Plymouth walk: River Tavy, Blaxton and Roborough Common
6 people attending
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On the edge of Plymouth, this 9-mile walk will take us across downs, to historic sites of interest, and along the beautiful Tavy Estuary. We will start on Roborough Down taking the old Maristow House road and catching views of the Tamar Estuary, the not so distant Dartmoor tors and more distant Bodmin Moor. We’ll detour via Pound Down to Blaxton Quay where there is still visible the remains of old lime kilns and a tidally powered corn mill plus views across the Tavy Estuary to Bere Ferres.
A shady woodland walk along the side of the Tavy Estuary offers glimpses of Maristow House (once the seat of the Lopes family) and brings us to Lopwell Dam on the Tavy, built as a water supply for Plymouth in the 1950s. From there the walk takes us close to Maristow House, up the old estate road and then along back roads to Milton Combe where there will be an opportunity to sample the delights of the 'Who’d Have Thought It' inn. After there, we take a gradual climb cross country back up to Roborough Common past sites of WW2 POW camps and other, now pretty much hidden, residual structures of decoy radar and military transmission towers, and no doubt come across some Dartmoor ponies.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Footwear: Walking boots are recommended as the paths maybe muddy if it has recently rained.
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Bring at least 2 litres of water to keep you well hydrated during the walk. It is recommended to bring a packed lunch and snacks for along the way. We will stop for lunch Lopwell Dam and the walk will end with an optional stop at the Who’d Have Thought It inn at Milton Combe.