Branch off to the left (SX 570905). Construction of the dam started in 1970 and was completed in 1972.The reservoir covers some 57 acres. //-->, High Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 16 min to complete. For help logging on, see Help > FAQs > Logging On. . point and a radio aerial. Slowly and methodically sheep began to move from right to left, first just a few and then a few more, then perhaps twenty, now forty, must be a hundred. The River Lyd rises at Lyd Head by Corn Ridge to the north of Woodcock Hill. I rearranged a few flat pieces of granite, added a couple of stones and stepped back carefully, having made this part of the moor a few artificially inches higher. Please enable javascript in your browser preferences). (Guide Resolution = 300dpi. Very much part of the attraction for me; what the eye doesnt see, the mind starts to imagine.The plan was to walk from Meldon Reservoir in an easterly direction up to Yes Tor, a location for years I had always wanted to visit. One of the highlights of a landscape with an abundance of rock is the making of cairns, small monuments of stones, dedicated to long forgotten causes. Then cut across boggy marsh . Meldon - Lints Tor | hiking on dartmoor 4. His instincts, his breeding told him this was something he could do, he understood this view. High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. All rights reserved. The walk also follows routes which are reservoir covers some 57 acres. From where you have branched off, the Heheard them too. <> It has an ethereal feel about the place as though someone has dropped the elven forests of Middle Earth here in Devon. To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all see Talk to Us. With that in mind, it is worth remembering that one should not Hiking info, trail maps, and 55 trip reports from High Willhays (621 m) in the Dartmoor of United Kingdom. Meldon reservoir dartmoor Stock Photos and Images Sunrise: 06:51; Sunset: 18:05. The more impressive, but slightly lower, Yes Tor is about 1km (58 mile) north along this ridge, which is known as "the roof of Devon".[6]. 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. Meldon Reservoir - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting - Travalour view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click, If you need to buy any difficulty in orientating yourself but just in case, head just north of west However, the first topographical survey of the area carried out by Ordnance Survey suggested that High Willhays was 12 feet (3.7m) higher,[4] although the difference has now been measured at just 8 feet (2.4m). High Willhays We eventually left the moorland passing through a car park and then had to climb uphill again to an old railway line and the Meldon Viaduct, We crossed the bridge and then made our way back to the car tired and happy after a successful hill climb. begin with, when I did the walk but I would not guarantee its presence long 15 Best Things to Do in Okehampton (Devon, England) back to Meldon Reservoir is very pretty. You begin at Meldon Reservoir car park, where you will be immediately greeted by sweeping views of Meldon Reservoir, and an impressive dam, which reminds me of the one in . Discover the best hikes and paths to High Willhays in Okehampton Hamlets, West Devon. %PDF-1.5 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. For those using my GPS route, this is based To close this message click anywhere outside this window. Dartmoor had always conjured up images of bleak moorland, high tors, deep marshes and swirling mists. All rights reserved. The range is marked by red and white posts on the Moor. Take the turn off to Meldon and follow the signs for the From High Willhays we walked back down the West side of the hill towards Black-A-Tor Copse. Your email address will not be published. Really hope you're all ok!! however. #1 Hi, We want to walk to Yes Tor and High Willhays starting from the car park at Meldon Reservoir. Photos cannot do the location justice. site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. NB. Do not head north of High Willhays, it is bleak and featureless. Yesterday we decided we needed a Dartmoor fix. . The difference in height between Yes Tor and High Willhays is a modest 2 metres, a little over 6 feet but if your quest is to walk to the highest point on Dartmoor then you need to go to the most southern of the tors at High Willhays, the OS Map shows which.Place a stone, make a wish, nod hello. Meldon Reservoir Walking Route - gps-routes.co.uk View of north Devon from Yes Tor. . It sits on the River Avon which rises just over four miles away NW close to Ryder's Hill. . wide and there are shallow vehicle ruts. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). A party of D of E students nearing the summit had the alternative effect, pleased no doubt to find the correct summit. 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. The National Trust's Lydford Gorge, Devon, is the deepest gorge in the South West and has a spectacular 30m waterfall. The views from Yes Tor and along the ridge to large pile of stones ahead. There is a large car park at Meldon Dam, with toilets and a map of the area. The military have been using Dartmoor for over 200 years and this walk is partly within a live firing range. google_ad_height = 600; Meldon Walk - Jan-Eric Osterlund I apologise for the lack of drama in my opening words, the failing to enthuse. We were now surrounded by clouds giving us the perfect opportunity to teach our eldest (who is hoping to achieve her Bronze Duke Of Edinburgh award) some highly important lessons in using a compass. route through the boulder field becomes clear. Meldon Reservoir and Dartmoor's highest tors | AA RatedTrips.com Willhays. From there it was up to Yes Tor and High Willhays, where the wind really was blowing something. . Construction began in 1970 in response to increasing demand for domestic water supply. 04:07. recorded message giving availability. RM 2BCCM52 - The spillway of Meldon Dam (1972), showing overflow of the West Olement River from Meldon Reservoir, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK. High Willhays is within one of Dartmoor's Danger Zones, areas used periodically by the British Army for exercises. EX20 4LU Season Date: 15 March - 12 October Species: Wild Brown Trout Fishery Size: 57 acres Contact: 01566 771930 Click here for the trout fishing rules This is a free fishing water with a bag limit of four fish over 10 inches. From Meldon Viaduct I retraced my steps back towards the car park at the reservoir. Yes Tor is 2031ft (619m) and Hampster Tor (disputed location) | Dartefacts: Dartmoor Artefacts High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. This National Nature Reserve of 170ha mainly consists of a model example of the upland heathland and has a wealth of moorland birds. The walk starts from Meldon Reservoir. Meldon Reservoir - West Okement River Circular Dartmoor National Park Length: 5.1 km Est. Gemma Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yes Tor at 619m (2031ft). The reservoir is 900 feet above sea level and sits next to Meldon Quarry. High Willhays is 2037ft (621m). I was briefly thrown on arrival because it was a pay car park and the machine wanted actual coins. summit. 5. For help see Help. 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. 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. xY[kF~_![\53 )!7N&!s&ij43a kvF7VvyzU ~`c:fXHtA?z8GzL>: O_zj0 *C1Fucs{gb=L M:gvzl KGfgnD'!YHf9/vZ~QHp It was very wet underfoot and we saw many unprepared walkers struggling with inadequate footwear through bogs and over streams of water that wouldn't have been there during the warmer months. Walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. See this Tour and others like it, or plan your own with komoot! When you get to the large rock, there is a meldon reservoir to high willhays - dice-dental.asia to the riverbank. document.write('' + go4mailvariable + '<\/a>') Nestled on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, is an idyllic location for a family day out, a special celebration, or a corporate event. Availability can also be checked at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in the UK south of the Brecon Beacons. go4mailvariable=('walk_pics' + '@' + go4mailvariable) . Enough time to glance at the map and plot a compass bearing west towards Black Tor, overlooking West Okement River. 6500 trig points were constructed and many still survive today though modern technology has rendered them obsolete; just a folly now; a nod to the 1930s map makers. 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. 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. See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. 13.6 km 4:05 h 410 m 410 m meldon reservoir carpark, up to high willhays, camp, down to the car park again in a loop. We were all walking roughly the same route but no doubt with very different stories to tell over a cup of tea later. Ordnance Do not follow this link or you will be banned from this site. It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level. Meldon Reservoir2.85km from High Willhays Meldon Reservoir is a local Dartmoor beauty spot in the northwest section of the National Park. Meldon Reservoir is a reservoir in England and has an elevation of 912 feet. It's a flat, boggy landmass that's relatively difficult to walk across. The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Descend to the right of Black Tor to the The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Meldon Reservoir This was a pretty 7 mile circular trail which began at Meldon Reservoir and included a climb to the summit of High Willhays before descending to the West Okement River. Black-a-Tor Copse, Dartmoor - Man About Country High Willhays (/wliz, wlhez/ WIL-eez, WIL-hayz), or according to some authorities High Willes,[3] is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 621 metres (2,039 feet) above sea level,[1][2] and the highest point in Southern England. Tagged: Black-a-Tor Copse, Dartmoor, Dinger Tor, Fordsland Ledge, High Willhays, hike, hiking, Lints Tor, Meldon, reservoir, walk, walking, Yes Tor. Red-a-ven Brook and Yes Tor. 12.1 km. The dam is a concrete gravity structure 50.9m high, with a span of 201m. 3. 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. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. 6. }. hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme. It's a flat, boggy landmass that's relatively difficult to walk across. riverbank and turn right to follow the path along the right hand riverbank. Meldon Reservoir, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Black-A-Tor Copse and a dip in the West Okement. Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the you off. 03:40. This descent was fairly steep, we were aiming for the Southerly most point of the trees, skirting the edge of the wood, meaning that a substantial amount of Bouldering was required. Yes Tor is 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is 621 making them the highest summits South of the Peak District. tedontour LIFE MEMBER I'd seen a photo of Black-A-Tor Copse, 619 metres above sea level and High Willhays is. The average height of the moor, however, is around 1,200ft (366m). boulder field just before the large rock. See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. Does anyone know if this car park is accessible by motorhome (2.8m high, 2.3m wide) A look on google street view shows the road passes under a bridge which we are not sure our motorhome can get under. Meldon Dam We parked in the Meldon Reservoir car park which had plenty of spaces. Dartmoor: High Willhays trek - frombluetogreen.com This was my first "proper" activation using HF. Start by crossing the dam wall and taking the initial zig zag path up the hillside ahead. However I was pleasantly surprised by a bright winters daywith very good walking and some wonderfullong distance views. Find new walk companions for walks in South West England, Get Directions to the start of walk de177, More easy-to-follow circular walks in Dartmoor National Park, More easy-to-follow circular walks in The South West, More easy-to-follow circular walks in Devon. Large red words on the OS Map spell out a warning to hikers and tourists alike: Danger Area restricted access. A vast dam wall rises from the floor of the West Okement Valley. In 1912, William Crossing, writer and documenter, said that the name High Willes had . When the track splits, take the left fork, Yes Tor is the one with the trig. The National Trust's Lydford Gorge, Devon, is the deepest gorge in the South West and has a spectacular 30m waterfall. Your email address will not be published. photo) which will be ahead of you. The city of Exeter is the county town. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).). The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. Nestled in a valley beneath High Willhays, the 'roof of Devon' and the highest point on Dartmoor, lies a mystical ancient oak woodland packed full of wild beauty. Dartmoor is bleak, unforgiving, stunningly beautiful and at the same time a cruel vicious landscape. Oakhampton Military Firing Range. The Woodland lies next to the West Okement River and the ground here was particularly wet. It's easy to get to the start of this walk as it's just off the A30, a major road linking Exeter to Cornwall and going over the top of Dartmoor. There are the remains of extensive peat works to the southeast of Lyd Head including the evocatively named Bleak House. High Willhays, the highest point on Dartmoor. This site was designed with the . Some is over open ground and although well walked, 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 . rocky outcrops below, which overlook the valley with the West Okement River undefined on the OS map. 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. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays Tor. In fact Black Mountain (703m) on the border between Herefordshire (England) and Powys (Wales) is considerably higher than both Crowden Head (Kinder Scout) (636m) and High Willhays (621m). Ive been spoilt for choice lately with Dartmoor dams. 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). With the exception of the tors, much of this walk is man-made. Across the river valley, on Corn Ridge the sound of a voice could be heard, shouting loud and clear. Okehampton to High Willhays Dartmoor Hiking Route - Summit Or Nothing } else { Address: Meldon Reservoir, Okehampton, Devon. Once I had found the correct road to Meldon Reservoir the route was very straightforward. Survey OL 28 - Dartmoor. With the last of my lunch filling my bellyand a healthy dose of wellbeing filling my soul it was time to head back towards Meldon Reservoir via a path along the banks of the West Okement River. Meldon reservoir - Devon Perspectives Meldon Dam blocks the West Okement River, creating a large reservoir to its south west (upstream) side. There are intermittent . The track splits by some picnic tables next 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. There was the very faint sign of previous passage to Explore it on the map and plan your own route to High Willhays. You can also submit photos from walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir via our Facebook Page. x.type = 'text'; } Meldon reservoir hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy The reservoir sits below Yes Tor and High Willhays which are the only two mountains in southern England. We would love to see your walk photographs and pictures walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir. reservoir car park. 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. Triangulation is basically a mathematical process of measuring angles to other locations that makes accurate map making possible. Meldon Reservoir Enjoy a waterside walk around this lovely reservoir on Dartmoor. He also posited a possible link to the word gwili meaning winding or tortuous, but said it was unlikely this was where it originated from. venture on to open moors without a compass and the knowledge to use it. The lichens and mosses that drape the trees are nationally important and grow here in this unique clean air woodland. Meldon Reservoir is situated northwest of Yes Tor , and northwest of High Willhays . Just as we reached the top of Yes Tor the heavens opened and so we took refuge under some rocks. highest summit on Dartmoor until piped at the post by its companion High Copyright | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement, Find New Walking Friends & Walking Groups, Questions & Answers about Walking & Hiking, load all 24 walk photos from Walk de177 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Meldon Reservoir. The trail is. 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. go4mailvariable='go4awalk.com' RF P6219K - Evening light on Dartmoor, with views towards Meldon reservoir and over an old quarry site. In a previous life I was fortunate to be able to work in a water treatment plant, so I have a good understandingof all that is hidden below. The highest part of the moor lies in the northeast corner just south of the A30, where it rises to 2,037ft (621m) at High Willhays, seen from this walk. For anyone unfamiliar with firing ranges, Meldon Reservoir, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park Easiest route From Meldon Reservoir, SX 562918 from. Light snow changing to overcast by late morning. How far is it around meldon reservoir? Please indicate where each photo was taken. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. My first activation (last year) was using a 2m HT which does seem a bit like "cheating" so with good weather forecast this morning I drove for an hour from home to the Meldon Reservoir car park near Okehampton, Devon. 562917) located at the northern end of the dam containing Meldon reservoir. Yes Tor is also known as an English Nuttall (237th highest in England, 412th highest in England & Wales). The gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, flora and fauna. We continued along the path as it turned South and then East up the hill towards our first summit Yes Tor. 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. The undisputed highest point in Dartmoor and the South West. 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 route encompassing the two highest peaks on the Moor (which many classify as mountains). Highest Points: 120 - High Willhays - Devon - 11th August 2015 - Blogger Last ditch attempt to save Meldon Gorge. A couple of Sunday's back we decided to take a trip up to Meldon Reservoir which is just outside of Okehampton. Our 10% chance of rain soon became 100% and the wet weather walking gear was vital. 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. High Willhays & Yes Tor - Dartmoor Walk - Walking Britain The water was bracing and though my family think I'm bonkers I found it most pleasant. 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. 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. It generates some 9kW of hydroelectricity, which is used for instrumentation functions inside the dam. Made easy by the fact the reservoir car park is already some 330 metres ASL. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A walk in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, South West England, South West England, Meldon Reservoir - Longstone Hill - Okehampton Army Firing Range - Yes Tor - High Willhays - Black Tor - West Okement River - Vellake Weir - Meldon Reservoir. Now dont imagine for one moment this would be an easy walk in thick mist, pouring rain, ice and hail. High Willhays and Yes Tor are the only summits in England south of Kinder Scout in the Peak District to rise above 2,000ft. It's 621 metres or 2,039 feet above sea level. Meldon Reservoir, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Black-A-Tor Copse and a dip Wistman's Wood is an ancient forest that has largely been left to grow wild, free of destruction, or shaping by humans or large animals. What's Nearby Accommodation Sourton Down Caravan & Camping Park damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it. UV: Low;. I took a slight detour to High Willhays and came back via the more interesting Yes Tour. Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship; Contact; Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship . How Long Is Walk Around Meldon Reservoir? - Mastery Wiki Cookies must be enabled for you to Log On successfully. 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. Find the perfect meldon reservoir stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. You shouldnt let the limited public access put you off exploring safely this part of Dartmoor as it is very bleak and atmospheric, drama and remoteness but easily accessible by road. High Willhays and Yes Tor - Moors and Tors of Dartmoor For the return from Highwillhays, once again View down to Meldon Viaduct. Meldon Dam Car Park: OS Grid Ref: SX 56154 91787 Longstone Hill: OS Grid Ref: SX 56942 90492 Yes Tor: OS Grid Ref: SX 58072 90155 High Willhays: OS Grid Ref: SX 58032 89217 Black Tor: OS Grid Ref: SX 56627 89490 West Okement River: OS Grid Ref: SX 56052 89827 Meldon Reservoir: OS Grid Ref: SX 55969 90842 Meldon Viaduct: OS Grid Ref: SX 56444 92302. Just below Meldon Reservoir, the west Okement River flows down into Old Meldon Pond (also known as Meldon Pool), a glorious wild swimming spot secluded under the Meldon Viaduct. . Dartmoor Solo Wild Camp - Meldon Reservoir, Yes Tor, High Willhays I parked at Meldon Reservoir, which has a car park and toilets. The weather wasnt set to change any time soon, grey lead sky but no mist or rain forecast, so plenty of time to explore beyond High Willhays. It was a long uphill slog and the ground was sodden but we weren't deterred. 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. var x = document.getElementById('password'); The best Hikes and Walks in Dartmoor | Outdooractive A very satisfying walk in my book. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Head for these and you will soon catch High Willhays Stone Ring Cairn Circle SE, 144, 3.192 km 620 m Contour Ring, High Willhays SE, 144, 3.194 km High Willhays Walking Route - gps-routes.co.uk [email address] (NB. "From Meldon reservoir car park, climbed 400m peak directly south then headed on to climb Black Tor. We stopped here a while and I decided that it was still just about warm enough for me to take an Autumn dip in the West Okement.