A wet Templer Way walk

We were out with the walking group today covering Stage I of the Templer Way walk.  This follows the route that granite from the old quarry on Dartmoor adjacent to Hay Tor was taken downhill to the sea at Teignmouth a total distance of 18 miles.  The first part of the walk followed the granite tramway tracks that  horse bearing wagons used before the granite was transported via canal and then the river.  This photo show the granite tramway lines in the foreground and Hound Tor (I think) in the distance.  The extra shows us at the start walking up to Hay Tor.

Unfortunately we had chosen the wettest day this week for the walk and the rain was incessant.  It did eventually fizzle out but that was by late afternoon.  It was just as well it was an interesting walk historically as well as fleeting glimpses of scenery.

A pity that the bus times had all been changed.  There was an option to catch an earlier bus at a location just short of the intended stopping point which a few of us were tempted by, but we stayed together and ploughed on.  When we arrived at the bus stop the 5.15 bus did not arrive and we ended catching a bus back to Newton Abbot hoping there would be more choice of buses to Exeter from there.  There wasn't and we sat on the same bus retracing the route past our stop and onto Exeter.  By the time we arrived the last bus to the Park and Ride had gone but luckily a taxi ride took us there before the gates were closed and our cars locked in.  We didn't arrive back home till 7.45pm so it was a very quick dash out to catch the second half of the photography club meeting.

But it was still an enjoyable day and I'm glad to say my back didn't complain about the 9 mile walk.