The past weekend saw our penultimate training walk for this year’s 10 Tor’s Expedition. It was a cold and grey weekend but fortunately it stayed dry for both days. National Trust Wild Tribe had all our 35, 45 and 55 mile teams out with Torquay Boys Grammar School’s team – seven in total. Our role as moorland leaders for the groups is now to shadow and checkpoint them, i.e. we are not now walking directly with them we are keeping an eye on them to make sure all is well.
My first task with Pete Davies was to check point Trig 492 in the south west of the moor on the edge of the National Trust’s Upper Plym Estate – a bleak, exposed and remote place. This involved a 1200 foot climb up from the Blackabrook across acres of tussocky Molinia grassland. We went via Little Trowlseworthy Tor pictured above with Hen Tor in the background. Luckily we weren’t there for long as all the groups were making good progress but we did have to bring down a team member who was unwell.
Here is a piece of ‘pink’ granite at Little Trowlesworthy Tor – rare and much sought over in the past – the reason for the quarry there.
We wild camped near the O Brook not far from Combstone Tor – of course we missed the rugby ….. but we did survive the bitter night
Combestone Tor west of Venford Reservoir
Next morning after seeing the teams off some of us had an early breakfast in the Fox Tor Cafe in Princetown – it was very busy at 8am – full of 10 Tors leaders and managers – there were 250 10 Tors teams out on the moor practicing over the weekend! (Those who were checking pointing first thing got a late breakfast once we had taken over their duties)
Heading up to South Hessary
where we met all our 45 and 55 mile teams.
Overall a very successful weekend – all the teams got some big miles into their legs and gained lots of confidence.
A Dartmoor blog 