Tag: Dartmoor Walks

Sourton Tor, Meldon View

Sourton Tor, Meldon View

Last year, when visiting Lake Viaduct, I wrote about a choice of return route. We could have headed to Rattlebrook Railway area, or up over Sourton Tors.

We chose the Tors and it was a great choice!

When we got to the top the view was amazing and then the sun came out and gave everything a warm feel producing some lovely photos.

The Tor itself is quite spread out and quite a dark rock, so a little light really added to the final images.

It’s also quite an easy access to get to, so well worth exploring.

The car park is a couple of hundred yards before this gate.

Burrator Reservoir

Burrator Reservoir

I’ve been out and about a lot recently on Dartmoor, taking photos as I explore and hike around.

This is great fun and gives me lots of interesting photos. The downside is so many to get on the website and highlighted for people to see.

So, I thought I’d mention my recent trip to Burrator Reservoir. I posted it on facebook and it got a lot of interest, so thought I share it here!

It was the first time I’d been there, although we had been at the far end the week before on another walk but not close to it.

We had some great weather, to start with…

The dam itself is a really nice design and you can get quite close.

Quite a tight angle top view, but creates an interesting photo.

We also found a way to get down to get a nice front view.

There a few view points and some lovely little bit around the reservoir, however on this occasion, I had a plan in mind and drove to the other end of the reservoir, to where I need I could get some nice long exposure river photos.

I’ll put that in another post, but it was a challenge as it had started to rain!

Some of these photos and others are available on my << Picfair Store (LeoPhotographyUK) >>

Dartmoor Tor List

Dartmoor Tor List

Over the years I’ve been visiting Dartmoor I’ve tried to always learn about the landscape and area that I’m visiting.

One of the trickiest has been identifying tors from a distance without a grid or GPS reference.

Tors photos are all well and good, but sometimes just show the tor up close.

So, I’ve decided to make my own tor list. It is not perfect and still probably won’t help everyone, but it’s still fun to create and gets me climbing tors!

Here’s a few photos from it.

This is Links Tor, shown from different angles.

This is Middle Staple Tor

The idea is some long distance and close up photos from different angles and although I can’t cover all aspects, I’ve included Grid References and What 3 Words.

It might help a few people, if not, I’ve had fun exploring them.

The list currently has 19 Tors, so a long way to go and a lot of walking too!

A Wet Walk around Belstone

A Wet Walk around Belstone

A couple of days ago, my Son and I decided to head out with the cameras and visit Dartmoor again.

Its the first time I’ve been in over a year, maybe 2 years, so it was nice to get out exploring again.

We went search of the Nine Maidens, which took me a while to find, but we have amazing view whilst searching.

and then the rain came!

So, a slight change of plan and after a hot chocolate, the sun came out a bit and we explored again, this time in Belstone Cleave. Another Dartmoor 365 square for me!

The cleave was really interesting and I need to revisit next time, but we both came back with lots on interesting photos.

I’ve drawn out the route we took, slightly erratic, but that’s the fun!

Dartmoor Workshop Weekend

Dartmoor Workshop Weekend

I’ve been promoting this for a while now and last weekend it took place, The Photography Retreat Weekend with Retreats for you. An evening meal and chat, a day out on Dartmoor and morning of editing.

The weather had been teasing me all week leaning up to it, with rain and brilliant sunshine, making the day on Dartmoor a bit tricky to plan for. In the end it gave me sunshine, with a brief downpour but only at the end.

All of this did end up making for some dramatic skies.

We were on Merrivale and Foggintor, with great views.

ideal, for some panoramas…

The night before we had discussed our location and what we going to be seeing, where we were walking to, where we were stopping and an extra location if we had time.

Merrivale teased us and gave us a mixture of conditions, with clear and cloudy skies.

And cloudy skies, with rain in the distance, giving us some very dramatic scenes.

The day had been enjoyable and with the weather still holding, everyone wanted to see the extra location, Brentor Church. After a short drive we parked up and headed towards the church.

More dramatic clouds were looming.

After a quick view of the inside of the church, I had one last chance to get a great panorama before the heavens finally opened, briefly, but heavily!

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed there day and were looking forward to the editing session the next morning.

If you would like to learn about more about my Tutoring Workshop, please visit my tutoring website.

Snow on Dartmoor

Snow on Dartmoor

Where I live, I have the best of both worlds, halfway between the coast and the moors. This does mean though that when we got snow on the moors I have to make sure I can get there and get back!

So, when it snowed for the second time recently, I gave it a fews days until I knew the roads around Dartmoor were passable and with a few hours to spare I headed to one of my nearest Dartmoor walking areas, Belstone.

I only have to walk to the end of my road where I live to see Dartmoor in the distance, so I knew there was plenty of snow to still photograph. On the road into Belstone I could still see the big drifts along the edges. Parking up in the village car park and walking the 500m or so to get to the moors, builds the excitement of seeing the snow cap hills just beyond.

The pathway opens out and gives you a good view of the north end of Cosdon Hill.

Entering on Belstone Common, we were amongst the sheep again eating the grass between the patchy snow.

The path here is a bit of a gully and was non existent, as it had been filled with snow, upto 3ft in places!

You had a choice, follow the tops of the path, or on the path at the edge of the drift and hope you could easy cross it when that edge disappeared!

I wanted to get to the views of Steeperton Tor and Irishman’s wall, but was pushed for time and there were so many good views to photograph.

As you get closer, you a teased with the view of Steeperton Tor in the distance.

But, I made it in time. It’s always are great view!

And it deserves a panorama image!

Having reached my target with just enough time to spare I turned around to get one more panorama, Irishman’s Wall and Belstone Tor.

Backtracking along the path to the edge of the common I was met by more sheep!

The rest of the trip was a gently downhill walk back to the car.

This is quite a straight forward walk of about 3 miles from the car park to the wall and back without much incline change.
My walks are difficult to judge in time as I’m constantly stopping to take photos or have kids in tow. But this was 2 hours from start to finish.

Meldon Reservoir to Black Tor… & Back

Meldon Reservoir to Black Tor… & Back


I like to research potential walks for my Photography Day Trips to Dartmoor that I offer.

At the week, I headed of to Meldon Reservoir in search of a circular walk. I didn’t quite manage the circular part due to running out of time, but it still made for a great walk with lots in interesting things to see.

The walk in total was 5 miles long, and took about 4 hours. This is due to taking lots of photos, and having the kids in tow! Starting from Meldon Reservoir I headed up the up the path opposite the car park and up towards South Down.

It gives a great view of the reservoir and the dam from there.

You then walk through and area with lovely wind swept mossy trees.

Further along and after stopping for some food, I headed to the top of South Down and was met with an amazing view and some ponies!

I looked South West towards Sourton Tors and saw the sun just breaking through to light up the fields in the distance with the Tors behind.

Back down the hill and along the path again and headed towards the end of the reservior, there was a great view of Vellake Corner and where I was heading towards, Black Tor.

Looking left gave a lovely view of the reservoir with great reflections.

Heading down to Vellake Corner and I was aware it was going to be quite marshy, but due to recent rain it was also very muddy and the paths and by the time I’d got down there my walking shoes were covered in mud, then washed by the stream and finally mostly submerged in the marshy areas. I don’t think the kids were impressed, but they didn’t moan.

Walking over the weir gave a great view of were I had come from.

Over the weir and turning right, I enter a small wooded area with some amazing moss covered trees. A little like Wistman’s Woods, a very small Wistman’s Wood!

At the end of the wood, there a stone enclosure that you have to go around and navigate a load of rocks and marshy ground, but it created a great foreground for a photo of Black Tor in the distance.

At this point I realised that we wouldn’t have time to navigate the circular walk so I decided to head back along the way we came, but edge along the bottom of Homerton Hill and cut across to the bridge and up the steps.

Getting back on to South Down the sun was starting to get lower in the sky and warmer the clouds, giving this lovely view of Sourton Tors again.

If you fancy visiting Meldon Reservoir, here is the walk I took.
I parked in Meldon Reservoir, where there are toilets and walked across the road and up the side of the reservoir.

If you have the Dartmoor 365 book, this walk covers squares B6 & C6.
More photos on my Dartmoor Gallery

My Dartmoor 365 Map

My Dartmoor 365 Map

 

Dartmoor Gallery

Dartmoor Gallery

 

Belstone’s Maidens and Tors

Belstone’s Maidens and Tors

Last week I had the chance to get back to Dartmoor, so I thought I’d head back to Belstone and go in search of the stone circle called, ‘The Nine Maidens’ then get up close to one of the Tors. This was going to be about a 3 mile circular walk, nearer 4 if I included the distance from the moor to the car, but I was prepared for it.

I was too prepared as it happened, the temperature went up and wind dropped so I found myself too wrappped up. I think I’d prepared for winter, or at least very cold Dartmoor winds!

I headed onto Belstone Common via a different entrance which ended up being a long steep hill! Not what I’d expected to start the walk, but there was no turning back! Once onto Dartmoor again I followed a ‘footpath’ which gave me a great view of the Tors and where I was eventually heading for.

I found the Nine Maidens next, these stones date back to the Bronze Age. I thought they were taller, but neither-the-less, it was still impressive to see this circle that dates back so far in time. The Bronze Age started about 2500BC until 800BC!

After the stones I followed the footpath further and found a stream. Taking this shot was straight towards the sun, so a little blown out in the sky, but I left it in the photo as I liked the aircraft contrail.

Next on my list was to try and get to the top of the hill next to the Tors. This would be a first for me. The route wasn’t straight forward, a rocky climb, but these rocks are so big they made a sort of climbing path around them.

A tough climb, but worth the view from the top at Higher Tor and a great place for a bit of lunch at the half way point!

As well as a great view, you also have up here, near Higher Tor, The Logan Stone and Irishman’s Wall. I realised these wall was what I was searching from at the bottom when I first visited, but I never got that far.

So, following the Irishman’s wall all the way down was my way back to complete my circular walk. At least is was a shallower walk down than the other side.

This route gives you are great view of the opposite hills and on the footpath below, a view of Yes Tor.

This was my last photo in this trip. It had taken 2.5 hours, well I did take lots of photos! In all I came back with nearly 50 panorama and vertorama photos which will be slowly working their way on to the site.

If you have the Dartmoor 365 book, this walk cover squares B9, B10, C10

I’ve now setup a gallery just for my Dartmoor Photos

If you fancy visiting Belstone, here is the walk I took.
I parked in Belstone Car Park and walked through the town to the moor.

There is a pub, The Tors before you get to the moors and a Tearoom (only open Friday-Sunday), otherwise it is just moors and the walkers.

A Foggintor Visit

A Foggintor Visit

In my continuing exploring of Dartmoor I have recently found out that very close to where we visited in August was a quarry with a small lake or pond in the middle.

So, as it was half term and time to get a bit of fresh air, we headed in search of the quarry and other interesting things.

Dartmoor just doesn’t disappoint. Firstly you have the views…


You just can’t not take photos when given this as a view.

Secondly you have the interesting features and Foggintor definitely has them. Following the path, actually it’s old railway track, the regular flat stones with 4 holes are bit of a give away, but more path these days, you head towards an old settlement area. Then this disused ruin of a building from the time when the quarry was in use.

Opposite the building is an opening, through what was a big part of Foggin Tor mound, you see hight cliff edges. Stepping of the big chunks of granite strewn around the ground you pass through the opening into the quarry.

Although not a massive quarry, it was one three great quarries on Dartmoor and is big enough is still to impress. I know I was! During the 1840’s it supplied the granite that was used to build famous London landmarks, like Nelsons Column and London Bridge. Locally it was used in the construction of Dartmoor Prison.

It’s view on a day like today, was definitely worthy of a panorama photo.

I found it a bit tricky to get to the quarry floor beside the lake, so we gave that a miss. There are just views everywhere and so we explored the surrounding area for about another hour before heading back to the car.

Sadly we couldn’t stay till sunset, but I was still stopping and taking photos on the walk back, capturing this one with the sun starting to warm up the view.

This is a nice straight forward walk to this quarry with lots of photo opportunities on route.

I’ve taken more Panoramas and Vertoramas that can be viewed in their relevant galleries.

If you fancy visiting Foggintor Quarry, here is the walk I took.
I parked in a small car park just off the B3357 past 2 other after Merrivale.

If you have the Dartmoor 365 book, this walk covers squares M6, with the Quarry in N7, although the box doesn’t actually reference this quarry.
Grid Reference SX 5666 7358