David Shoulder - Isle of Wight: Three Tenners

Episode 6. The Three Tenners venture out onto Dartmoor again. This time the expectation is more challenging weather - particularly high winds. October instead of August

The start - not quite as early as planned. Various reasons - but one of us had to buy a new tent on the way! The sky threatens rain - dark ominous clouds but they are moving quite fast and some brightness in the SW. We are at Lydford - conveniently parked in the Dartmoor Arms car park.

We are doing a round circuit - scaling Bray Tor for Widgery Cross, River Lyd valley, Hare Tor, Chat Tor, overnight wild camp somewhere down near Rattle Brook and then on to Lower and Higher Dunna Goats, Great Links Tor and Great Nodden.

We are better prepared. There is still an issue of what to wear and what to carry. It is very easy to get cold in the wind - but very easy to get too warm with the exertion of pack walking. The secret is layers of course and being able to whip them on and off quickly - but this means stopping - pack off etc and a bit of a pain. Consequently changes can be left a bit late. Something to be worked on.

Another significant challenge is the provision of food and drink. Food is disproportionately important to me on a trek. It is not just about taking on calories. There is nothing like a vigorous walk and a sit down in a lovely spot out of the wind with something tasty to eat and a hot drink. Something to really look forward to and enjoy. A reward for the effort! But what to eat, how to package it up? Liquid is heavy. Dry food is light. My brothers fire up their cookers - I admire them for this. I bring a smallish flask. There is extra weight - but it is quick and flexible. I am not sure which is the best option.

On cookers - I have a light weight meths burner. It works well. My brothers have light weight petrol fuelled ones. The petrol ones are ultra efficient - create heat fast - but they make me nervous. Brother Mike feels the same - and he has moved to a lower intensity bio fuel burner. Rob continues to terrify us - a jet taking off!

Another development - as I said carrying water is heavy. Collecting water from streams gets over this - and boiling should make it ok as would chlorine tablets - but they taste off. Rob and I have bought a Sawyer Mini water filter each. It is easy to use. I have had no trouble since so I assume it works.

The trek itself was memorable for the wide open moorland scenery but it is the solitude that is incredible. No one around - just the Three Tenners doing their thing in this pristine wild space - and it is all for free.

The weather turned out to be pretty mild - we found a great camp site - by the brook (easy water supply) but slightly elevated and flat - lovely soft dry turf and moss - and the wind unexpectedly dropped overnight. There was some light cloud cover but nearly a full moon - a great place to be. We managed to stay up until about 7.30pm and then it was in our individual tents for the night. Little home comforts become important then. A good sleeping bag and sleeping mat makes all the difference - as does a good reading light attached to your forehead.

Rob has a very good quality Tera Nova one man tent. It is very light to carry and looks storm proof because it really hugs the ground. I am using my new tent - a Lightwave G20 Trek. It is a 4 season tent - well made - but it is 2 man tent and much heavier (at least a kilo) than Rob's. Mike has bought something similar to me. I decided it was worth carrying the extra weight for the space it provides - particularly sitting head room and a porch to cook in. Time will tell who has it right. The disadvantage of Rob's is you have to do everything prone - and if the weather was really bad outside he might struggle to cook etc. I would much rather be carrying Rob's if we were on a long hike.

Next morning I had brewed lovely hot coffee by 6.30am - virtually still in my sleeping bag. There was heavy dew and some rain in the night - but it was a clear crisp morning. We each cooked our traditional eggs and bacon - mine supplemented by a starter course of porridge - fantastic!

The pack up is always a laugh. Mike is as efficient as Rob is shambolic. It always seems his entire possessions are spread out around him and usually on the floor!

A good getaway by 930 - a great morning to be walking on the moor - just us, a few ponies, sheep and occasional cattle in the distance - and the odd skylark disturbed by us.

We eventually get to the top of Great Links Tor. A major highlight. The views are breathtaking even with a bit of a haze. It was a truly wonderful place to be and worth the trek just in itself.

Thereafter it was a gradual hike back. A quiet reflective lunch overlooking Great Nodden - it really does look like a giant Grey Whale - and a staggering view of Great Links - an especially good feeling knowing we had been on the top of it - just an hour or two before.

I attach some photos below :-