Here we are and eight months into Covid 19 and we continue to conduct our lives as if in a straight jacket, no matter there is so much to do when you’ve spent your life being busy it is really quite nice to do the old fashion things going for a walk with no purpose. Not that it’s old fashion you understand just the childhood things you remember, well here is our day out at Fernworthy Reservoir near Chagford in Devon. The town of Chagford is a place not to be missed, it’s and old rural or country town and whilst it has changed in the last 5 or 10 years new bits have been added, it has maintained its original feel. The town centre is as it was lovely quaint and very small feel about it, so park on the edge at a car park and let your feet do the walking (rather than fingers for those who remember the telephone book advert)
The reservoir is about 3 or 4 mile from the town on a no exit road and as you near the reservoir the road rises up into the moor after crossing a cattle Grid you feel as if you’ve reached the top of the world.
A little further on you start to drop down towards the trees another cattle grid and you enter the the magic of the forest, turning into the car park with the information centre and toilets, be warned they are not always open it seems!
From here you can choose three routes less able bodied short route which is easy going under foot, there are two further options one of which will take approximately 2hour 30. but that will depend on the individual or the group, there is no rushing around needed. Car parking is £2.00 for two hours, or £.2.30 using the Ring app
The Trees around the reservoir are amazing it is like walking through a petrified forrest in places, quite magical. The ground in many places is like a massive bog in the winter or after a heavy period of rain and the water oozes from under foot so stout foot ware is a must. You can see how easy for a bog to develop and if it were a large enough one how easy to get stuck sinking into it with every move…
Malcolm & Delia 