A walk out of Ashburton

One of the advantages of staying just outside the village of Holne was that one could walk out of the door and be on the moor. One could enjoy the countryside and the moor without having to drive somewhere in the car.

In the past, we had achieved something of the same sort when staying in Ashburton by walking up Whistley Hill, good because one got some serious exercise, but not so good because one had to cross the busy A38 and because the lanes on the other side of the A38 had high hedges, meaning that there was little view of countryside or moor to be had. Although there was the power station noticed at reference 1.

So on this occasion we thought to do better, and examination of the map shown below revealed a hill from which we might get some good views, the hill labelled '161' above the 'RT' of Ashburton in black. So off we went.

Ashburton map

Through the town centre, past Ella's, branching right onto the Knowle Road and then right again up the hill. Somewhere along the way we came across a planning notice stuck to a telegraph pole about demolishing Kenwyn House and replacing it with seventeen ender homes for older people.

Kenwyn House

A house which had large grounds, which was surrounded by a high wall and which turned out to have quite a history, being built towards the end of the nineteenth century for one of the Berry family, big in wool in Ashburton for many years. The house did not last very long, a hotel by the 1930's and a council old peoples' home by the 1950's.

High wall

At about this point we were passed by a trim lady, no longer young, walking  briskly up the hill with her shopping from the town, presumably heading for the farm which we later passed near the top of the hill. While overhead a lazy buzzard was being hazed by an aggressive crow; perhaps this last was a nursing mother. Eventually the buzzard sloped off. Various fine views over the hills from field gates.

Trim lady's farm gate

Near the top we branched down a narrow path, roofed over with hedge, leaving the gate above behind us. Perhaps the trim lady's farm gate. Presumably walkers were not much of a problem or the notice would have been kept in a better maintenance condition. Another high buzzard, this one peacefully coexisting with some seagulls.

Security

At the top we found what was presumably the header tank for the Ashburton water supply, protected by Securitas, one of the companies which had been thought to be doing well out of public sector privatisation. Flashy web site, nicely climbing share price and 3% (or so) yield. Maybe they are not falling down the Carillion hole. I wonder how much attention they pay to this particular site?

Down the other side, past various curious cows and then a small field with bee hives. And a substantial shed for the beekeeper's gear. Was the roof made of asbestos panels? Plenty of bees flying about, but we failed to spot any beelines.

Beekeeper's shed

At the bottom of the hill, BH took the low road back to town (she had our hog's pudding to attend to) while I took the high road, described as the terrace walk on the map included above. More fine views. Then down through what certainly started life as a council estate and so home to hog's pudding. And a cake from Ella for dessert.

We had thought to visit the town museum in the afternoon, but it was unaccountably shut and we settled for Buckfast Abbey instead, where we were treated to an organ rehearsal for the concert the next day. A newly rebuilt instrument which I thought was rather good. And I liked having the pipes around one, rather than a great bank of them in front of one, as in the RFH. The Barbarossaleuchter was also looking well.

Plus the first tadpoles of the year in one of the formal ponds.

PS 1: we noticed a modest amount of haymaking in and around the town.

PS 2: I have been puffing OS maps, but we had also been using a map booklet of Dartmoor, about 60 pages worth, from AZ. The maps were essentially OS and we rather liked the booklet format, entirely suitable for short range walkers like ourselves. See reference 3.

Reference 1: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/whistley-hill-power-station.html.

Reference 2: https://www.oldashburton.co.uk/the-berry-family.php. With thanks for the snap of Kenwyn House.

Reference 3: https://www.az.co.uk/dartmoor-a-z-adventure-atlas.html.