Garnsey's Tower

I don't know anything about this chap Garnsey except that he built a tower on the brow of a hill. This site suggests it is "a decaying tower in Blackborough woods that served as shelter for whetstone miners" which is not ever so revealing. Whetstones are used for sharpening tools and can be a variety of rocks, and I didn't see any evidence of mining. But the tower served as a focal point for the run-cum-hike barefoot which included several major footpath segments.

15.2 miles, 657m height gain, 4.2 mph

Detail showing some footpaths...

The work of an enterprising houseowner in Kentisbeare

It was a simple circuit in Gauge 1 and working too

Checkerboard church tower, Kentisbeare

Thatch is picturesque but that's about all

The ascent to Blackborough Common

My first footpath got dicy here - it was not well kept

But it resolved into a much better path

The roof of the ruin of Blackborough House

And finally, Garnsey's Tower, ruin thereof

From this angle, clearly a tower that once was

The views looking north from this part of Blackborough Common were spectacular. You can of course enlarge the pictures by clicking on them, after which you can scroll through them.

Large toadstool I noticed on my descent

The second major segment of footpath was also poorly maintained. According to my GPS enabled maps (I use UK OS and OpenTopoMap via MOBAC on OruxMaps) the footpath led me through the middle of an oil-seed rape field and then...

...through the middle of a wheat field (or some such grain) - I followed a line made by a tractor to minimise any additional damage to the crop, but in any case going barefoot does a good deal less damage than when shod because one feels one's way through the stalks.  And then...

...through a grassy meadow where I could actually run...

... and through hard to identify gates or styles to the next field or, in this case to...

... a very muddy and dark lane that finally opened up into the village of Ashill where there was a helpful sign telling me the lane was "not surfaced", and thence to...

... Culmstock and my much traversed water-meadow footpath to Uffculme and home. And (sadly) one tick so far.

Uplowman and Tiverton Parkway

Track #2 - Uplowman - 16.56km

Up at 0600 on Saturday - once again not enough time for the beacon as we have visitors for lunch and much to get ready. The track for this and the previous and next barefoot runs were created by my Garmin Forerunner 15 but for guidance I also carry my Android running Oruxmaps with OS maps loaded courtesy of Mobac and, at Ali's suggestion, a cell-phone in case of disaster. It took the Android 50 minutes to get first fix - I think it doesn't like doing this whilst I am moving.

The route - the B road to Halberton where I turned right, crossing the A361 North Devon Relief road by a devious route in search of foot-paths. The only one I found was plagued by cows (I am slightly wary of cows, they have been known to kill hikers). The village of Uplowman because it is in the upper reaches of the river Lowman I suppose. Then back via Sampford Peverell.

Typical Devon lane near Sampford Peverell

This photo is especially for my American viewers who might be scared driving along such a typical Devon back-road, one car wide with high hedgerows either side!

Tiverton Parkway

I just happened upon two trains as I crossed the foot-bridge at Tiverton Parkway station. And then home along the bicycle corridor created in part reparation for having moved the station from Willand to this odd location miles from anywhere.