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Topsy
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Thanks Kerry.Lovely atmospheric set of shots Paul, really enjoyed these
Topsy's Dartmoor Rambles
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Nod
Tootles
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Fogginquarry...
With the Moretonhampstead road being closed at the moment, we haven't made it up to the Moor recently. IIRC, the works are SUPPOSED to be finished by the end of April so we're hoping to return soonish. Of course, we could go the other way but our preferred route is Newton Abbot to Stover which is also closed!
As always, thanks for sharing, Paul.
With the Moretonhampstead road being closed at the moment, we haven't made it up to the Moor recently. IIRC, the works are SUPPOSED to be finished by the end of April so we're hoping to return soonish. Of course, we could go the other way but our preferred route is Newton Abbot to Stover which is also closed!
As always, thanks for sharing, Paul.
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Is that the road through Steps Bridge? My favourite road...... not! I always half expect to meet myself coming the other way. Not a great road for an old Defender and if I hit white van rat running time I'm always grateful to get to the other end still alive. I come down to Bovey, Widecombe then Postbridge or Dartmeet
Having hopefully put injury and flu behind me I'll be there soon. Trying to build back a bit of fitness on the local hills first
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Ah, if only I still lived there and could do the quick short walks.. I'm up to 10 miles so not that unfit, jjust have to be up for the 75 mile drive home after
I'd be up for a get together
Nod
Tootles
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Yes. The closure is for the council to finally repair the road where the traffic lights have been for a few years.
I know what you mean about it not being ideal in a Landy, especially on off roadish tyres!!!
We stick to smaller roads rather than the A38 because the smaller option is far nicer on bikes.
WRT a get together of some sort, let me know when and where and I'll hopefully see you then and there.
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Perhaps a bit later in the year towards the end of Spring when the weather can hopefully be more predictable?
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Just not the last 2 weeks in May cos I'll be up north
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Week 14.
This week's walk with my Fujifilm X-T2 kit along the Dismantled Railway to Ingra Tor then Leeden Tor was a walk of 2 halves, first half in fog, second in sunshine and clouds,
as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
The Dismantled Railway ar Routrundle.
Ingra Tor.
The "Bridge to Nowhere".
Fur Tor (Walkhampton).
Little Leeden Tor.
Leeden Tor.
Em-route, Old Man's Beard Lichen.
I couldn't resist a Pony and Foal Portrait.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
This week's walk with my Fujifilm X-T2 kit along the Dismantled Railway to Ingra Tor then Leeden Tor was a walk of 2 halves, first half in fog, second in sunshine and clouds,
as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
The Dismantled Railway ar Routrundle.
Ingra Tor.
The "Bridge to Nowhere".
Fur Tor (Walkhampton).
Little Leeden Tor.
Leeden Tor.
Em-route, Old Man's Beard Lichen.
I couldn't resist a Pony and Foal Portrait.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
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Another great set Paul. I really like that one on your blog of Ingra Tor in the fog 
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Topsy
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Thanks Kerry.Another great set Paul. I really like that one on your blog of Ingra Tor in the fog
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Week 15.
This week was mostly blue skies and sunshine and there was no live firing on Willsworthy so I decided to take my Leica M9 kit up to Ger Tor and get some black and white shots, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Looking towards Hare Tor from Ger Tor.
The convenient bridge over the Leat.
Nat Tor.
Looking up Tavy Cleave.
Tavy Cleave from Ger Tor.
Hare Tor from Ger Tor.
Of course if there's a Lone Tree (you know the law).
This walk wouldn't be the same without a shot of Nattor Farm.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
This week was mostly blue skies and sunshine and there was no live firing on Willsworthy so I decided to take my Leica M9 kit up to Ger Tor and get some black and white shots, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Looking towards Hare Tor from Ger Tor.
The convenient bridge over the Leat.
Nat Tor.
Looking up Tavy Cleave.
Tavy Cleave from Ger Tor.
Hare Tor from Ger Tor.
Of course if there's a Lone Tree (you know the law).
This walk wouldn't be the same without a shot of Nattor Farm.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
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Topsy
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Week 16.
A really foggy walk this week, no point shooting colour so I took my Fuji X-T2s up around Great Mis Tor and across to Over Tor before dropping down to Merrivale Stone Rows, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Great Mis Tor.
Little Mis Tor.
Over Tor.
Merrivale Stone Rows.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
A really foggy walk this week, no point shooting colour so I took my Fuji X-T2s up around Great Mis Tor and across to Over Tor before dropping down to Merrivale Stone Rows, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Great Mis Tor.
Little Mis Tor.
Over Tor.
Merrivale Stone Rows.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
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Topsy
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Week 17.
This week I was nursing a calf injury so I wanted a flat(ish) walk, one of my favourites is Bench Tor from Venford Reservoir, since the weather was fine and dry I took my Leica M9 kit. On the drive home I stopped at Combestone Tor since it's on the way, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
There's a Lone Tree on Bench Tor so I had to.
The Reservoir is full.
The reason I chose this walk is because it is very easy and relatively flat.
Leica M9 with 75mm lens is hardly a Birding outfit but here the Stonechats are very used to people so let you get quite close.
Combestone Tor on the way home.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
This week I was nursing a calf injury so I wanted a flat(ish) walk, one of my favourites is Bench Tor from Venford Reservoir, since the weather was fine and dry I took my Leica M9 kit. On the drive home I stopped at Combestone Tor since it's on the way, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
There's a Lone Tree on Bench Tor so I had to.
The Reservoir is full.
The reason I chose this walk is because it is very easy and relatively flat.
Leica M9 with 75mm lens is hardly a Birding outfit but here the Stonechats are very used to people so let you get quite close.
Combestone Tor on the way home.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
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Topsy
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The day I was there (Tuesday) the winds were gusting 40 mph but I managed to stay under the crest of the ridge for most of the way so I was out of it, not so much at Combestone Tor though hence only a couple of shots. Didn't even try to keep my baseball cap on I left it in the carWas that before or after the high winds? I was at Combestone on Friday. Still windy but I managed to keep my baseball cap on. I was hanging onto it at Aune Head - not somewhere I wanted to dive in after it
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I seem to be lucky with Stonechats, not having long lenses it can only be luck
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The day I was there (Tuesday) the winds were gusting 40 mph but I managed to stay under the crest of the ridge for most of the way so I was out of it, not so much at Combestone Tor though hence only a couple of shots. Didn't even try to keep my baseball cap on I left it in the car
Lots of skylarks when I was there but I think the stonechats had all been blown away. I'm only little and I've been knocked over by the wind several times. If you see someone streaming from a trig point like a flag it'll be me
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Week 18.
Still nursing that calf so another "easy" walk was in order and it's been a while since I visited my favourite Dartmoor Tor so I packed a minimal Fujifilm X-T2 Kit and went to Vixen Tor taking in Heckwood & Feather Tors on the way back, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
You may know, there's No Public Access to Vixen Tor which is made very clear in a rather agressive looking manner.
One has to settle for shots over the walls.
Even the gates have padlocks and barbed wire.
Heckwood Tor.
Feather Tor.
A shot on the way back to the car.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
Still nursing that calf so another "easy" walk was in order and it's been a while since I visited my favourite Dartmoor Tor so I packed a minimal Fujifilm X-T2 Kit and went to Vixen Tor taking in Heckwood & Feather Tors on the way back, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
You may know, there's No Public Access to Vixen Tor which is made very clear in a rather agressive looking manner.
One has to settle for shots over the walls.
Even the gates have padlocks and barbed wire.
Heckwood Tor.
Feather Tor.
A shot on the way back to the car.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
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Topsy
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Yes Steve some time ago, it's not from the recent round of camping access it goes back 20 odd years. The landowner used H&S Owners Liability as the escuse to close it which was initially fought but now just accepted.
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Could that argument be used for other parts of Dartmoor?
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To be fair Vixen Tor is, and always has been, on private land. It was only ever permissive access. When The CROW act was first floated there was a lot of debate and misinformation resulting in that access being withdrawn. It wasn't the only permissive access lost at that time but the one most loudly shouted about. I don't know the landowner but I gather she doesn't respond well to people making demands. I'm not sure the dangling (rock climbing) community understood that, so we are where we are.
The camping thing is a totally different issue and actually I was surprised the DNPA managed to swing that one in court, just glad they did. Perhaps the judge enjoyed the odd night in the wilderness as well. I just wish the neighbour of the landowner involved in that one would reopen Harford Moorgate for parking. My Defender is barred from Ivybridge park and ride (limbo bar is too low). It was my best way onto Stalldon.
The camping thing is a totally different issue and actually I was surprised the DNPA managed to swing that one in court, just glad they did. Perhaps the judge enjoyed the odd night in the wilderness as well. I just wish the neighbour of the landowner involved in that one would reopen Harford Moorgate for parking. My Defender is barred from Ivybridge park and ride (limbo bar is too low). It was my best way onto Stalldon.
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Topsy
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Topsy
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Week 19.
Another "injury protection" easy walk this week from Bonehill Rocks to Chinkwell Tor with a lightweight Leica M9 kit, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Bonehill Rocks.
Bell Tor.
Chinkwell Tor (Honeybag Tor in the distance).
Afternoon patchy sunlight catching Hound Tor.
Then Widecombe Village.
Looking back over the route.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
Another "injury protection" easy walk this week from Bonehill Rocks to Chinkwell Tor with a lightweight Leica M9 kit, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Bonehill Rocks.
Bell Tor.
Chinkwell Tor (Honeybag Tor in the distance).
Afternoon patchy sunlight catching Hound Tor.
Then Widecombe Village.
Looking back over the route.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
OP
Topsy
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Thanks Wayne.
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Topsy
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Week 20.
This week the calf injury was getting better so I packed a little more kit (Bronica SQ-B + 3 lenses) as well as my Leica M9 kit and headed off to Bellever Tor with square B&W (Ilford FP4) in mind, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
The Trig Point on top of Bellever Tor with the Bronica.
Some colour shots from the M9s.
Ponies grazing with a backdrop of Beardown and Longaford Tors.
The northern edge of Bellever Tor.
The Trig Point (again).
I did pop down to the bridges at Postbridge since I was in the area.
And you know the Law with Lone Trees (Bronica again).
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
This week the calf injury was getting better so I packed a little more kit (Bronica SQ-B + 3 lenses) as well as my Leica M9 kit and headed off to Bellever Tor with square B&W (Ilford FP4) in mind, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
The Trig Point on top of Bellever Tor with the Bronica.
Some colour shots from the M9s.
Ponies grazing with a backdrop of Beardown and Longaford Tors.
The northern edge of Bellever Tor.
The Trig Point (again).
I did pop down to the bridges at Postbridge since I was in the area.
And you know the Law with Lone Trees (Bronica again).
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
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Topsy
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The weather forecast isn't that awful just not dry & sunny. Where on the outskirts are you staying Steve, DM me if you don't want to declare publically, I might be able to help with some "poor weather friendly" locations.
Nod
Tootles
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IMO&E, "bad" weather is sometimes the best weather for seeing the Moor! Apart from anything else, there tend to be far fewer people about!
Plenty of good locations a VERY short hop from a car park so a brief gap in the rain can be taken advantage of. Combestone Tor and Huccaby/Hexworthy Bridge spring to mind most easily but there are plenty mo(o)re spots!
Plenty of good locations a VERY short hop from a car park so a brief gap in the rain can be taken advantage of. Combestone Tor and Huccaby/Hexworthy Bridge spring to mind most easily but there are plenty mo(o)re spots!