Sunday 25th March 2018. An ascent of Caradon Hill 371m/69m, Stowe's Hill 381m/78m and Notter Tor 279m/42m, Bodmin Moor, from Minions. 12.0km, with 435m of ascent. 4hrs 0min.

I have been going down to Cornwall, the county of my Trengove ancestors, nearly every year since I was a child. However, it has only been in the last twenty years or so that I have been exploring its uplands. Most people are drawn to the dramatic splendour of its coastline, so the inland upland areas are often quiet and unfrequented. Supreme among the upland areas of the county is Bodmin Moor. Although its average height is only around 200 metres, with its highest point Brown Willy only reaching 420m, the moor has a wild remote air to it which would make one believe it to be of greater height. It is true that Bodmin Moor has recently seen more visitors since its landscapes have featured in the BBC's popular Poldark series (see at https://www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/bodmin-moor-aonb-section#.VOHaCmisXcs), but it is a spacious place where one can soon lose oneself from the crowd.

Sunday looked to be the only day of fine weather during our week's stay, so this was an obvious choice for a day on the Cornish uplands. I parked in the village of Minions. Although small, it is a good base from which to explore the southern moor, with plenty of amenities (see at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minions,_Cornwall). My first objective was Caradon Hill, which lay to the south-east of the village. It occupies a position on the southern edge of the moor, with extensive views to the west, south and east. Unfortunately the summit plateau is marred by a huge TV mast and other paraphernalia, which rather spoils one's enjoyment of the summit. However, access is easy, as a tarmac service road reaches the summit plateau. Making use of this route, I was soon on the summit, enjoying bright sunshine in near cloudless skies, though a cold northerly wind necessitated the wearing of my wind-shirt. The view was indeed extensive, with the western escarpment of Dartmoor to the east commanding attention.

I returned to Minions, taking a sandy track of eroded granite in the direction of my next objective - Stowe's Hill. I had climbed this before in April 2012, but it is a hill of much geological and archaeological interest worth visiting more than once - see at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stowe%27s_Hill. The most extraordinary rock formation is the granite tor known as the Cheesewring. After crossing the dam on the pool at its base, it did not take me long to reach the summit tor - easily climbable without any scrambling or rock climbing skills required. This was a fine place to rest in the sunshine and take in the view, but others also wanted to climb the tor and it was not good manners to hog it to myself for too long.

A descent north, at first through a boulder field, took me down to a lane-end close to Wardbrook Farm. I kept well away from this farm, remembering how in 2012 my son and I were attacked by dogs from the place. One bit my son's leg so as to draw blood, necessitating a visit to a clinic for a wound dressing and tetanus injection. I encountered no aggressive dogs today. I followed the lane down east through the small settlement of Sharptor, over which looms an impressive tor of the same name. I reached a lane junction. Turning north-east, I was soon in the sleepy village of Henwood. A bridleway along a green lane contoured along the south flank of my final objective for the day - Notter Tor. This track was extremely muddy in places, and only nimble footwork on stepping stones hidden in the mud got me reasonably dry-shod to better ground. I left this route too early in my bid for the summit, becoming entangled in an area of brambles, barbed wire and high stone walls in the wood of dwarf oak trees. Extricating myself eventually, I found a stile a little further on, which, when negotiated, led me on shortly to a stony tack up the hill. I left it too early for a fainter path heading uphill, which petered out below some small crags. Brambles and thorn trees made forward progress careful and tentative, especially in shorts. I eventually made it to the large granite boulder on the summit somewhat blooded by my ascent. The view was good, with Sharp Tor dominating to the west.

As is often the case, I found the easy route down back to my starting point and, having negotiated the quagmires again, was soon back in Henwood. A walk of some three kilometres up on quiet country lanes brought me back into Minions again. It would have been good to stop for a drink and cream tea in the village, but time was now pressing and I needed to head back to re-join my family.