One certainly has to be careful Jan but I know this area very well so I feel sort of safe, sort of.........Love the shot of the quarry building - the fog suits it so well. It's a great area to explore but I've always thought I wouldn't like to be caught on top on the ridge in real zero vis. It would be easy to fall over a cliff (quarry).
Lovely images
Thanks guys.Another good set.
I cannot find Emsworthy Rocks on the os map. I assume near Emsworthy Mire.Emsworthy Rocks
Yes just above. It isn't marked on the OS Map but it is around the area of the Disused Quarry at SX752769, an easy walk from Saddle Tor North Car Park.I cannot find Emsworthy Rocks on the os map. I assume near Emsworthy Mire.
Thanks Rich, glad you liked the post.Thanks Paul, always interested in your Dartmoor trips, fascinating place, shame its so far for me.
Those trees and lichen are amazing, I would want to spend all day with them.Week 8.
Another day of changeable weather on Dartmoor (are there any other kind?) I went from Crockern Tor (The Judge's Chair) over Litteford Tors on to Longaford Tor before dropping down out of the thick cloud into the West Dart Valley and along past Wistman's Wood back to the car. As usual you can see the full story and pictures in my Blog. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog
The Judges Chair.
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On the way to Littaford Tors I looked back, the low cloud (Fog) was coming.
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Once on Littaford Tors the cloud caught me up.
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I dropped down into the valley and went along past Wistman's Wood.
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That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.
I know but sadly these days we are only allowed to shoot from the outside, not go into the wood where there are loads of really interesting trees. Unfortunately in the recent past there have been some less than respectful groups of people camping and partying in these woods and they have caused some damage to the mosses and lichens so the NT have imposed a self regulating ban on going inside. The trouble is it's only the responsible ones of us (that wouldn't cause damage anyway) that will honour this ban. A sign of the times I'm afraid.Those trees and lichen are amazing, I would want to spend all day with them.
I know but sadly these days we are only allowed to shoot from the outside, not go into the wood where there are loads of really interesting trees. Unfortunately in the recent past there have been some less than respectful groups of people camping and partying in these woods and they have caused some damage to the mosses and lichens so the NT have imposed a self regulating ban on going inside. The trouble is it's only the responsible ones of us (that wouldn't cause damage anyway) that will honour this ban. A sign of the times I'm afraid.
I understand what you are saying Jan, I've lived on the edge of Dartmoor since the 1970s so I know what you mean but I still think it is sad that responsible people who would take care in the environment are the only people who will stay out now so those who don't care will still damage the environment, that is what I meant by sadly.Nothing 'sadly' about it. You shouldn't go in, though as you say some folk don't think it applies to them. The sad bit is that none of the problems Dartmoor has are new. It was all going on when I was there 30 years ago. What's changed is social media. Someone posts something and everyone wants to go there. Wistmans Wood is probably top of the must see list. Where are the wisht hounds when you need them?
Always enjoy reading your blog btw
I will try to find out about access but since I went there I have looked at several videos on YouTube and iin them there are several people wandering around even on top of the Stop Butt and noone seems to be trying to hide. On the broken pedestrian gate there is a makeshift sign saying please use the main gate which is a locked vehicle gate with a gap beside it for pedestrians so I'd guess the owner isn't bothered that people go in. From what I saw also there are no real barriers to the Rippon Tor side so you could just walk in that way I just didn't want to slog all my film kit (20+ kilos) across the scrubby/boggy ground so drove around.Reminds me of being out that way in winter when I couldn't take any photos on Rippon because the wind was too strong. It had already knocked me over once and threatened to do so several more times. I'd come across from Harefoot Cross, Buckland Beacon and a couple of very muddy bits of common to those little bridges on the Ashburn (lovely spot) then walked up the lane towards Cold East Cross and followed the west side of the wall via Nutcrackers to Rippon. It's dry but was still a hard slog uphill and into the wind. Ponsworthy always reminds me of the first time I went through there in my first Defender. I hadn't been there for a while and had forgotten how narrow the bridge is, came tanking down the hill in a vehicle with very little in the way of brakes.......... I think I just pointed the bull bar and closed my eyes, but we made it.
I'd be interested to know about access to the rifle range as I'd love a poke round. I've not been in - can't remember if it was possible to get in or not when I've been past.
Thanks Gav, not quite up to your standards with the wildlife but I just had enough time to get my X-T2 and 50-140 out for those Deer. Being a landscaper primarily I see a fair bit of wildlife on Dartmoor but rarely am I in a position to get a shot I'm usually just happy watching with my Binos.Lovely work Paul
Sometimes wish I'd sit down and just watch, sometimes feel I've missed something.Thanks Gav, not quite up to your standards with the wildlife but I just had enough time to get my X-T2 and 50-140 out for those Deer. Being a landscaper primarily I see a fair bit of wildlife on Dartmoor but rarely am I in a position to get a shot I'm usually just happy watching with my Binos.
Thanks, you're welcome.Sometimes wish I'd sit down and just watch, sometimes feel I've missed something.
I love the landscapes down your way, thank you for sharing them, I miss hills and features found down there.
Thanks Dave.Dartmoor isn't a place I'm familiar with, last visited over fifty years ago as a kid, but enjoy dipping into this thread. I recently bought a book about Whitefaced Dartmoor sheep. There's a lot in the book about the moor's history, place names, ruins, stones etc. as well as about the farming families and sheep farming over the years. It might be of interest to some who know the moor.
The Whitefaced Drift of Dartmoors Prapper Sheep - AbeBooks
The Whitefaced Drift of Dartmoors "Prapper" Sheep: A Story as Olde as Mem Hills by Pearse, Colin and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.co.uk.www.abebooks.co.uk
It's not the best written book - I'm finding it a bit hard to read , but its full of info, stories and 'old' pictures.Thanks Dave.
Yes it was Tuesday the clag seemed to sit around for ages despite strong winds.Was that Tuesday? I was a bit further over - started from South Zeal, around the top and west side of Cosdon, Hound Tor, Wild Tor, then back over the top of Cosdon as I wanted to photograph the bond post on Foxes Holt. It was very murky when I set out but it was clearing by the time I got round to the ford on Lady Brook.
I think the last time I was at Dinger Tor I was eating my lunch in warm sun sitting up on top. That sticks in my mind because it's so rare. Tuesday I was hunkered down on the lee side of Hound Tor triying to keep out of the wind. Unusual in itself as for once the wind wasn't blowing round every side.............