Target Practice

12.02.2025

In the northern part of Dartmoor much of the area to the west is a Military Training Area split into three sections, Merrivale, Willsworthy and Oakhampton. Red flags are displayed when there is activity and sometimes there can be training where live rounds are fired. I checked the firing times on the National Trust website and set off from the car park just west of Merrivale.

The walk took me parallel with the River Walkham. It was a bright sunny morning and the granite formations of Staple and Roos Tors looked fantastic. At Roos Tor the red flag was down so I pressed on in the direction of Petertavy Great Common. There was the distant sound of firing coming from the west so I guessed Willsworthy was active but that was some distance away. It was a straight path on high ground that appeared to avoid the marshy areas either side of me. The red and white poles came into view that denotes the boundary of the Merrivale firing zone. I knew the Langstone Moor circle I was looking for was just inside it and then I saw it’s low profile up on higher ground ahead as I reached the pole. As I got close I saw it was in a sorry state. It had been used for target practice during the second world war and the stones that were left were badly damaged. If this circle had been in the north eastern part of Dartmoor, near White Moor Down it would have been in much better shape. The composite elements of the circle were disappointing to say the least. Of the five stones still standing only two looked undisturbed. The stumps of the other three looked like they’d been blown in half. However, the setting was quite special with shallow undulating hills all around under a pristine blue sky.

Nearby over to the west was The Langstone, a solitary standing stone which stood nearer to the perimeter of the of the firing zone. I left the circle behind and walked up to slightly higher ground to try to spot it. I first noticed a large mire that I could have trouble with. They can be quite dangerous and unpredictably deep, with my newly acquired waterproof socks offering no protection. And besides I had my canine companion to consider. I elected to follow the higher ground to the north that I hoped would arc around to the stone. It wasn’t long before the curiously shaped stone came into view near a pathway. From one side it appeared straight but when viewed from the west it had a contorted overhang halfway up its seven foot length. It’s base was generously populated with packing stones, that considering the stones shape served their purpose well. This too had aided the war effort, as over the surface were several bullet holes with impact cracks.

The firing was still going on to the west and sounded louder now I was closer. Even though I was safe I felt uneasy and headed for the red and white pole nearby where I left the military zone behind me. To the right of the path was a vast area of Pillow Mounds, little domes of grass that reminded me of a scene in the Tarkovsky film ‘Stalker’. We continued on back over the Tors and found ourselves on the road down near the pub in Merrivale. I resisted the temptation of a pint there and walked up to the car park where an Ice Cream van was waiting for us.