WAGS Rambles
We try to go for a ramble twice a month. Usually we have a purpose
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to recci a new route
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to test improvements made by land managers
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to take new people out onto Dartmoor
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sometimes we just go for a walk
Tuesday 10 December
Harrowbeer Airfield and Rodborough Down
A recci
Harrowbeer Airfield on the edge of Yelverton was used during WW2. It has numerous areas of hard standing, a compass base and dispersal bays. There are some interesting interpretation boards around the site.
Its most famous visitor was Harry Truman in 1945 returning from the Potsdam conference was unable to land at St Mawgan so flew into Harrowbeer. Also on the Airfield is The Rock, an interesting geological outcrop of porphyry rock which is similar to granite.
From the Airfield you can move on to Rodborough Down following a range of flat grassy paths with great view of Dartmoor to the east.
It was a chilly day with a cold north wind so we finished a bit early.
A level 2 route.
Tuesday 26 November
Stover Park and the Templar Way
Recci of a winter walk and an introduction to new ramblers
Stover Park has a tramper to hire and is a great location for people to try out a mobility scooter on flat paths. A new person to our group did this and although the scooter battery was not fully charged, it was a great way to meet the group. Another new member using a small motorised chair was also able to explore the park. The rest of the group then headed out onto the Templar Way with lunch at Ventiford Basin, negotiating the floods around Teigngrace before returning via the Stover Trail and the Canadian Forestry Corps Memorial sculpture.
This is a Level 1 walk in Stover Park but a Level 2 outside the Park as the paths can be rough and muddy.
Tuesday November 12th
Heligan to Mevagissey and return
A day out in Cornwall.
​This was the first ramble for WAGs in Cornwall although members of the group regularly go out
with Cornwall Rolling Ramblers. We began at Heligan and then detoured through some lovely woods to enjoy the autumn colours. We then descended through the valley to Mevagissey for some excellent fish and chips. We explored both sides of the harbour, had an ice cream before returning via a different route.
This is a level 2-3 route due to the hill.
Tuesday October 22nd.
Drakes Way from Plymbridge Woods to Bickleigh Viaduct.
A recci of a new route for the WAGs
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We started at the National Trust Plymbridge Woods car park and headed north along Drakes Trail. We had a slow but interesting walk looking at mosses, lichens and fungi along the damp walls of railway crossings. Two viaducts provided great views and excellent examples of Brunels vision. We returned the same way and some of the group then followed a path alongside the River Plym.
The Drakes Trail is a level 1 route, and the extension by the river is probably a level 3 as it can be rough and muddy. A 4 mile return route to the viaduct and another 1.5 miles along the river.
Tuesday October 8th. Bellever Forest.
To look at the new benches at Bellever Forest carpark.
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We started at the Bellever Woods car park in Postbridge and followed the road to Bellever village and the River Dart. The rain was heavy but the moorland experience was great. Forestry England and DNPA have recently installed some accessible benches and picnic tables and we wanted to give feedback. Wheelchairs can access the tables, mobility scooters can access them from the side. We had our lunch at one to fully test it. They allow people using wheelchairs to join friends and family for a picnic.
We then continued through the forest looking at the bronze age huts, and had a quick view towards Bellever tor from the Lych Way between showers before returning to the car park.
A level 3 walk, approximately 4.5 miles
