Dartmoor: Around the River Avon (Part 2)

Wednesday 24 April 2019

Dartmoor: Around the River Avon (Part 2)

Black Tor (Brent Down)

Continuing from Part 1, I pushed on to Waterfoot Clatter (SX 680 653), an area of clitter first described by Eric Hemery, although only briefly on page 317 (it is also labelled in a photograph on page 314). All I can say is the rocks are more impressive than Ryder's Rocks across the river, and the view of Avon Dam is quite spectacular.

Fish Rock

Waterfoot Clatter

They aren't trig points!

I finally reached the path which takes you to the metalled road below the dam, but before this, I took a look at the reservoir which brings back childhood memories for me.

Avon Dam

The next section was a bliss despite passing many families en route to Whisky and Soda Wood, where I realised I had no signal to contact the family to pick me up a little earlier, so I ascended Black Tor high above the valley to catch the sun's first appearance of the day.

Black Tor

I successfully phoned the family and they would be about half an hour, so I had ample time to explore the beautiful valley, descending the same way I ascended: from the north. The River Avon is so pretty between here to Shipley Bridge, possessing rock basins of all shapes and sizes and vibrant colours to keep you distracted. There are also the Brentmoor House Ruins with the Mary Meynell Memorial nearby.