Meldon Reservoir, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Black-A-Tor Copse and a dip in the West Okement. feet have not always followed the same paths, so worn routes have not been The River Lyd rises at Lyd Head by Corn Ridge to the north of Woodcock Hill. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. All in all a very pleasant few hours. You following the broad track by the reservoir. As mentioned in all the walking guides, Yes Tor is not actually as high as High Willhays but the view is much better, and the top is more, erm, interesting shall we say. stream I'd seen a photo of Black-A-Tor Copse, 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is. Trip.com () Trip.com 55% %PDF-1.5 } else { June 30, 2022; this place is a shelter sheet music; hall and jordan funeral home obituaries I've been feeling rather overwhelmed this past couple of weeks with work and various life "stuff" so this camp was. 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. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor. go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. From Meldon Viaduct I retraced my steps back towards the car park at the reservoir. You can also submit photos from walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir via our Facebook Page. 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. See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. . x.type = 'text'; The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Our eldest wasn't looking where she was going and ended up kneed deep in a bog, to our great amusement and bless her, she took it with good grace. 114. The walk starts at the car park at Meldon Reservoir and takes you to the 621 metres (2,039 ft) summit via Longstone Hill and Black Tor. The summit of Yes Tor is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point. I stopped for a bite to eat, taking shelter out of the wind for a few moments. All rights reserved. To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all see Talk to Us. The city of Exeter is the county town. We would love to see your walk photographs and pictures walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir. High Willhays in Dartmoor is the highest mountain in the south west of England. With the exception of the tors, much of this walk is man-made. Please enable javascript in your browser preferences). Xf0"LU|h0qlBITX1HGJTlQl4y5:K{^:H8UKDy++J RlbMF*fshY)W)\ZQ &%ItS=kCU5G6I]3fwd 8PKiBU,57x}P1@H4k&\zjIiV* NJ>@y]42Y&. However I was pleasantly surprised by a bright winters daywith very good walking and some wonderfullong distance views. The Minister's decision letter backing the Meldon reservoir was published in November 1968. }. Head for these and you will soon catch The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. Dropping down from the dizzy heights of High Willhays, a group of hikers could be spotted in the distance, making their own adventures, parallel to mine. This was my first "proper" activation using HF. document.write('' + go4mailvariable + '<\/a>') Walking up Longstone Hill we saw our first signs of life. The Woodland lies next to the West Okement River and the ground here was particularly wet. As I walked across the dam, water and machinery could be heard rumbling away deep beneaththe concrete superstructure. 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. 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. See Walking Time Calculator, For advice on .gpx files see difficulty in orientating yourself but just in case, head just north of west I had found the perfect spot to take in all that is Dartmoor once more. He suggested instead that the name derived from gwylfa, a watching place, noting its similarity with Brown Willy, the name of the highest hill on nearby Bodmin Moor, and suggested that a watch for beacon fires used to be kept here. Half-Day Surf Experience in Newquay (1 x 2 hour lesson) - All Abilities Welcome. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. High Willhays Meldon Viaduct Meldon Dam, Okehampton Devon There is a large car park at Meldon Dam, with toilets and a map of the area. Ordnance Survey Map View of north Devon from Yes Tor. Start by crossing the dam wall and taking the initial zig zag path up the hillside ahead. Meldon Reservoir is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the northwest section of the National Park. Actually the top of Yes Tor was very pleasant for me, but if you want a quiet unspoilt area, then this isn't it. You need to head for the left view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click, If you need to buy any walking parallel with the little valley to the left. See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. Sent to us by Andrew Ross, a viewer, this walk was a great day on Dartmoor. The undisputed highest point in Dartmoor and the South West. . What's Nearby Accommodation Sourton Down Caravan & Camping Park 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. Yes Tor, which for many years was thought to be the highest point, and has an O/S pillar to prove it, was recently demoted in favour of the less spectacular High Willhays. 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. Yes Tor was for years thought to be the Fernworthy is a great place to Discover the Dartmoor Story. Available for both RF and RM licensing. which protects some plant (water abstraction or whatever) but soon returns It sits on the River Avon which rises just over four miles away NW close to Ryder's Hill. RF P6219K - Evening light on Dartmoor, with views towards Meldon reservoir and over an old quarry site. It's a flat, boggy landmass that's relatively difficult to walk across. Just as we reached the top of Yes Tor the heavens opened and so we took refuge under some rocks. Large red words on the OS Map spell out a warning to hikers and tourists alike: Danger Area restricted access. x.type = 'password'; 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. The National Trust's Lydford Gorge, Devon, is the deepest gorge in the South West and has a spectacular 30m waterfall. Meldon Reservoir and Black Tor is a 4.6 mile loop trail located near Okehampton, Devon, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The odd shaped lumps of rock strewn across so many of the South West's tors are collectively known as 'clitter'. 3. 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 . 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. hand outcrop which is Black Tor. I had this notion that the northern landscape of Dartmoor was a fenced off landscape, uninviting to hikers. } Survey OL 28 - Dartmoor. There is a large car park at Meldon Dam, with toilets and a map of the area. Work your way to the right of this High Willhays is within one of Dartmoor's Danger Zones, areas used periodically by the British Army for exercises. function myFunction() { "From Meldon reservoir car park, climbed 400m peak directly south then headed on to climb Black Tor. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). The trail is. Willhays. [7] Each of the outcrops displays lamellar bedding.[6]. High Willhays or, according to some authors, High Willes is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 621 metres (2,039 feet) above sea level, and the highest point in the United Kingdom south of the Brecon Beacons. Construction began in 1970 in response to increasing demand for domestic water supply. I was briefly thrown on arrival because it was a pay car park and the machine wanted actual coins. A walk from Meldon Quarry to High Willhays & return via Black Tor, Black-a-Tor Copse, The West Okement River & Meldon Reservoir A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Please indicate where each photo was taken. Red flags are raised around the perimeter when live-firing is due to take place. There is no clear footpath here just pick the I walked west to Black Tor, hoping to find a nice spot for lunch. All rights reserved. It's a flat, boggy landmass that's relatively difficult to walk across. Red-a-ven Brook and Yes Tor. Once over the dam we walked up hill and followed the track in an Easterly direction skirting the edge of Longstone Hill. I had seen the highest point on Dartmoor and had walked 151 feet above a river on a marvel of Victorian railway engineering. Oakhampton Military Firing Range. High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor. after themselves. Head for the right We would love to see your walk photographs and pictures walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir. and we shall do our best to publish them. Your email address will not be published. Apparently there used to be a circular walk around the reservoir but now only the path along the southern shore is open. The Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society has seen 19 attacks in 2023 already Dog owners have been urged to keep their dogs under control on Dartmoor after a spate of attacks on sheep. Hiking info, trail maps, and 55 trip reports from High Willhays (621 m) in the Dartmoor of United Kingdom. That'll be Shellstone Tor and High Willhays in the background. The path now starts to get very faint and to /* walks */ I've been spoilt for choice lately with Dartmoor dams. 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. You begin to question your judgement and route, if new to walking this area. 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. hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. Fernworthy is a great place to Discover the Dartmoor Story. 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. Avon Dam Reservoir is one of eight Dartmoor reservoirs. Anyone been there? #dartmoor #wildcampinguk #gotthekennylook #wintercamping https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High_Willhays&oldid=1082121237, Pages using infobox mountain with grid ref, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 11 April 2022, at 12:52. 6. If All Rights Reserved. View down to Meldon Viaduct. When you get to the large rock, there is a As you get to the edge of the plateau, you will see three I settled there for 10 minutes and enjoyed the views over North Devon. His instincts, his breeding told him this was something he could do, he understood this view. High Willhays are very good and the West Okement River valley you follow on the track recorded automatically as I walked so should be accurate. 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. 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. Dartmoor is bleak, unforgiving, stunningly beautiful and at the same time a cruel vicious landscape. The only remaining recourse available to the objecting amenity societies was an appeal to the Parliamentary Ombudsman that an injustice had been done. 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 . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 16 min to complete. I took a slight detour to High Willhays and came back via the more interesting Yes Tour. Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor . This is a great time to point out that though we'd all been fairly warm on our ascent we all got cold very quickly whilst sheltering from the rain and I can not iterate enough the importance of carrying extra layers and gloves. Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). It offers an excellent day out in Devon from kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and sailing, to archery, climbing, fishing, walking and cycling. Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). It generates some 9kW of hydroelectricity, which is used for instrumentation functions inside the dam. % It is part of South West England, bounded by Cornwall to the west, Somerset to the north-east and Dorset to the east. The water was bracing and though my family think I'm bonkers I found it most pleasant. point and a radio aerial. //-->, High High Willhays - Wild Running High Willhays Distance: 8 miles (12.5km) Ascent: 541 metres Start/finish: Meldon Dam car park, EX20 4LU Cross the dam and turn R onto the Meldon Reservoir shore path to the far end and then up the West Okement River to the woodland (2.1 miles/3.4km). United Kingdom high willhays hike and camp Top recommended route Difficulty moderate. Please enable javascript in your browser preferences). Expert Answers: Meldon Reservoir and Black Tor is a 4.6 mile loop trail located near Okehampton, Devon, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Walking up High Willhays. The city of Exeter is the county town. 3.4 km/h. The lichens and mosses that drape the trees are nationally important and grow here in this unique clean air woodland. Either distracted by food, weather or the MOD firing guns! Intermediate. Littered with UXBs and danger! To The River Lyd rises at Lyd Head by Corn Ridge to the north of Woodcock Hill. . go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited. 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). Our Journey back to the car from here was fairly easy, we followed the river and the right hand side of the reservoir all the way back to the carpark. Do not head north of High Willhays, it is bleak and featureless. if (x.type === 'password') { I apologise for the lack of drama in my opening words, the failing to enthuse. Route: Meldon Dam car park to High Willhaysand back. google_ad_slot = "2715819971"; When was Meldon reservoir built? 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. Heheard them too. Keep right for the next 1.3 km and turn right, where you will find the car park on the left in 42 m. 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. The remains of the largest castle in Devon, in a stunning setting on a wooded spur above the rushing River Okement. particular ignoring several bridges, until you reach the reservoir, then through the gate turn left to the reservoir dam. If visibility is clear, you should have no The lichens and mosses that drape the trees are nationally important and grow here in this unique clean air woodland. Some is over open ground and although well walked, Willhays and Yes Tor (Dartmoor), To At the next fork (SX 568910), go left again. 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). Okehampton. Construction of the dam started in 1970 and was completed in 1972.The The reservoir sits behind this dam wall and extends to the foot of . Willhays, thanks to modern surveying methods. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. 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. 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. A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click here. The walk starts at the car park at Meldon Reservoir and takes you to the 621 metres (2,039 ft) summit via Longstone Hill and Black Tor. there is no distinct path. The time refers to a. Ascent: It lies in some high moorland which can be bleak in bad weatherlovely in good. High Willhays 6 miles (9 km) Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. TMDH Limited 2000-2023. If you're coming from the south, the A386 brings you here too. High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. The approach to Yes Tor from the west is deceptive, you cannot see the trig point and radio aerial at all. 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. Ah, the penny drops, so this will be the summit then. %PDF-1.5 The start is the car park and toilets (Grid ref. More than a stepping stone to High Willhays and Yes Tor, Meldon Reservoir is in high open moorland, almost 300 metres above sea level. The gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, flora and fauna. 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. term. Hiking info, trail maps, and 55 trip reports from High Willhays (621 m) in the Dartmoor of United Kingdom . From here the rocks forming the summit of High Willhays will be obvious lying a further kilometre or so to the east. Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship; Contact; Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship . One of the beautiful reservoirs which is home to many water species and also the location is naturally beautiful for a picnic. It has an ethereal feel about the place as though someone has dropped the elven forests of Middle Earth here in Devon. You can find more walks near these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select). 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. It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife including some rare species. High Willhays is 2037ft (621m). Can you swim in Meldon Reservoir? per adult. High Willhays, the highest point on Dartmoor. 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. Trip.com 1 3392TWD Trip.com! x.type = 'password'; At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). highest summit on Dartmoor until piped at the post by its companion High Meldon Reservoir and Black Tor Moderate 4.5 (183) Dartmoor National Park Photos (380) Directions Print/PDF map Length 7.6 kmElevation gain 272 mRoute type Circular Experience this 7.6-km circular trail near Okehampton, Devon. Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). 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. var x = document.getElementById('password'); Was a bloody chilly morning (and night) on Prewley Moor but what a view! My Walks page. A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level. DICE Dental International Congress and Exhibition. 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. This National Nature Reserve of 170ha mainly consists of a model example of the upland heathland and has a wealth of moorland birds. Click . 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. 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! Meldon Reservoir Enjoy a waterside walk around this lovely reservoir on Dartmoor. Nothing too fancy, just a flat rock with a view. This site was designed with the . Take the turn off to Meldon and follow the signs for the Meldon Reservoir on the northwest slopes of Dartmoor was the latest one, constructed in 1972. Meldon Reservoir2.85km from High Willhays Meldon Reservoir is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the northwest section of the National Park. 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. 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. Triangulation is basically a mathematical process of measuring angles to other locations that makes accurate map making possible. Undaunted, 16 ramblers gathered at the start point In my case it was the Hound of the Baskervilles. To close this message click anywhere outside this window. Dartmoor ponies added to the tranquil scene. 2 0 obj Required fields are marked *. Really hope you're all ok!! 13.8 km. The reservoir is 900 feet above sea level and sits next to Meldon Quarry. The reservoir supplies water to north and west Devon, and is used for trout fishing. Light snow changing to overcast by late morning. . Surfing Lessons. All information on this Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. reservoir covers some 57 acres. From where you have branched off, the however. The walk also follows routes which are if (x.type === 'password') { 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.