Yes Tor is 2031ft (619m) and simply follow the path round its right hand side back to the car park. 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. Hisnose sniffed the calm air and his eyes scanned the distant valley slopes. (Guide Resolution = 300dpi. The lichens and mosses that drape the trees are nationally important and grow here in this unique clean air woodland. Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship; Contact; Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship . Your email address will not be published. Recommended. (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. At the next fork (SX 568910), go left again. 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. Only when beyond the false summit (the cairnvisible from the west) do you then see the trig point and radio mast. We continued along the path as it turned South and then East up the hill towards our first summit Yes Tor. To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all see Talk to Us. Trip.com () Trip.com 55% Can you swim in Meldon Reservoir? Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk: The highest point of this walk is High Willhays at 622m (2041ft). Keep right for the next 1.3 km and turn right, where you will find the car park on the left in 42 m. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor. Address: Meldon Reservoir, Okehampton, Devon. Triangulation is basically a mathematical process of measuring angles to other locations that makes accurate map making possible. go4mailvariable=('walk_pics' + '@' + go4mailvariable) We were all walking roughly the same route but no doubt with very different stories to tell over a cup of tea later. Sorry, but your browser does not appear to be accepting our cookies. . . Easiest route From Meldon Reservoir, SX 562918 A few hikers having a bite to eat out of the prevailing wind is normally a good clue too. Meldon Reservoir, or Meldon, is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the north west section of the National Park. You can safely say I was in aweCurving gently across thevalley and old mine workings, the Meldon Viaduct is a bold statement in an already strikinglandscape. Meldon Dam Tiny rapidly moving dots scoured the landscape in perfect harmony. Your email address will not be published. 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 ro. 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. It offers an excellent day out in Devon from kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and sailing, to archery, climbing, fishing, walking and cycling. % Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. Made easy by the fact the reservoir car park is already some 330 metres ASL. 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. var x = document.getElementById('password'); There is a large cairn marking its summit. 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. 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. The geology of High Willhays, like most of Dartmoor, consists of granite intruded about 280 million years ago. 13.6 km 4:05 h 410 m 410 m meldon reservoir carpark, up to high willhays, camp, down to the car park again in a loop. It has an ethereal feel about the place as though someone has dropped the elven forests of Middle Earth here in Devon. A vast dam . 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. The summit of Yes Tor is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point. There are the remains of extensive peat works to the southeast of Lyd Head including the evocatively named Bleak House. This Dartmoor adventure was far from over, I had one more ace up my sleeve; the impressive, the immense, the towering Meldon Viaduct. To close this message click anywhere outside this window. 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 Meldon Reservoir is a reservoir in England and has an elevation of 912 feet. var x = document.getElementById('password'); The path diverts briefly around a walled area A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. Parking at Meldon Reservoir SX561 918 (a pay and display carpark) we headed out of the carpark and turned left along the footpath . Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). When the track splits, take the left fork, 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. High Willhays are very good and the West Okement River valley you follow 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. The views from Yes Tor and along the ridge to High Willhays are very good and the West Okement River valley you follow back to Meldon Reservoir is very pretty. Ansum! per adult. earn from qualifying purchases. Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). High Willhays (/wliz, wlhez/ WIL-eez, WIL-hayz), or according to some authorities High Willes,[3] is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 621 metres (2,039 feet) above sea level,[1][2] and the highest point in Southern England. You shouldnt let the limited public access put you off exploring safely this part of Dartmoor as it is very bleak and atmospheric, drama and remoteness but easily accessible by road. x.type = 'text'; A walk in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, South West England, South West England, Meldon Reservoir - Longstone Hill - Yes Tor - High Willhays - Dinger Tor - Brim Beck - Kneeset Nose - Sandy Ford - West Okement River - Black-a-Tor Copse - Vellake Weir - Meldon Reservoir. Obvious paths on the lower slopes make pleasant walking but these become intermittent on the higher slopes, the wild ponies being the most likely creators of many. 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. Given the effort taken in constructionit would be a dishonour to not protect them for future generations to stand beneath and look ever upwards. 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. High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. 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 reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited. The trees are gnarled and stunted growing through the moss covered boulders, which gives the woodland its magical appearance. 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! }. If visibility is clear, you should have no Nestled on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, is an idyllic location for a family day out, a special celebration, or a corporate event. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. High Willhays, the highest point on Dartmoor. Unlike sunsets that donthold his attention for long, this working landscape captivated him whilst I watched and ate my humble lunch. As you get closer to the top, there is a 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. Meldon Reservoir. MELDON RESERVOIR TO HIGH WILLHAYS VIA A ROUNDABOUT ROUTE START POINT: MELDON RES GRID REFERENCE: 562917 John Skinner had planned a route from Meldon Reservoir going upto the Moors via Okehampton Station but F&M restrictions put paid to that and he had to rejig the walk to avoid restricted areas. You need to head for the left 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. Construction of the dam started in 1970 and was completed in 1972.The Thanks to Malcolm Oakley of South Downs Walking. A shepherd on a quad bike was commanding three sheepdogs. Ascent: As you get to the edge of the plateau, you will see three 2. Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. I had found the perfect spot to take in all that is Dartmoor once more. meldon reservoir to high willhays. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. This was my first "proper" activation using HF. . Devon is a county of England, reaching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south. I'd seen a photo of Black-A-Tor Copse, 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is. The military have been using Dartmoor for over 200 years and this walk is partly within a live firing range. The odd shaped lumps of rock strewn across so many of the South West's tors are collectively known as 'clitter'. Required fields are marked *. From there it was up to Yes Tor and High Willhays, where the wind really was blowing something. Overview The walk starts from Meldon Reservoir. Tracks across High Willhays to Yes Tor. I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.Steven Spielberg. We all walk at a slightly different pace so use the slider to calculate the time you will take on the walk. You begin to question your judgement and route, if new to walking this area. If you're coming from the south, the A386 brings you here too. //-->, High document.write('' + go4mailvariable + '<\/a>') The Woodland lies next to the West Okement River and the ground here was particularly wet. Take the turn off to Meldon and follow the signs for the High Willhays is 2037ft (621m). 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. 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. The undisputed highest point in Dartmoor and the South West. 7. Now dont imagine for one moment this would be an easy walk in thick mist, pouring rain, ice and hail. The trail is. High Willhays We eventually left the moorland passing through a car park and then had to climb uphill again to an old railway line and the Meldon Viaduct, We crossed the bridge and then made our way back to the car tired and happy after a successful hill climb. High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in the UK south of the Brecon Beacons. Last ditch attempt to save Meldon Gorge. reservoir car park. 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. See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. 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. There are the remains of extensive peat works to the southeast of Lyd Head including the evocatively named Bleak House. Descend to the right of Black Tor to the Slowly and methodically sheep began to move from right to left, first just a few and then a few more, then perhaps twenty, now forty, must be a hundred. In 1912, William Crossing, writer and documenter, said that the name High Willes had . xYK7h*ZffwLr98^qmlHSil3;zT}z? which protects some plant (water abstraction or whatever) but soon returns Nearby Dartefacts and Squares: 438 Less than 1 km High Willhays Ridge Ring/Bank (with Pool) SE, 136, 0.075 km SE, 136, 0.075 km 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. Meldon 2 0 obj You can find more walks near these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select). Yes Tor & High Willhays loop from Meldon Reservoir. . #dartmoor #wildcampinguk #gotthekennylook #wintercamping untoward, do not touch it and report it. Always useful. The time refers to a. I slotted in behind some granite and got scoffing . There are a number of compulsory checkpoints at which all runners MUST give their number to the stewards. . . Reaching the summit of High Willhays 621 meters above sea level, Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of. summit. 8. Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of high altitude oak woodland in Britain. Please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to: