Having parked at the visitor centre and paid (I don’t mind as it’s supporting the National Park) I set out, the walk up to the Rocks is steep and I’ll admit I was in some pain to the point where I wasn’t sure how far I’d get but after I’d sat for a few minutes just below the rocks I felt better and didn’t have any significant problems for the rest of the walk.
Hay Tor Rocks
The main aim of the walk was the remains of a tramway that ran across the moor; tram usually conjures up images of big electric vehicles running on rails in town but this was very different, wagons, running on granite blocks, were hauled up the line by horses and ran down carrying stone under gravity to the Stover Cansl. The wheels weren’t flanged like more modern railways, they ran on the flat part on the outside of each piece of stone.
This isn’t the only extant piece of stone tramway in the country but it’s one of the most extensive. I walked along it for a reasonable distance, which included finding their equivalent of points where a spur or branch joined.
I was quite pleased, as I walked back to the car, to see an ice cream van in the top car park. One medium (an understatement, it was huge) cone with flake later and that was lunch sorted! I wisely didn’t want too much given that I’d booked Sunday dinner at the pub for 3pm.
Just a small dinner - flame grilled rib eye with all the trimmings
The food was delicious, but I couldn’t finish it all, it was telling that lots of doggy bags were in evidence (some of them even had accompanying dogs).
Given the early dinner, and the pub closing at 6pm, a small complimentary snack has arrived at my room for later, I may yet struggle! It’s a good job I’ve suspended my diet for this week.
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