Mad Mike: Burrator Tab.

Saturday's weather put a stop to any Moor walking but Sunday promised a better day. Slightly late we didn't arrive at Burrator till 0930hrs. We parked at the dam. We chose this area as it was sheltered from the winds, or at least you can confine yourself to the numerous tracks through the forest and keep off the more exposed parts. In theory.

Burrator Reservoir was completed in 1898, and was further expanded in 1929. The reservoir was built under the supervision of Edward Sandeman (1862-1959), the Water Engineer for Plymouth. The reservoir has two dams, the Burrator Dam, which is built across the River Meavy at Burrator Gorge at the south-western end, where most people seem to park 'cos it's close to the ice cream van and the Sheepstor Dam built on a dividing ridge between the Meavy and Sheepstor Brook at the south-eastern end. The Burrator Dam was the first of the two to be built, with construction starting on 9 August 1893. It is the larger of the two dams, constructed of concrete faced with granite blocks. The Sheepstor Dam was built in 1894 and is an earth embankment with a core wall of puddled clay above the original ground level, with a concrete section below ground. The reservoir was officially opened on 21 September 1898.

In 1923 it was decided to enlarge the capacity from 668 million gallons to 1,026 million. This was achieved by raising the height of both dams by 10 feet. Work began in December 1923, and a temporary suspension bridge was built near Burrator Dam to carry traffic while the work proceeded. The reservoir was officially re-opened on 12 September 1928.

View from the dam over the reservoir.

Crossing over both dams via the road and footpaths we were soon climbing up towards Sheepstor. Jackie always mindful of a good bivvy position found this wonderful position beneath a huge slab of granite. As she said, a few boulders, logs, mud and bracken dragged onto the windward side and a few ferns thrown onto the floor and we would have an adequate bivvy for the night.

Still climbing up towards Sheepstor.

So far the rain had held off and the wind although cold was not to strong. This would all change later in the day. For now the weather was kind and we enjoyed some great views back down the valley and across the resi.

Nearing the top of Sheepstor.

We did not tarry long on the ridge line but immediately made our way back down onto the road passing a few 'locals' along the way and after a few hundred meters we could strike off at Norsworthy Bridge for the forest tracks.

Norsworthy Bridge at the top end of Burrator Reservoir.

The tracks here due to forest work was greatly churned up and so we turned off the intended route and made for the Devonport Leat. This we knew would take us up and out onto the open moor.

Jackie had somehow managed to get a wee pebble in her boot and so we stopped at yet another picturesque bridge whilst she removed it.

Passing the old cave which lies just below the old LeatherTor Farm ruins we could not resist a climb inside.

Once out onto the open moor we struck North up towards the Yelverton Princetown Road which we crossed and then made our way back down the other side towards the remains of the old Princetown Railway line, now used as a cycle/walking track. It closed on the 3rd March 1956.
http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/963733/Granite-and-Gears-Princetown-Railway-cycle-leaflet2015.pdf

We were now walking into the wind which was coming straight at us from Cornwall here on the Eastern side of the moor there is little to stop or break the wind. We stopped for barely ten minutes for a swig of hot coffee from the flask, a bite of Snicker bar then on.

Part of the Devonport Leat.

Peek Hill rail bridge.

We crossed the Yelverton to Princetown road via the recently opened new rail bridge. Peek Hill, famous for its snow blocked road in winter was to our left. Soon we were back in the shelter of the trees and in no time we were back at the dam. I had made a rather rash promise earlier "If the ice cream vans there I'll buy you a cornet with clotted cream. Should have not been so confident in them not turning out today.