Hampshire letterboxing

Thanks to TH&S, WITC has had another far flung adventure.  Escaping Dartmoor for a day trip to the New Forest National Park in Hampshire.

A letterbox walk has been sited on an interesting little route through the trees from Bolderwood car park.  Bolderwood appears to be a major draw to the National Park.  Here are all the facilities you'd expect at a large car park, as well as a deer sanctuary and deer viewing platform.

Whilst today we saw no deer from the platform, we did spot them in the forest itself.  Bolderwood could be a New Forest equivalent of Dartmoor's Fingle Bridge.

Letterboxing amongst the trees had the benefit of seclusion from prying eyes, and ample box hiding opportunities, such as the fallen tree (pictured) with pot hidden within.  A variation on the 'plugged in

 tree roots' approach.

On a dull weekday, we almost had the plantation to ourselves.  We were passed by a horse and cart (pictured) and there were several dog-walkers and cyclists in the vicinity, but with the number of tracks and paths, it was a long way from crowded.  The letterbox walk has had a large number of visitors in the past 6 months, some well known, and some lesser known, local, boxers. 

To the regular hill walker, the New Forest has a very different feel to Dartmoor.  No breathtaking views here, and the highest point of the park is only 125 metres above sea level.  No sound of silence here either: It is nearly impossible to escape the noise of traffic on the major roads that criss-cross the park.                                                                                                                                                           

       

That said, it makes for a navigational challenge, and a very enjoyable day out in a new environment.  WITC hopes to be back boxing in the New Forest soon.                                                                                                                                     

                                                                              

That morning

A recent dawn walk, a piece of news, and a rock. WITC is suddenly feeling rather poetic...

In Westminster Abbey in London, the South Transept has a new feature. The Abbey corner recognises an array of talented artists, poets, authors and actors such as William Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens and Sir Laurence Olivier. 

Last month, the name of Ted Hughes, former Poet Laureate and adopted Devon celebrity, was installed on the floor of memorial slabs. Set beside that of his mentor and fellow literary great TS Eliot.

Ted Hughes lived in North Tawton for 30 years and was appointed Poet Laureate in 1984. He was a enthusiastic countryman and is regarded as a nature poet. On his Kirkstone Green slate memorial in Westminster, designed and created by Devon based craftsman, is a line from one of Hughes' River Poems - 'That Morning'.

So we found the end of our journey

So we stood alive in the river of light

Among the creatures of light, creatures of light

And so it was on that morning that WITC left the car park near Row Tor for the head of the Taw River. It was clear, a bit chilly, with a steady Westerly wind. The former Ring Road firmly closed, but making a firm surface on which to walk out to OP15.

With a few diversions for boxes and meetings, WITC made it to the watershed between the Rivers Taw and East Dart. One destined for the Bristol Channel to the North, whilst the other South and the English Channel. Hardly a Continental Divide, but on a wetter day, it is possible to splash from one to the other and thus link ocean with ocean without getting your feet dry.

In 1977, Hughes paid tribute at a memorial service to Henry Williamson on the subject of Tarka the Otter. A fabulous story set, in part, on Dartmoor. Tarka travels from the shore of the Atlantic near Barnstaple up the Torridge and West Okement River to Cranmere, and descending the Taw to the sea.

It is fitting then that the Ted Hughes memorial stone is sited at the head of the Taw. Standing on a high piece of East bank, its a remote and beautiful spot. It reads "Ted Hughes OM" [His Commonwealth Realm recognition, the Order of Merit] "1930 - 1998".

From here, it is a straight forward walk downstream to meet the old ring road opposite Steeperton Tor and returning to the car.  That morning became a great day.

Source: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/press/news/news/2011/december/westminster-abbey-to-honour-ted-hughes

Fur Tor (North) New Years Day 2012

whoisthechallenger was there.

Were you?

http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/christ_pilrgim.htm

to find out what all the fuss is about.

Or see https://www.sites.google.com/site/dartmoorancientboundarywalk/gallery for the official photo.

Happy New Year everyone!

Happy Boxing Day!

Ahhh, Boxing Day! Its better than Christmas Day, isn't it? For us, getting out on the Moor and stretching the legs is as good as Christmas. We wanted to collect Dartmoor Chris' 3 day boxes from the Combestone area, and we also has a route planned around the Happy Valley and Water Hill.

The 3 day boxes were still on site, and judging by the wear around the sites, they've been visited frequently during the holiday weekend. I express my surprise that they are still on site, since 10 figure grid references and clues in the public domain normally suggest: box thief. The stamps were 'old school' Christmas stamps - hand cut classic festive designs, with separate message and location stamps. Really nice.

The Happy Valley, South of the Warren House Inn (pictured) was damp and breezy, but we hid down here until the fog on Water Hill and Assycombe Hill cleared. Which it did in time. We had success finding boxes too. By the time we approached Caroline Farm, the full panorama was visible and since bearings were achievable, repeated our letterboxing success up to (and on one instance, into) Fernworthy Forest.

At the summit of Assycombe Hill, we looked back at Water Hill's cairn with Hookney Tor beyond, to see the only other humans on the moor today, aside from those in their cars zipping along the B3212.

Thats strange. Doesn't everyone else know its Boxing Day?

When the going gets tough...

...the tough head for Dartmoor's boundaries. Thus avoiding the worst of the weather and Winter's shortest days. WITC retreated to the valley of the Becka Brook for our latest walk. Beginning close to the brook's head at Hemsworthy Gate, we walked North passing the Seven Lords Lands cairn, Emsworthy Rocks and Smallacombe.

The fog was coming and going. We could catch fleeting glimpses of Haytor Rocks, and as it cleared, we also spotted the figures atop it's summit and imagined their excitement to finally enjoy the view.

We scraped through the wet bracken on the Northern slopes of Black Hill, and descended an ancient Byway to Leighon, before crossing the Becka Brook and took the footpath towards Southcott. A Winnie the Pooh fan obviously lives round here, since we passed a house named "Where the Woozle Wasn't"!

At Hayne Cross we climbed back up to the moor at Hayne Down. This hill of outcrops, logan stones and Bowermans Nose. We always have success finding boxes up here. The weather was closing in, and Haytor Rocks was no longer visible. So we turned for home.

Taking the road to Swallerton Gate, and traversing the sodden Hound Tor to the Hundatora medieval village. Despite the damp conditions on a school day, Hound Tor was still alive with families clambering over the rockpiles, shouting and laughing - a giant granite climbing frame.

Passing Greator Rocks and recalling our visit here last year in similarly dismal conditions (see post: Retrieved, 10th August 2010), and today's visit was almost as swift. We descended to the Becka Brook, just a quiet babbling stream up here, below Holwell Tor. Splashing across the ford and disturbing a pack of obviously disgruntled twitchers, we struck off for Saddle Tor hoping to finish the day on a high. The low light beat us to it though, and we were forced to abandon the walk before the summit. 12 miles through the lanes and tracks of the Eastern moor has never felt so good. 13 boxes found.

Full grid references: The end?

A quote from the latest catalogue update:

"It is with regret that I announce a change to the way the update is presented. I will no longer give anything more than a 6 figure grid with a clue unless expressly told by the owner of the box to give anything different to this. If anyone wants their information already in the catalogue updating in this way please let me know and I will pass this on to Silvia Moore."

It appears that the letterbox thief receives the updates. Who could possibly consider entering more than 6 figure grid references once it becomes clear that only more detailed clues go missing?? Take, for example, the case of 'Christmas Around Kings Tor'. In November's catalogue update, clues for this 10 box Christmas walk were released with 8 and 10 figure grid references. A month later - with still 3 weeks to go till Christmas - they've all been stolen.

So, that is surely the beginning of the end for letterboxes with full grids. Our new Dakota 10 GPS might soon be relegated to purely navigation and emergencies. It'll be like old times. Just a compass, clues and perseverance required. I can't but feel slightly excited by the thought. Hopefully we'll see more boxes on site and more productive days letterboxing as a result.

A simple riddle

Its construction kept the Yelverton to Princetown railway line operational for 2 years until 1956

It is less than twice the height of the world's tallest living tree

It is the 63rd highest structure in the UK

Can you guess what it is yet?

We braved the strong Westerly wind and headed up to North Hessary to search a small number of letterboxes, of which we only found three. None on our list were new boxes, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised, on such a visible, popular and accessible Tor.

It is a unique peak in the Park. Dartmoor author Eric Hemery notes how the hill bridges the high ground of Northern and Southern Dartmoor, and this provides a tremendous view in all directions. From Shell Top in the South, Rippon Tor to the East and High Willhays to the North. As well as a huge expanse of Cornwall to the West. It was for this reason that the BBC selected North Hessary Tor as the location for the TV Mast, although TV is no longer its main broadcasting purpose.

PS: Thanks Wikipedia for those facts!