IT was a beautiful morning, not a cloud in the brilliant blue sky, and already warm at 8am. The day heralded the start of the annual Hemyock Scouts’ Dartmoor hike – this however was a hike with a difference as it was not Dartmoor we were going to but Exmoor, and it finished at Pinkery Pond!

A minibus of Scouts, Explorers, Leaders, parent helpers and Willow the dog set off early and parked up just past Simonsbath. Sunscreen was vigorously applied and backpacks donned before setting off on the hike. The walk was paced at an easy amble following a circular walk via Mole’s Chamber, Edgerley Stone, onto the Tarka Trail up to Wood Barrow Gate.

The day was sunny and hot, and many rest stops were made to refuel and rehydrate. We finally dropped down to Pinkery Pond, a stunning peat-based lake. Everyone quickly donned their swimming clothes and jumped in with Karl heroically abstaining as life-guard look-out!

The water was amazingly warm but intermingled with colder spots. The Scouts explored the overflow tunnel cut into the rocks at the side of the lake and spent the afternoon swimming and having their picnic lunches.

We then hiked the short distance back to the minibus before setting off back home to Hemyock with one final pit-stop at the Exford Tearooms for delicious Devon ice-creams.

All the Scouts fell asleep on the journey home. What a lovely way to enjoy the hot weather!

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