Paul Rendell opens up the visitors book to see what comments have been made.
There has been a letter box at Fur Tor since 1951. A visitors book at the site enables walkers sign in to say they have reached this remote tor. When the book is full it is removed and placed in Plymouth Library (now The Box) and a new book takes its place. I replaced the book on 21st April 2024 on behalf of the present keeper of the letter box, Christian Allen.
Here are some comments from the book I took away, which had been there since 22nd August 2020. The first visitors were the ‘Letterbox Searchers’ on 5th September. My first recorded visit was on 6th June 2021 when I walked in from Land End, arriving at 12.45pm.
The next day Mark and Rebecca wrote; ‘Hell of a trek from Lynch Tor, it really is the remote tor of them all.’ The next day ‘Rainbow Pixey’ said; ‘A nice little stroll from Postbridge’. Personally, I don’t think any way of getting to Fur Tor is a ‘nice little stroll’, but coming from Postbridge would be the easiest way in.
On 27th July a walker wrote; ‘What a glorious day to visit Fur Tor! I came in from Willsworthy Range and via Little Kneeset! Max Piper – Tor Bagger.’
On 28th August a family visited the tor and wrote; ‘This is my first visit here at the most remote place in the county, Samson aged 8’. His dad wrote; ‘Carried his own rucksack too!’ signed Samson’s dad (aged 21)’. Samson’s mother writes; ‘21 – not quite true’ and added in brackets after her comments ‘(age undisclosed)’.
I had always wondered why there is a letter box at Fur Tor and now I know for on 29th August Liz and Louis wrote; ‘Glad this book was here, as we thought we were on Lynch Tor!!!’
Jack and Pat wrote on 11th September; ‘Walked in from Postbridge. Different when I came 40+ years ago, no path to follow then.’ Yes, I agree with him, in the 1980s it was harder to get to Fur Tor as very few walkers reached this remote tor and you had to find your own path because there was nothing on the ground to follow. More people these days mean more paths to follow. My next visit was on New Year’s Day 2022 when I took the one-day letter box stamp out there. On 30th January I was back again, coming in from Postbridge and arriving at 12.30pm.
Interesting comments were left by James Riggs from Ashburton on 25th February, taking up a whole page of the book. Here are some of them; ‘Russia has invaded Ukraine. I am very worried for my children. Families in Ukraine are experiencing the complete opposite of the tranquillity here this evening. The sun is setting, the wind has dropped, all is silent and the rock is glowing warmly in the evening light. And the kettle is on! Came up here as having a day or two before my family return from Edinburgh.’
I took Karen Howell there on 2nd May, arriving at 11.39am. On the same day Chris Taylor arrived, coming in from Bridestowe, a different way to reach this tor. He lived in Ivybridge.
John Skinner says; ‘24 eager Plymouth Ramblers’ but dates it 1922 – I think John is 100 years out.
On 11th June Richard Elliot wrote; ‘It’s a few years since I got out here’.
I love to see which way people arrived at the tor and where they set off from. On two days walkers came from Okehampton Railway Station. On 22nd July Josh and Phyllis from Bristol wrote in the book; ‘Fell in a bog, shoes still not dry. Five stars!’ The following day the Dartmoor Perambulation – Gribbin said; ‘Walking from Okehampton Train Station on a windy & drizzly day. On to Princetown tomorrow’. It seems they spent the night at Fur Tor.
Charlie wrote on 20th September; ‘Okehampton – Roe Tor – Hangingstone Hill – Whitehorse Hill – Cut Hill – Fur Tor – Tavy Cleave – Great Links Tor – Fox and Hounds! Great day for a bike ride.’
Once again I was back on New Years Day 2023 with the one-day stamp. The next time I wrote in the book was 21st May, arriving at 1.40pm. I had walked from Lydford High Down and afterwards went on to Cut Hill, Statts House and Fernworthy. I was back again seven days later with another group. Some people visit the tor but don’t sign the book.
Someone wrote on 19th July; ‘Terrible amenities, no café, no paths or bus service 1/5 stars.’ Charlie was back on 2nd September, once again he came by bike, his 10th visit he said. This time his route was Okehampton, Hangingstone Hill, Fur Tor, Hare Tor, Brat Tor, Rattlebrook, Meldon and back to Okehampton. Some runners called The Leaping Salmon Running Club arrived on 8th October, taking 1 hour 37 minutes from Two Bridges.
On the 1st January 2024 I replaced the stamp as it had worn away, and I also had the one-day stamp with me again. So the next time you visit Fur Tor, why not write a comment about your trip to the Queen of the Moor.