Topsy's Dartmoor Rambles

[Topsy]

Lovely pics again, our son lives in Okehampton so we go down that way a few times every year.
That looks a pretty remote place for a postbox

Thanks, It is a bit remote but there are a few like that around Dartmoor.

 

[Topsy]

Week 37.

This week I decided to go and find a waterfall on Shavercombe Brook as I have never been to it before. Crossing the River Plym with dry feet was a challenge as was shooting the waterfall in the gloom of the cubby hole it sits in. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

I started at the Gutter Tor refuge Car Park, the light on Sheeps Tor was nice.



My route took me out past Ditsworthy Warren House.



I then had to try to cross the River Plym and keep my feet dry, it wasn't easy.



Once across the Plym I found Shavercombe Falls in a deep gully under a bunch of trees heavy with leaf and starving the scene of light.



On the way back I visited the Drizzlecombe Stone Row.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking in.

 

[Topsy]

Week 38.

Poor weather this week with mist and drizzle on strong winds, I decided to go on the North Moor to Shelstone Tor to photograph Black-a-Tor Copse in the West Okement Valley. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog



The mist was ever present on the way out over Prewley Moor.



Shelstone Tor.




Behind Shelstone is Black Tor and behind that hidden in the mist iy the Yes Tor/High Willhays ridge.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking in.

 

[Topsy]

Week 39.

A few from this week's photowalk. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Crazywell Pool.



View of Burrator Reservoir from Crazywell Pool.



Leather Tor Farm.



Leather Tor Bridge.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking in.

 

[Gav.]

Lovely work, Paul

 

[Topsy]

Lovely work, Paul

Thanks Gav.

 

[Topsy]

Week 40.

This week I was struck down with a stomach bug that put me out of action most of the week, I was just able to get out on Saturday for a very short walk so I went over to Windy Post via The Wheelwright's Stone getting some shots of Vixen Tor on the way. Hand held only with just my Leica M9s for an easy walk. The clear blue skies weren't helpful but any Port in a storm I needed something for my 52 Challenge. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

The Wheelwright's Stone.



Vixen Tor.







Windy Post.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking in.

 

[Nod]

Windy Post with a dodgy tummy could have been a problem...

As always, thanks for sharing the shots and story. (Personally, I prefer the natural look to the creamy, LE look on moving water.)

 

[Topsy]

Week 41.

Still a bit under the weather from that stomach bug I decided to do an easy walk this week I went around Wheal Jewel Reservoir then over to Wheal Betsy. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

There was no water in the Reservoir.





On the way over to Wheal Betsy she was catching some sidelight in the mist of the Valley.



Some from up close.





That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking in.

 

[Jannyfox]

Very interesting to see the reservoir with no water. I've only ever been there the once, and Wheal Betsy twice I think, because I've never been able to fit them into my usual full day walks. From time to time I'll come down and sweep up a few odd bits and pieces. There was water in Wheal Jewel when I was there but I was a bit underwhelmed. Some of the remains around there were interesting. I walked down from Willsworthy

 

[Topsy]

Very interesting to see the reservoir with no water. I've only ever been there the once, and Wheal Betsy twice I think, because I've never been able to fit them into my usual full day walks. From time to time I'll come down and sweep up a few odd bits and pieces. There was water in Wheal Jewel when I was there but I was a bit underwhelmed. Some of the remains around there were interesting. I walked down from Willsworthy

I've lived on Dartmoor for around 40 years and this is the first time I've been to Wheal Jewel Reservoir............. and it was empty.

 

[Topsy]

Week 42.

This week I ventured a little further out over the Moor taking in Ingra and Leeden Tors, although relatively flat for Dartmoor the winds were brutal. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Ingra Tor Quarry.



Ingra Tor and a Bridge to Nowhere.



Leeden Tor.





That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking in.

 

[Topsy]

Week 43.

This week I was back to normal so I decided to go out to Kestor Rock and do a curcuit taking in The Round Pound, Middle Tor, The Long Stone (BS) and Scorhill Circle & Tor. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Kestor Rock.



The Long Stone (BS).



There were some rivers to cross but fortunately there were bridges.


Scorhill Circle.



Scorhill Tor.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking in.

 

[Nod]

Glad you're well on the way back to (what passes for!) normal.

 

[Topsy]

Glad you're well on the way back to (what passes for!) normal.

Thanks Nod.

 

[Topsy]

Week 44.

This week once again I wassqueezing my Photowalk in before a rain front came in, I stayed close to home for a short (ish) walk around North Hessary Tor near Princetown. I also took in Hollow and Rundlestone Tors plus Foggintor Quarry. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

The walk started with Hollow Tor in Fog.





Then on to Rundlestone Tor also in Fog.



Then up to North Hessary Tor again in Fog.



There are good views from North Hessary Tor looking to the Southwest once the Fog had cleared, that rain front was approaching though.



Foggintor Quarry, I didn't linger long here as the rain was fast approaching..



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking in.

 

[Sangoma]

I first went to Hessary Tor in about 1959. Only thing it meant to me then is that is where the TV signal came from (My father had a TV/appliance shop in Newton Ferrers)

 

[Topsy]

I first went to Hessary Tor in about 1959. Only thing it meant to me then is that is where the TV signal came from (My father had a TV/appliance shop in Newton Ferrers)

Other than this walk I've only been up to it once before about 20 years ago for work (we had a radio repeater on the mast). Odd since it is only 7 miles from where I live.

 

[Sangoma]

Other than this walk I've only been up to it once before about 20 years ago for work (we had a radio repeater on the mast). Odd since it is only 7 miles from where I live.

May I ask what the repeater was for? I meant what frequency, sorry

 

[Topsy]

May I ask what the repeater was for? I meant what frequency, sorry

PM sent to explain.

 

[Sangoma]

PM sent to explain.

Thanks

 

[Jannyfox]

It was so much better before all that fencing went up at the mast, especially that chain link stuff. How did they get away with that? Many years ago I walked there in mist so thick I was walking a bearing using rocks, stands of reeds, sheep - whatever was on the right line no more than the very few feet away I could see. I nearly tripped over one of the anchors before I saw it. Just as well the fencing wasn't there - I'd probably have chequered scarring across my nose now

 

[Topsy]

It was so much better before all that fencing went up at the mast, especially that chain link stuff. How did they get away with that? Many years ago I walked there in mist so thick I was walking a bearing using rocks, stands of reeds, sheep - whatever was on the right line no more than the very few feet away I could see. I nearly tripped over one of the anchors before I saw it. Just as well the fencing wasn't there - I'd probably have chequered scarring across my nose now

I never went up before the fencing was there, it must have been the dreaded H&S that influenced it.

 

[Jannyfox]

I never went up before the fencing was there, it must have been the dreaded H&S that influenced it.

There's an older image on Google maps that shows wooden fencing. Perhaps a sheep saw me nearly trip over the anchor that day and it's all my fault, though I did go back on a blue sky and sunshine day (I think it was a few years later........ ) and take another photo from as close to the same spot as I could remember and there was nothing there then either. I am talking over 20 years ago - bu**er I'm old

 

[Topsy]

Week 45.

This week I went out to the Willsworthy Ranges because there was no firing, I went up Nat Tor to shoot Tavy Cleave and Ger Tor with my Bronica SQ-Ai loaded with Fuji Provia 100F. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

This is one of the film shots.



The set up (it rained a bit).



Some shots of the rain clouds (and Rainbows).





I also went back to Wheal Jewel Reservoir to see it with water in.





Thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 46.

This week I was once again pressed for time as there was only a small gap in the stormy weather so I opted for a relatively short walk not far from home. I went up to Feather Tor and on to Heckwood Tor taking in Windy Post and a couple of shots of my favourite Tor, Vixen. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Vixen Tor.



Windy Post.



Feather Tor.



That gap in the stormy weather closing.



Thanks for looking in.

 

[Topsy]

Week 47.

This week it was at least dry so I opted for a walk out to Fox Tor via Nun's Cross Farm. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Fox Tor.





Some drama in the skies on the way out.



Nun's Cross Farm.



Bridges on the way back.





Thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 48.

This week we had some drama at home so so I wasn’t able to get out until Wednesday and I really didn’t want to go too far from home so I decided to pull a location off the back burner which I had been meaning to get to with B&W film for some time, Powdermills old Gunpowder Factory Ruins unfortunately the film scans are not back at time of writing so I'll use the digital copies I made at the time. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

This is the sign at the road entrance to the old Powdermills it is now a Pottery and Cafe but has been a Foundry.



One of the many ruins inside the grounds.



The Cherry Brook runs through the grounds and provided the water for the Gunpowder processing.



The old Clapper Bridge access to one of the smelting chimneys.



I did shoot this on the Bronica but as I said the scans are not back yet, this was shot on my little Leica D-Lux Typ109 in B&W Square (RAW) from the same location.



I didn't finish the film in the ruins so on the way home I stopped off in Princetown to get a shot of the Prison on film.



That's all for this week folks, I'll reply with the film shots when I get them (providing they turn out ok). Thanks for looking in.

 

[Nod]

Glad you avoided (or escaped from!) the Hairy Hand...

 

[Jannyfox]

Fascinating place. I do love an old ruin, especially one with an industrial heritage. I've only ever had a brief visit there and didn't get round everything. I really need to devote a day it, in some decent weather so I can get my sketch book out. Thanks for the reminder

 

[Topsy]

Week 49.

This week the weather was dry but cloudy, I decided to take my Fujifilm GFX 50Ss out to Rippon Tor to shoot some panoramas of Saddle Tor and Haytor Rocks. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog





I also went up Top Tor and across to Pil Tor, the clouds to the Southwest were quite dramatic.



Those clouds put some nice light on Saddle Tor as I watched from Top Tor.



That's all for this week folks. Thanks for looking in.

 

[Topsy]

Week 50.

This week I set off to find 2 Tors that are not named on the OS Maps and I had previously not heard of, they were Blakey Tor and Round Hill Tor just to the East of Princetown. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

They sit either side of the Blackabrook River.



Blakey Tor.





Round Hill Tor.





That's all for this week folks. Thanks for looking in.

 

[Jannyfox]

Blakey Tor is marked on the OS map. I walked that track (out to Fairies Bridge and beyond) many years ago and the only comment I made was 'the track's terrible and there's nothing to see except the ruined Crock of Gold kistvaen'. Hmmmmm

 

[Topsy]

Blakey Tor is marked on the OS map. I walked that track (out to Fairies Bridge and beyond) many years ago and the only comment I made was 'the track's terrible and there's nothing to see except the ruined Crock of Gold kistvaen'. Hmmmmm

Hi Jan, neither are named on my OL28 1:25,000, I did read that they had been added to the latest version so I bought a new one only to find they aren't on the 2021 version either. Which Map do you have with them on?

 

[Brentor]

It is marked on my electronic version of OS maps.

 

[Jannyfox]

As Brentor I have an online subscription. I print A4 sections as and when I need them and the phone app is very useful though I don't use it for route finding

 

[Topsy]

It is marked on my electronic version of OS maps.

As Brentor I have an online subscription. I print A4 sections as and when I need them and the phone app is very useful though I don't use it for route finding

I just re-downloaded the digital OS Map from the new map code, still no Blakey Tor. What version/year are your maps? My new one is 2021. I can see the symbols for rocky features at the grid (on both maps) but no name.

 

[Brentor]

My paper map is from 2016 and is 1:50K. Blakey Tor is not marked. The online version is 1:25K and I assume it is constantly updated.

 

[Jannyfox]

I just re-downloaded the digital OS Map from the new map code, still no Blakey Tor. What version/year are your maps? My new one is 2021. I can see the symbols for rocky features at the grid (on both maps) but no name.

 

[Jannyfox]

My paper map is from 2016 and is 1:50K. Blakey Tor is not marked. The online version is 1:25K and I assume it is constantly updated.

It's not marked at 1:50000, only 1:25000