Friday 13th April 2018. An ascent of Sharp Tor 380m/33m, Corndon Tor 434m/96m and Yar Tor 416m/27m, near Dartmeet, Dartmoor, Devon. 6.5km, with 280m of ascent. 2hrs 10mins.

On the way to Princetown on the previous day to climb North Hessary Tor, I had passed a tor which, though not of considerable height, had the characteristics of a mountain. My definition of a mountain is not that found in any dictionary. Mine is "a steep-sided rocky elevation of the earth's surface from which you are at risk of falling off, with danger of death or significant injury". I have climbed many 'elevations' in mainland Europe considerably higher than Ben Nevis, which I would consider more to be big hills than mountains. You might die of a heart attack climbing them, but it would be very difficult to fall off them. Back at my accommodation in Buckfast, I checked the map and found 'my mountain' to be Sharp Tor 380m. I resolved to climb it as part of my hike next day.

I set off after lunch on Friday. The weather was dull and cloudy, but the clouds were above the tops and did not look as theatening as on the day before. I parked in a car park on Yartor Down, just east of Dartmeet. After a short ascent to the summit of this minor top, I made my way down by sheep- and pony-trails to cross the marshes in the Rowbrook coombe, then steeply up through a boulder field to the shapely summit of Sharp Tor. A few easy scrambling moves got me to the top of the summit tor. It was a fine airy place with good views, despite its lowly height and cloudy surroundings.

I picked my way down the rugged north-west ridge, passing through a group of Dartmoor ponies completely unconcerned by my close presence among them. I had just crossed the road to begin ascending Corndon Tor, my next objective, when I decided to check my map for the best route. The map had gone. I had left it lodged in a crack in the rock out of the wind near the summit of Sharp Tor. So I ascended Sharp Tor for a second time that day.

Map retrieved, I retraced my route, then up to a lane that runs over the moors to Babeny. At its highest point a track led off right towards the summit of Corndon Tor. On the route I stopped at a granite cross, dedicated to the memory of a soldier who had fallen in the First World War in Palestine. You can read more about the memorial, and Lt. Penny's untimely death, at the age of nineteen, at http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/cave_penney.htm. Shortly after, I reached the summit tor. This presented no problems in scaling.

I returned past the memorial to the lane, crossing straight over to ascend Yar Tor. I was soon at the summit, within the remains of a re-worked Bronze Age burial cairn - an impressive monument (see at http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/yar_tor.htm).

I headed south to the car. I reached it dry, unlike the day before, with plenty of time before Vespers.