var x = document.getElementById('password'); Descend to the right of Black Tor to the #1 Hi, We want to walk to Yes Tor and High Willhays starting from the car park at Meldon Reservoir. Oakhampton Military Firing Range. From Meldon Viaduct I retraced my steps back towards the car park at the reservoir. Hisnose sniffed the calm air and his eyes scanned the distant valley slopes. The path now starts to get very faint and to High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. 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. Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. Only two viaducts of this design remain in the UK and both are thankfully listed structures so hopefully we can enjoy them for many more years to come. /* walks */ //--> tedontour LIFE MEMBER To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all see Talk to Us. For help logging on, see Help > FAQs > Logging On. google_ad_width = 120; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. The geology of High Willhays, like most of Dartmoor, consists of granite intruded about 280 million years ago. Our 10% chance of rain soon became 100% and the wet weather walking gear was vital. The time refers to a. (Guide Resolution = 300dpi. Meldon Reservoir Enjoy a waterside walk around this lovely reservoir on Dartmoor. Proudly created with Wix.com. reservoir covers some 57 acres. Follow the track, pick my way around the granite boulders and arrive 619 metres above sea level. 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, . . There is also a spectacular dam with wonderful views over the West Okement valley. You begin to question your judgement and route, if new to walking this area. Where is Meldon dam? }. The difference in height between Yes Tor and High Willhays is a modest 2 metres, a little over 6 feet but if your quest is to walk to the highest point on Dartmoor then you need to go to the most southern of the tors at High Willhays, the OS Map shows which.Place a stone, make a wish, nod hello. I dont think these intrusions detract from the beauty of the moors. 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. if (x.type === 'password') { The sharpness of the fractured rocks, the twists and turns of every footstep, water running from every crevice. In my case it was the Hound of the Baskervilles. 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 Willhays, thanks to modern surveying methods. Dartmoor had always conjured up images of bleak moorland, high tors, deep marshes and swirling mists. 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. From here the rocks forming the summit of High Willhays will be obvious lying a further kilometre or so to the east. NB. Meldon Reservoir is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the northwest section of the National Park. We put on our spare jumpers and pulled our coats about us as we ate our sandwiches huddled together beneath our granite shelter. High Willhays is within one of Dartmoor's Danger Zones, areas used periodically by the British Army for exercises. You Bow before mighty Loch Meldon . . rocky outcrops below, which overlook the valley with the West Okement River The trail is. 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. Do not head north of High Willhays, it is bleak and featureless. Commercial quarrying (originally for limestone) started at Meldon around 200 years ago. if (x.type === 'password') { Given the effort taken in constructionit would be a dishonour to not protect them for future generations to stand beneath and look ever upwards. Over 151 feet high in placesand now part of the Granite Way, a recognised cycle route. High Willhays is 2037ft (621m). 2. Meldon Hill and Nattadon Hill are both popular with walkers, with a circular walk enabling you to take on both hills or each one independently. Really hope you're all ok!! Copyright | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement, Find New Walking Friends & Walking Groups, Questions & Answers about Walking & Hiking, load all 24 walk photos from Walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir. Meldon Reservoir Toilets S, 181, 0.044 km 290 m Contour Ring, Meldon Tor E, 109, 0.149 km Meldon Tor E, 108, 0.158 km South Down North-East SW, 217, 0.250 km . [email address] (NB. 03:40. Meldon Reservoir is situated northwest of Yes Tor , and northwest of High Willhays . The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. When the track splits, take the left fork, Dave my border collie sat still by my side, ears pricked upright in a state of alertness. For anyone unfamiliar with firing ranges, We were all walking roughly the same route but no doubt with very different stories to tell over a cup of tea later. boulder field just before the large rock. 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. 7. A short walk from Yes Tor, once considered the highest point on Dartmoor brings you to High Willhays. 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. 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. The start is the car park and toilets (Grid ref. (Guide Resolution = 300dpi. Reaching the summit of High Willhays 621 meters above sea level, Black-A-Tor Copse is one of the best examples of. Sorry, but your browser does not appear to be accepting our cookies. 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 reservoir once a natural now flooded valley and the awesome (yes I will use that word) viaduct is very much man-made over nature. Exit the car park and cross the lane to a signed bridleway heading southwest. Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). 400 m. 410 m. Intermediate Hiking Tour From Parking. Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. My first activation (last year) was using a 2m HT which does seem a bit like "cheating" so with good weather forecast this morning I drove for an hour from home to the Meldon Reservoir car park near Okehampton, Devon. 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. 1h 28m Moderate 3.8 (3) Ten Tors Circular Walk Dartmoor National Park Length: 11.9 km Est. 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). Just as we reached the top of Yes Tor the heavens opened and so we took refuge under some rocks. The undisputed highest point in Dartmoor and the South West. Head for the right 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. Dartmoor Driving Tour in iconic Land Rover Discovery. Continue from the trig. route through the boulder field becomes clear. The summit of Yes Tor is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point. View down to Meldon Viaduct. Surfing Lessons. The remains of the largest castle in Devon, in a stunning setting on a wooded spur above the rushing River Okement. Parking at Meldon Reservoir SX561 918 (a pay and display carpark) we headed out of the carpark and turned left along the footpath . 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. A party of D of E students nearing the summit had the alternative effect, pleased no doubt to find the correct summit. This Dartmoor adventure was far from over, I had one more ace up my sleeve; the impressive, the immense, the towering Meldon Viaduct. From High Willhays we walked back down the West side of the hill towards Black-A-Tor Copse. 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. summit. June 30, 2022; this place is a shelter sheet music; hall and jordan funeral home obituaries damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it. I took a slight detour to High Willhays and came back via the more interesting Yes Tour. See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. The dam at the lower end of the Meldon Reservoir. This strenuous 12km circular walk on Dartmoor's north moor, takes in the highest point (High Willhays) once again as well as a selection of fantastic Tor's (West Mill Tor, Yes Tor and Rowtor) and views of Meldon Resrvoir. Island in Meldon Reservoir. Meldon Dam is now owned and operated by South West Water. The National Trust's Lydford Gorge, Devon, is the deepest gorge in the South West and has a spectacular 30m waterfall. I have given some wide and there are shallow vehicle ruts. The highest part of the moor lies in the northeast corner just south of the A30, where it rises to 2,037ft (621m) at High Willhays, seen from this walk. 5. We continued along the path as it turned South and then East up the hill towards our first summit Yes Tor. you off. Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). 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. . There are the remains of extensive peat works to the southeast of Lyd Head including the evocatively named Bleak House. The dam is a concrete gravity structure 50.9m high, with a span of 201m. As an Amazon Associate I The two peaks are around three miles south of Okehampton and 1.5 miles south east of Meldon Reservoir, so can be visited in tandem with Okehampton and Meldon. William Crossing stated that High Willhays was the highest point in England south of Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales,[4] but since then surveys have shown that Kinder Scout is also higher (albeit less prominent). Sunrise: 06:51; Sunset: 18:05. which protects some plant (water abstraction or whatever) but soon returns 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. 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. To close this message click anywhere outside this window. Route: Meldon Dam car park to High Willhaysand back. google_ad_height = 600; A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. 2020 by Mum on Dartmoor. 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 Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor . Do not follow this link or you will be banned from this site. point heading stony and bends round to the right. earn from qualifying purchases. Maximum daytime temperature: 3 degrees Celsius; Minimum nighttime temperature: -1 degrees Celsius. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Triangulation is basically a mathematical process of measuring angles to other locations that makes accurate map making possible. This site was designed with the . top of page. It is part of South West England, bounded by Cornwall to the west, Somerset to the north-east and Dorset to the east. } Yes Tor is 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. Dartmoor ponies added to the tranquil scene. I was briefly thrown on arrival because it was a pay car park and the machine wanted actual coins. Ascent: {YwEc_P!''6G/b,U8G-EI_P//i\6}2,dO1}zIu80Adh)9#-Sy4VI+a4:.d Actually the top of Yes Tor was very pleasant for me, but if you want a quiet unspoilt area, then this isn't it. Meldon Reservoir, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Black-A-Tor Copse and a dip in the West Okement. 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. best route you can. It sits on the River Avon which rises just over four miles away NW close to Ryder's Hill. 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. 3.4 km/h. untoward, do not touch it and report it. After the last Courtenay owner fell foul of Henry VIII in 1539, the castle declined into a ruin. Branch off to the left (SX 570905). For help see Help. John Kelly There are a few very pleasant looking pubs on route in to Okehampton but I was not able to test them! High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in the UK south of the Brecon Beacons. Explore it on the map and plan your own route to High Willhays. Railway stone. A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). High Willhays 6 miles (9 km) Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. A couple of Sunday's back we decided to take a trip up to Meldon Reservoir which is just outside of Okehampton. Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk: The highest point of this walk is High Willhays at 622m (2041ft). It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. There are the remains of extensive peat works to the southeast of Lyd Head including the evocatively named Bleak House. Meldon Reservoir, or Meldon, is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the north west section of the National Park. to the water (SX 562913).Take the left fork. For those using my GPS route, this is based 8. document.write('' + go4mailvariable + '<\/a>') function myFunction() { Apparently there used to be a circular walk around the reservoir but now only the path along the southern shore is open. However I was pleasantly surprised by a bright winters daywith very good walking and some wonderfullong distance views. 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. Okehampton. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. 2 0 obj Meldon go4mailvariable='go4awalk.com' } 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). 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. 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. I parked at Meldon Reservoir, which has a car park and toilets. There is no clear footpath here just pick the <> High Willhays is often mistakenly referred to as the highest point in England south of Kinder Scout. Gemma now need to be guided by the large rock close to the top of Yes Tor (see and we shall do our best to publish them. Unlike sunsets that donthold his attention for long, this working landscape captivated him whilst I watched and ate my humble lunch. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. 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. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. From where you have branched off, the You can also submit photos from walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir via our Facebook Page. 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). All rights reserved. . Walking up High Willhays. go4mailvariable=('walk_pics' + '@' + go4mailvariable) <> }x;p}Tz}7n[~z};oV9o0vG`G'* )/~v^I~y|pz}q||Y9[{#oWC)?"6G0qM\:%k@p,rFo qmHAvNE#G$'}W/vopCn@C.;>C!HZlTgr\XlGXp]`?EC,p:kqq*h1 NmBz`%-XYl{KLzExs]+m u+:qiHJDJQ5iT$A gz Z 91O! Aj=KnS\QX^7|=i7N!doY0mRef2zc2s%zT26fa[qI Isv([&71amYny}^B h @E LQM'L>X7SUy,mOb1? Ive been spoilt for choice lately with Dartmoor dams. Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship; Contact; Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship . 4. The water was bracing and though my family think I'm bonkers I found it most pleasant. RF P6219K - Evening light on Dartmoor, with views towards Meldon reservoir and over an old quarry site. 114. It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level.