Photograph Gallery Stage 69 Tiverton to Morchard Bishop
Photograph Gallery Stage 69 Tiverton to Morchard Bishop, Monday 1st August 2011
The Story:
A day of Bridleways and Byways. The area south of Tiverton is lacking in permissive paths, particularly the south west route Strolling Steve and I were taking so we had to make do with negotiating our way on bridleways and rural farm and village roads. Fortunately there was very little traffic on the roads. Unfortunately the weather was dire. With the rest of the country enjoying hazy sunshine and hot temperatures the south west sat under a dank cloud which threw down drizzle, persistently and often heavy. It was disappointing.
The walk began with a tough 170m climb on road from Tiverton to Seven Crosses before we sighed as we continued by road to Worthy Bridge, losing practically all the height we had worked so hard for. At Worthy Bridge we had to do all the climbing again to Kingdoms Corner. Now we left the road to follow a bridleway to Cotton Farm. It was still up and down and on a couple of the downs we had to Ford a couple of streams. After Cotton Farm we were back on roads through Way Village and Westway, then bridleway through Hill Down Copse and then road again through Poughill. The best section of walking was after Poughill as we left the road to follow a track through a small copse then over fields to Kennerleigh. At the village shop Steve bought a newspaper and I bought a can of Cola. As I paid the lady serving asked how far I was walking and on learning of my journey she handed me £2 from the till for my charities. Then an elderly lady in the shop did the same! Thank you ladies, thank you. From Kennerleigh we followed a good track to Crookstock where we took a break in a roadside field. Just as we did a vehicle pulled up at the gate, wanting access to the same field. We got chatting to the driver, Ed Osborne, local farm helper, self sufficient property owner who uses solar power for energy, a man who manages a stall at Folk festival, a Ska and Reggae band player. Ed, it was great meeting you. Your principles are to be admired. After our fortuitous meeting with Ed we walked another mile and a bit to Morchard Bishop. During the final mile we spotted Dartmoor. We walk to the moor tomorrow. I hope the weather is better when we get there or we’ll not see a thing.
Strolling Steves Daily Statistics:
Scenery: 7/10 – Green rolling hills.
History: 1/10 – Didn’t see any through the drizzle.
Interest: 5/10 – Neither here nor there
Track: 3/10 – Mostly country lanes with high hedges.
Comment: Take away the drizzle and hedges and there’s probably some great scenery out there.
The Photographs:
The River Exe at Tiverton
Walking out of town
Soaked Spiders web in the hedgerow on Seven Cross Road
Quite byway after passing Seven Crosses
Muddy woodland track near Worthy Bridge
Wonderful shapes and contrasts of brightness in Huntland Wood
At least the woodland kept us slightly dry and it was beautifully eerie too
On reflection it is wet
Walking through puddles in Mill Down Copse
We take the fork to Welsbere
Crossing yet another stream, this time near Welsbere Barton
Kennerleigh Church
The shop at Kennerleigh where I received two kind donations for my charities
First sight of Dartmoor from near Higher Brownstone
Thatched cottage near Barton House close to Morchard Bishop
Signpost for the Two Moors Way which we use tomorrow
Two Moors Way logo
The London Inn in Morchard Bishop. They saw us arrive in the afternoon and had our dinner ready in the evening!