A hot picnic walk, Dartmoor
The weather was hot, so we thought heading higher from the valley would have more breeze. We hadn’t meant for it to turn into a long walk, but it’s always tempting to go just a little further. Up onto the moor... and from there, we spotted the Warren House Inn. We walked towards it, but even after an hour, it didn’t seem much closer.
We settled on a rock with a bit of shelter from the wind and sun and unpacked our picnic. After eating, we continued on towards the Warren, hoping for a quick refreshment stop.
Leaving the pub, we made our way back towards Headland Warren and up to the tor. We sat on the rocks for a while, taking in the sweeping view over Grimspound. From there, we walked through and past the ancient village, climbing up the other side. At the top stood a trig point. A group of Dartmoor ponies gathered around. Our new friends.
Leaving them behind, we walked along the top of Hameldown, taking in the view and enjoying the breeze, before heading down towards Heathercombe.
We entered the forest through a gate — it felt magical, and cool beneath the trees. We walked on through lush green grass in dappled shade. The path led us through a small cluster of 15th-century houses, and then up again, crossing fields and stiles as we made our way back to the farm.
The grass was quite long, so when we got in, it was important to check everyone — and the dogs — for ticks.
16.85km, elevation gain 538m
One picnic, one snack stop and a pub visit – The Warren House Inn