Friday 2nd March - Lucky Tor

A murky misty day with the sun struggling to break through.  Very warm and humid out of the wind and it felt like a spring day.  Parked on Yartor Down just up from Dartmeet.



Downhill a little to find the 'Coffin Stone' - a convenient resting place to rest the coffin on this steep climb up.  In the Middle Ages a coffin was always carried on mens's shoulders.  More information here  http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/coffin_stone.htm







Next across and up to Yar Tor (62) - a really good place to get an excellent view of the moor but not today.

 The small hamlets of Sherwell and Babney in the distance.

From here down to the road and the kistvaen - this one is also know as the Money Pit - for more about the legend go here        http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/money_pit.htm

Just across the road from this is the memorial to Lieutenant Evelyn Penney who died on active service in Palestine in 1918 aged 19.
 
From here to Sharp Tor (63) - easy to understand why this one got its name.  Sharp Tor is the most popular name for tors on Dartmoor - there are 10 in total.

The view south west down the Dart valley from Sharp Tor...

...back to Yar Tor...

...Combestone Tor on the other side of the valley

Next due south but going around the enclosed land to find Lucky Tor.


Down the steep valley across this little stream...

Eventually Lucky Tor (64) came into view - heavily camouflaged in trees.  There doesn't seem much to it from here...

...but it goes back a long way and stands high up above the river - which I couldn't see but could hear clearly.

If you want complete solitude with just the sound of running water then there can be no better place than this.

Now it was time to climb out of the valley and if it felt steep going down then it most certainly was going back up!  Over Yartor Down to return to the car.

A short drive to the other side of the river through Hexworthy to Combestone Tor (65).  This has got to be the easiest tor to get to - there is a car park right next to it!


Another short drive to Venford Reservoir...

...for the walk to Bench Tor (66)...Sharp Tor in the distance....

....and Lucky Tor in the trees below.

On the other side of the valley Hockingston Tor amongst the trees - now that one looks like a real challenge but that's for another day.


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