Shhh, don't tell anyone, I'm nearly 50. What to do, what to do? I need a challenge to keep me on my toes so that I enter my sixth decade in better shape than I entered my fifth (that was a shocker). So my brilliant other half has come up with a plan, climb the highest point in every county in England and Wales. Fab idea! But it got kick started with my love of lido swimming.
Parked at Roughtor car park to start the climb up 400m above sea level to Roughtor, it's in the way of BW. Initial directions fine, up we went to Roughtor, looked at the well, looked at the rocks. How hard can this be? Looked at the memorial for 43 Division. Checked out Brown Willy looming the other side and it's a great big willy filling the line of sight.
The deal was, I can swim in the Jubilee Pool in Penzance (other half George is a Cornishman) if we can climb Brown Willy. The game is afoot!
Having done my swim, it's all systems go for a circular route (more about so-called circles later) taking in Roughtor ( mispronounced Rowtor by the locals) and then Brown Willy. According to the guide its 5.5 strenuous miles taking 3.5 hours 😂😂😂.
Today we had Jenny, George's twin and David, big brother with us. I haven't really seen Bodmin Moor before, much excite.
Parked at Roughtor car park to start the climb up 400m above sea level to Roughtor, it's in the way of BW. Initial directions fine, up we went to Roughtor, looked at the well, looked at the rocks. How hard can this be? Looked at the memorial for 43 Division. Checked out Brown Willy looming the other side and it's a great big willy filling the line of sight.
I'm not great at going up to go down but there's no choice on this one.
It's really lovely on Roughtor, plenty of tor action. Instructions said keep right of the rocks and go down to the bottom of the valley for the bridge. There's rocks bloody everywhere, what rocks? What right? To cut a long story short we made it up Brown Willy with a Kendal Mint Cake break, I can see me learning to love KMC.
On the top the weather had closed in and we couldn't see from where we had come.
Retrace your steps it said, skirt Roughtor it said and this is where the so-called circles come in. We did and it went wrong, so advice number 1, when it says skirt always go as low as you can or straight over the top. One pair of Aldi leggings later and my tangerine pants on show like a baboons arse we made it around the tor.
Staggered down the hill, staggered up to the car park. Drank tea, ate crisps, slept most of the way home. I forgot to mention the pasty from Camelot Garage Camelford, most fine, I inhaled it.
To describe this as a circular route isn't desperately accurate, it's a climb two hills, walk back down, ruin your leggings and plan your trip to East Anglia route. But we nailed it within five hours of departure. And no one died.
Happy days, I'll keep you posted, I'm not sure where we're off to next. But I expect it will involve a cup of tea and some ruined trousers...
Happy days, I'll keep you posted, I'm not sure where we're off to next. But I expect it will involve a cup of tea and some ruined trousers...
As long as there is tea, but I would insist on baked goods to go with said tea if I was you!
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