Rainbow over Hartland Tor Hartland Tor is one that has a distinct appeal for those lucky few of us who work with young people on the moor. For most, it's a fairly insignificant place; a small pile of rocks in a smallish font on the map, not quite on a bridlepath and only a couple … Continue reading Hartland Tor
Author: rblaggers
Tormentil
Potentilla erecta (less commonly P. tormentilla) This rather dainty and ubiquitous flower is tormentil. You’ll find it creeping all over the moor, from the tops of tors and open moor to riversides and woodland. It looks like a tiny buttercup, but look more closely: it’s actually a member of the rose Rosaceae family, and one … Continue reading Tormentil
Black Tor
I feel quite lucky that I grew up walking on Dartmoor from quite an early age. I took part in Ten Tors, I camp there regularly, I’m into walking and ancient remains and good beer. If you’re a holidaymaker, a kayaker or teetotal, then you’ll have a different experience to me and so Dartmoor will … Continue reading Black Tor
The Oxford Bell Tent
A few years ago, my friend and I had a big birthday party in a field on a campsite, with a huge campfire, a ceilidh and a weekend’s supply of home brewed beer. One of our friends turned up with a tipi that he had borrowed from the activity centre he was working at. It … Continue reading The Oxford Bell Tent
Gilfach Camping, Llangorse, Brecon Beacons
This blog is mostly about Dartmoor and the wider south west, but we travel about a bit and occasionally find the odd place worthy of a mention. This campsite is one of those awesome places I couldn’t leave without writing home about. The campsite is at the Llangorse Multi Activity Centre, located just east of … Continue reading Gilfach Camping, Llangorse, Brecon Beacons
Rippon Tor
A combination of summer camping trips and post-holiday quarantining meant that we had an unexpected hiatus from Dartmoor. Last weekend we finally made it back, for the short walk up Rippon Tor. Rippon Tor seen from the path near Hemsworthy Gate. Rippon Tor is just a kilometre or so up the road from Haytor but, … Continue reading Rippon Tor
Wicken Fen
The ongoing travel restrictions have left us, like many people, looking for alternative plans for the school holidays. We couldn’t hop over the Channel with our trusty bell tent this year, but instead have taken the opportunity to visit a few old haunts and relatives around the country whom we haven’t seen for a while. … Continue reading Wicken Fen
Lockdown Brewing
We spend as much time as we possibly can outdoors. Our boys are still small enough to follow whatever we suggest without too much complaint, so most weekends we're out walking at some point and spend as much of the summer as we can in our tent. Throw in a bit of cycling, cricket, boxercise … Continue reading Lockdown Brewing
Riding up to Coldeast
Photos from my ride: the view from near Berry Pomeroy, Coldeast, up on the moor near Saddle Tor, and a handsome man with Haytor on the skyline. This morning, with boys at school and Elaine working from home, I had the rare opportunity of an extended guilt-free ride. I used to keep fit by cycling … Continue reading Riding up to Coldeast
Beer of the Bronze Age
My version of the Nordic grog One of the aspects of Dartmoor that I have always found utterly fascinating, from my earliest visits, is the wealth of ancient history that can be found all over the moor. On almost every hillside there is something to remind us of people who lived thousands of years ago: … Continue reading Beer of the Bronze Age
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