Haych's Dartmoor travels - Postbridge - Bellever - Open Thread

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We took a walk from Postbridge out to Laughter Hole House as I had never seen it before, so the first part of the walk involved negotiating some steep steps up to a field from close to the Clapper Bridge. Once up the steps and the long ascent through the bridleway to the first point on the Map where we adjust the compass.

The summit of the first part of Postbridge - Bellever Forest by Brian H, on Flickr

Off we go along the single track road until we reach Bellever village. A short walk from the exclusive gate for Laughter Tor House and Farm and we walk through the public area where there is camping available and public conveniences. We continue walking until a fork in the road is reached. Left fork Laughter Hole House, we have never seen it before.

On the way to Laughter Hole House by Brian H, on Flickr

As evidenced above, we took the left fork and it was quite a long walk, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the residents of the house never walk to the shops for a pint of milk! However it was evident it was private land so with respect just a couple of images from outside the boundary of their residence….

Laughter Hole House 1 by Brian H, on Flickr

Laughter Hole House 2 by Brian H, on Flickr

Laughter Hole House 3 by Brian H, on Flickr
After viewing what little could be seen of the house I thought we could attempt to view the stepping stones of the River Dart, we had already walked past the entrance so we knew this was not the correct way…

No Entry by Brian H, on Flickr

We take a walk in the direction of the stepping stones, however January wet ground and low hanging fallen tree branches etc the prudent decision was to view these another time. So a walk back to the fork in the road to continue the journey to Laughter Hole farm.

I'm a poser by Brian H, on Flickr

The woofer happily sitting on the wheeled bench for a photoshoot. Then we continued on the journey where mist was still evident and light almost non-existent.

Towards the mist by Brian H, on Flickr
 
I was disappointed to see fencing around the “unsafe” farming buildings. So no photos of those, thought I’d continue up to the farmhouse, well…. It is seen better days since I last visited:

Windows 10? by Brian H, on Flickr

And the fencing for the farmhouse:

A sad sight by Brian H, on Flickr

It was still looking moody with the weather after leaving Laughter Hole Farm without any laughter…

Misted Forest by Brian H, on Flickr

On the ascent to the top things began to look like an improvement with the first sight of any light!

First real sign of light by Brian H, on Flickr

We shall take the direction of Dunabridge >

Dunabridge direction by Brian H, on Flickr

Along the windy exposed path I set up to catch this with the ever changing light:

Looking towards Babeny/Dartmeet by Brian H, on Flickr

And then we took the detour off the track and looked across the moors from where a gate was once erected between the two pillars

A gate once resided here by Brian H, on Flickr
 
Soon after it is possible to look across to Bellever Tor

Distant Tor by Brian H, on Flickr

The next route is out there by Brian H, on Flickr

And this view also on offer from the same station:

Composition indecision by Brian H, on Flickr

Dunabridge out there somewhere by Brian H, on Flickr

Now this time of the year the path doesn’t seem very evident to get towards the forest entry however brave perseverance rewarded us! With a close up of the Trig point on Bellever Tor:

Bellever Trig Point by Brian H, on Flickr

However the path was not to be taken lightly with plenty of squidgy bog to sink your nice boots into the mud if they hadn’t already been christened – which incidentally they had on the previous section of the journey!

The Mud Pit by Brian H, on Flickr

We finally made our way to more hospitable surface on which to walk!

The woofer companion by Brian H, on Flickr

With an easy passage back to Postbridge, it would be rude not to photograph the Clapper Bridge!

Clapper Bridge by Brian H, on Flickr

If you’ve made it this far, we have completed our journey and hope your reading of this was much easier than our walking of it! Thanks for persevering.
 
Interesting set, the ones with "features"* for want of a better word make a good collection I feel

*gates, buildings, dogs, etc
 
I so want that house!
No camping at Bellever, just the youth hostel. There have been a lot of issues there. That's why the car park is now locked at night.
Lakehead Hill, a cleared area in the forestry on the way to Bellever Tor, is well worth a visit if you're at all interested in pre-history. It's an easy walk. Do an online search for a map of the antiquities.
 
Interesting set, the ones with "features"* for want of a better word make a good collection I feel

*gates, buildings, dogs, etc

Trying to diversify my photography a bit as my body slowly betrays me - being a fibromyalgia sufferer I am really feeling it this morning however I knew what to expect having done a similar route a few years ago - yesterday a diversion to Laughter Hole House before walking past Laughter Hole Farm house, then we diverted up to Laughter Tor and routing to the direction of Bellever Tor from there instead of walking from the farm to Dunnabridge and then up the Bellever Tor.

I so want that house!
No camping at Bellever, just the youth hostel. There have been a lot of issues there. That's why the car park is now locked at night.
Lakehead Hill, a cleared area in the forestry on the way to Bellever Tor, is well worth a visit if you're at all interested in pre-history. It's an easy walk. Do an online search for a map of the antiquities.

I thought that a few years ago when I first walked past it. Such a shame it is slowly decaying due to neglect, I'd love to wave a magic wand and have those buildings back into great condition even if there is just a custodian living there - remote buildings on Dartmoor are really important.... Nun's Cross Farm house and Ditsworthy Warren house to name just a couple.
 
The building in that last one used to have an old petrol sign outside, advertising "Flare" petrol. Somewhere in my negative files is a shot or 2 of the Sun peeking out from behind it, demonstrating just that! The visitor centre just up from the bridges is a usual stop - I generally need a comfort break by then...

My pick of this set is the Looking towards Babeny/Dartmeet shot - got to love the Moor's moods! My Grandfather is sprinkled around Babeny Cross - it's where he proposed to my Grandmother almost 80 years ago!
 
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