton Hill to the finish at Meldon reservoir. route through the boulder field becomes clear. xY[kF~_![\53 )!7N&!s&ij43a kvF7VvyzU ~`c:fXHtA?z8GzL>: O_zj0 *C1Fucs{gb=L M:gvzl KGfgnD'!YHf9/vZ~QHp It was a long uphill slog and the ground was sodden but we weren't deterred. 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. Intermediate. Click 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. We were all walking roughly the same route but no doubt with very different stories to tell over a cup of tea later. The dam at the lower end of the Meldon Reservoir. I parked at Meldon Reservoir, which has a car park and toilets. To Dartmoor had always conjured up images of bleak moorland, high tors, deep marshes and swirling mists. Apparently there used to be a circular walk around the reservoir but now only the path along the southern shore is open. 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. Construction of the dam started in 1970 and was completed in 1972.The reservoir covers some 57 acres. 13.8 km. To reach the trailhead for the High Willhayes and Yes Tor Circular Walk from Okehampton, drive west on West Street/B3260 for 3.2 km and make a left to continue on for 0.3 km. Hisnose sniffed the calm air and his eyes scanned the distant valley slopes. At the next fork (SX 568910), go left again. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. The track splits by some picnic tables next Tiny rapidly moving dots scoured the landscape in perfect harmony. 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). go4mailvariable=('walk_pics' + '@' + go4mailvariable) Available for both RF and RM licensing. Unlike sunsets that donthold his attention for long, this working landscape captivated him whilst I watched and ate my humble lunch. If you need to buy any The viaduct was opened in 1874 and is still standing proud in 2015. x.type = 'password'; Work your way to the right of this There are intermittent . There is also a spectacular dam with wonderful views over the West Okement valley. This descent was fairly steep, we were aiming for the Southerly most point of the trees, skirting the edge of the wood, meaning that a substantial amount of Bouldering was required. It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. The track eventually becomes more Dave my border collie sat still by my side, ears pricked upright in a state of alertness. disappointment, a freephone number (0800 458 4868) is available, which has a Recommended. 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. . The range is marked by red and white posts on the Moor. rocky outcrops below, which overlook the valley with the West Okement River Our Journey back to the car from here was fairly easy, we followed the river and the right hand side of the reservoir all the way back to the carpark. The reservoir is 900 feet above sea level and sits next to Meldon Quarry. go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited. Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); See/ShowPassword %PDF-1.5 reservoir car park. 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. Does anyone know if this car park is accessible by motorhome (2.8m high, 2.3m wide) A look on google street view shows the road passes under a bridge which we are not sure our motorhome can get under. the left are the red and white poles which mark the boundary of the The odd shaped lumps of rock strewn across so many of the South West's tors are collectively known as 'clitter'. The Woodland lies next to the West Okement River and the ground here was particularly wet. Meldon Reservoir on the northwest slopes of Dartmoor was the latest one, constructed in 1972. More than a stepping stone to High Willhays and Yes Tor, Meldon Reservoir is in high open moorland, almost 300 metres above sea level. Please indicate where each photo was taken. initially until, as you get higher up (from SX 578902), a relatively clearer Ordnance Survey Map Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). The walk starts from Meldon Reservoir. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). As an Amazon Associate I Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. 2 0 obj All rights reserved. x.type = 'text'; A circular and fairly strenuous walk through typical Dartmoor landscape in Devon. . Construction of the dam started in 1970 and was completed in 1972.The High Willhays despite the howling wind was sporting a rather fine cairn. Once I had found the correct road to Meldon Reservoir the route was very straightforward. Red flags are raised around the perimeter when live-firing is due to take place. Just as we reached the top of Yes Tor the heavens opened and so we took refuge under some rocks. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). 3.4 km/h. Fernworthy is a great place to Discover the Dartmoor Story. however. 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. For help see Help. Where is Meldon dam? 420 m. It really was that easy. % 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. I have given some High Willhays is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (166th highest in England, 289th highest in England & Wales) High Willhays is also known as an English Nuttall (228th highest in England, 397th highest in England & Wales) and an English Marilyn (49th highest in England, 727th highest in the UK). the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the The lichens and mosses that drape the trees are nationally important and grow here in this unique clean air woodland. To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all see Talk to Us. riverbank and turn right to follow the path along the right hand riverbank. hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking 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. Can you swim in Meldon Reservoir? function myFunction() { Where2Walk 2023 - Walking in Yorkshire and the Lake District. Last ditch attempt to save Meldon Gorge. Commercial quarrying (originally for limestone) started at Meldon around 200 years ago. Head for these and you will soon catch 40.00. Yes Tor is the one with the trig. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. High Willhays in Dartmoor is the highest mountain in the south west of England. go4mailvariable=('walk_pics' + '@' + go4mailvariable) per adult. My Walks page. Heheard them too. created. (a pay and display carpark) we headed out of the carpark and turned left along the footpath towards the Dam. 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. Here there are clear paths, at least in its lower slopes. 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. There was the very faint sign of previous passage to 3h 37m Moderate 4.6 (18) High Willhays is within one of Dartmoor's Danger Zones, areas used periodically by the British Army for exercises. Address: Meldon Reservoir, Okehampton, Devon. IntroductionThis Dartmoor walk to Yes Tor and High Willhays takes place to a large We continued along the path as it turned South and then East up the hill towards our first summit Yes Tor. 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. {YwEc_P!''6G/b,U8G-EI_P//i\6}2,dO1}zIu80Adh)9#-Sy4VI+a4:.d Although it is the highest point of the moor, it is relatively insignificant in comparison to most of the moor's tors, consisting of no more than a few low outcrops of rock along a northsouth ridge. Yes Tor is 2031ft (619m) and For those unsure as to the purpose of the humble trig point, these were constructed in the 1930s to help with the retriangulation of Great Britain. if (x.type === 'password') { 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. Walking up to the reservoir is pretty straight forward. The largest outcrop is crowned with a cairn. However High Willhays is in an area of the northern plateau of the moor where the exposed rock has noticeably fewer of the large feldspar megacrysts that are typical of most of Dartmoor's tors. 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. go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited. undefined on the OS map. 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. High Willhays is often mistakenly referred to as the highest point in England south of Kinder Scout. From Meldon Reservoir car park, climb the steps next to the toilets and This email address is protected by JavaScript. His instincts, his breeding told him this was something he could do, he understood this view. 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. 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. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). earn from qualifying purchases. There is also a wonderful stretch that is great for swimming in the summer, pictured left. I had seen the highest point on Dartmoor and had walked 151 feet above a river on a marvel of Victorian railway engineering. } Photos cannot do the location justice. Begun soon after the Norman Conquest as a motte and bailey castle with a stone keep, it was converted into a sumptuous residence in the 14th century by Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, much of whose work survives. The River Lyd rises at Lyd Head by Corn Ridge to the north of Woodcock Hill. I slotted in behind some granite and got scoffing . High Willhays is 2037ft (621m). xYK7h*ZffwLr98^qmlHSil3;zT}z? wide and there are shallow vehicle ruts. I apologise for the lack of drama in my opening words, the failing to enthuse. The remains of the largest castle in Devon, in a stunning setting on a wooded spur above the rushing River Okement. 15. It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. x.type = 'text'; 3.3 km/h. From High Willhays we descended south to the West Okemont River and found our wild camping spot for the night nestled below Lints Tor. Can you walk up high Willhays? I stopped for a bite to eat, taking shelter out of the wind for a few moments. 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. 400 m. 410 m. Intermediate Hiking Tour From Parking. The army military clear up Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. Trip.com 1 3392TWD Trip.com! Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. TMDH Limited 2000-2023. document.write('' + go4mailvariable + '<\/a>') Surfing Lessons. Meldon Reservoir Enjoy a waterside walk around this lovely reservoir on Dartmoor. large pile of stones ahead. NB. Copyright | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement, Find New Walking Friends & Walking Groups, Questions & Answers about Walking & Hiking, load all 29 walk photos from Walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir. High Willhays is just South of Yes Tor and there is a very clear track leading up to it. 3. through the gate turn left to the reservoir dam. To get there, take the B3260 south west from The undisputed highest point in Dartmoor and the South West. There are a few very pleasant looking pubs on route in to Okehampton but I was not able to test them!