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
Wistman’s Wood
Photos from Wistmans Wood, 24th October 2019 “Fairy-like, self-involved, rich in secrets … such inturned peace, such profound harmlessness, otherness, such unusing … all words miss, I know I cannot describe it.”John Fowles, 'The Tree'. This section is quoted from the final chapter, which was written about Wistmans Wood. Wistmans Wood seen from lower down … Continue reading Wistman’s Wood
The Dartmoor Scratch Map
Our Dartmoor Scratch Map One incredibly cool addition to our lounge is the Dartmoor Scratch Map, which we got at the start of lockdown. This A2 map has 56 tors and another 15 'Points of Interest' marked, the idea being that you scratch off each place and add the date as you visit it. It's … Continue reading The Dartmoor Scratch Map
Sharp Tor and Yar Tor
Photos from Sharp Tor and Yar Tor The Sharp Tor Tree is one of my favourite trees. As long as I've been to Dartmoor it's been there, clinging on improbably to a saddle among the clitter in the middle of the tor, where the soil and roots must be just deep enough to hold it … Continue reading Sharp Tor and Yar Tor
Avon Dam
Photos from the Avon Dam It had been a long time since I had been to the Avon Dam; so long, actually, that I couldn't quite convince myself that I had ever actually been there at all. I have rarely worked on the south moor with groups and most of my solo adventures would start … Continue reading Avon Dam
Bellever Tor
Photos from Bellever Tor Bellever Tor is one of my favourite tors on Dartmoor. This is a bit odd, because if I was making a list of requirements for a perfect tor, it doesn't meet any of them. It isn't remote, and in fact can be climbed in less than half an hour from either … Continue reading Bellever Tor
Blaggers' Blog 