From Friday 9th to Monday 12th October 2015, the Club’s Annual Holiday was held at the HF Moorlands House at Haytor, on Dartmoor, Devon. We were a party of 33. A write-up of the weekend was included in the WINTER NEWSLETTER 2015 – see Newsletters page for details.
The photos below attempt to capture the activities in terms of the walks and entertainment we did during the weekend.
Thanks go (so far) to Felicity Brewis, Gordon Wise, David Mcgregor and myself for the photos displayed below.
Moorlands House at Haytor.
Margaret posing on the lawn in front of the impressive HF Moorlands House
WALKS
Friday 9th October
INTRODUCTORY WALK TO HAYTOR ROCKS – this was a short walk from the Moorlands House up to Haytor Rocks.
Whole group ascending the hill up to the Haytor Rocks – Moorlands House is in the background.Gordon, David and Andrew make it to the top of Haytor Rocks
“Watching you watching me ” -shot from top of Haytor to the rest of the group below
Andrew, Gordon and David on top of Haytor – don’t they look pleased with themselves !
The impressive Haytor Rocks as you approach them
Saturday 10th October
EASY
Leader Michael with 10 SLR walkers. Distance approx. 4 miles
Walkers taking a well earned break – walks leader Michael is the centre of the groupHappy group of 10 walkers enjoying the sunshine!Looking back on the impressive Haytor Rocks
MEDIUM
Leader was Gordon with 7 SLR walkers. Distance 7.6 miles
HARD
Leader was Andrew with 12 SLR walkers – this was a 10.5 mile circular walk starting and finishing at the Moorlands House taking in several tors, tramways, valleys and moorland tracks.
Route way marker on the Templer Way at the start of the walk.Group start a tricky descent during the walk
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Group crossing an ancient stone bridge during the walk with Walks Leader Andrew on the rightGroup walking past another ‘tor’ on the way back to Haytor towards end of the walk.
Sunday 12th October
Coach took the party to near Princetown and dropped off each group in turn for various length walks back into the town.
EASY
Leader was Andrew with 7 walkers. Distance approx. 3 miles
Impressive flooded quarry on the route back into Princetown.
MEDIUM
Leader was Michael with 8 walkers. Distance 7 miles
HARD
Leader was Gordon with 12 walkers. This was an 11 mile linear walk which took in a large number of tors, valleys, ‘leats’ and open moorland ending up in Princetown.
Staple Tor rocks – one of the many tors visited on the route.
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Group taking a break in front of ‘another’ tor early in the walk!Walk leader Gordon briefing the group standing on an ancient wheelwright’s stoneWalks leader Gordon briefs the group on the history of the moorland activities.Group posing on an ancient stream crossing pointFine example of one of the many ‘leats’ (water channels) found on Dartmoor.Group walking carefully alongside an ancient leat on top of its supporting wall.Further along the leat looking for a crossing pointCrossing point found – go carefully now!Passing by the last of the impressive tors we saw on the way back to Princetown.The iconic ‘Post Bridge’ on the way back home from Princetown
Entertainment and Evening Activities
Friday – Speaker on local wild life and fauna on Dartmoor
Saturday – series of 3 quizzes from the 3 walks leaders
Sunday – Carpet Bowls.
Drinking in Agatha Christie Lounge
Members relaxing after dinner in the Agatha Christie lounge
CARPET BOWLS – SUNDAY NIGHT
Carpet Bowls Team Selection process gets underway!
Is Andrew over the line? -you just can’t trust these Church Wardens!
Jean shows Group B how to do it!Wendy gets in practise at carpet bowls – notice the intense concentration!Not so good a result this time but Wendy & Gordon proved worthy winners in the end !
Stoke Lodge Ramblers 