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The Saints and Sinners Ramble left Colliford Tavern where we parked and crossed the moor to Temple. There was a lot of laughter when we saw a sign saying a mobile police station visited regularly because the phone box beside it didn’t have a phone. Had someone stolen it?

David Winter finds a rams horn.

Dave Winters, our bird expert, had his binoculars trained on the moors. He pointed out a brambling on a post and several buzzards. We also heard the cuckoo calling across the moor. We were told that traditionally the cuckoo is heard on St Georges Day April 23rd.

Martin Summers our botanist pointed out moorland plants as we crossed the moor. There were so many walkers anyone on the A30 glancing out of their cars would think the moors were being invaded.

Admiring the stone walls

Martin had been doing his homework and took us inside the squat church of Temple. He told us how it was used by the Knights Templar on their way to the Holy Land. It was easier for them to cross the moor using the church as a half way post before joining ships at Padstow. 

There were stories about it being used as a Gretna Green type place for quick marriages. One poor woman was made to walk bare footed as a sign of penance for having an illegitimate child. A tramp was killed when a wall fell in the church where he was sleeping.

All these stories of ghostly goings on got us talking. Colin Kent from Luckett told us he’d seen a Roman Warrior riding through the skies near Stoke Climsland not far from the old Roman Shrine where the Battle of Whiteford took place.

A perfect moorland day

Mel and Mandy had heard about all sorts of ghostly goings on in their pub The Crows Nest in Crows Nest. Apparently the clock is always ten minutes wrong and if anyone attempts to put it right it falls off the wall.

Everyone is very welcome on the next walk which is The Ancient Royal Deer Park Ramble near Kit Hill on May 20th. We meet at 10am for a 10.30 start. Meet at the Deer Park Farm at Luckett. For more information call Pat Gormley on 01579 348749.