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Once again we were lucky, super weather all the time we were
out and heavy showers after we reached the Pantry. We had
a big turnout of young explorers, ten in all: Benjamin, Eilidh
R., Fern, Jonathan C., Laura C., Martin, Robbie L., Rowan,
Thomas and Zack. Plus five adults, Pamela, Phil, Richard L.,
Sandra and Sharon - no dogs this time.
This expedition covered some ground we had never visited before.
We started by climbing through the woods of the little hill
adjacent to the Torr, known as the Sgiath Beag, the little
wing. This wood has a very ancient look, with much more undergrowth
than is seen on the Torr. The young explorers managed to find
a deserted den with a chair and a table, no doubt used by
local children some years ago.
We carried on to the end of the hill and were led down a precipitious
slope by the explorers, which thankfully we all negotiated
without trouble, to find ourselves behind one of the byres
of Torr Croft on the saddle between the hills.
I looked about a bit to find a dryish route through the bracken,
but we got a clear route when the boys did some rolling around.
Then we set off along the western slope of the Torr. I got
everyone searching the slope for rocks showing vitrification,
which might have fallen from the rampart above following the
vitrification phase. We found lots of clean rocks before Thomas
came up triumphantly bearing a rock with a clear bit of vitrified
material sticking to it.
Just beyond this we reached a very sheltered area with a fine
view across the moss to Newtown, and everyone was picking
out the buildings they could identify.
I then found a steep route round the end of the hill which
eventually got us all to the round building at the north end
of the Torr, where we stopped for a wafer break. I explained
the way in which the walls of the fort had been vitrified
in great heat and we climbed around to see several sites of
extensive vitrification.
Then we started off down, leaving the fort through the old
gateway, stopping at the view point to look across the moss,
where Martin spotted a lorry going along the road towards
Newtown.
From this point we were descending through the woods, pausing
for a time to take a torch into the caves and look around.
We walked back along the road and paused at the seat to look
at the river before we got back to the cars.
This was a fast walk and there was a lot to see. One feature
which came out in several drawings was a spotted slug, which
must have been seen by everyone but me. I picked out Thomas'
fine drawing of the vitrified wall with an oak tree.
John
Dye
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