James over at Backpackingbongos has just come back from a rather nice trip to Dartmoor. His trip report reminded me of the many times I have visited the area myself and some of the walks I have done. Considering that it is tucked away in the southwest and has no “mountains” it continues to prove popular with a whole range of walkers and campers. In addition to the mega trip with my “dads and lads” group in 2009, I also went on a brilliant little trip back in 2008 with a couple of friends for a late winter outing.
The three of us decided to walk and camp in the area around Nun’s Cross Farm, which I really do like and have been to many times. It offers a variety of landscape, history, wildness and yet relatively accessible. We settled on a rambling itinary taking in several ruined farms (including Nuns Cross), lonely crosses, a prehistoric stone avenue at Drizzlecombe, looking for elusive postboxes (a Dartmoor speciality), discovering industrial ruins and observing an real life foaling in the middle of a snow covered landscape. The snow made the feel of the place even more bleak but beautiful than normal.
The scenery was stunning on that trip and I can remember the three of us snapping away with cameras all the time. of course the other two were far better photographers than me but I enjoyed it all the same. It was a fabulous trip but completely different to what I was normally used to. The thing was that there was always some nook or cranny to investigate, challenging navigation on times and a feeling of a really wide expanse of wilderness.
Such variety within Dartmoor even in a very small area around Nuns Cross Farm really shows off the area in a positive light. Add to that the raw bleakness of the place and it makes for a very good camping and walking destination. I loved James’ recent report and foray to Dartmoor and it prompted me to look up some old photographs from my trips especially the one above. Not sure when I will get there again but I would like to try even if only for a day walk. It offers a different experience to the usual mountain fare and definitely not one to be underestimated
A very under appreciated part of the country. Has a real feeling of wilderness in some places and an air of mystery.
couldnt agree more. I have been there when it has been very bleak indeed. Even then, there is a certain raw beauty about the place
Dartmoor always looks like an intriguing place to explore, we keep talking about it! I love mysterious, spooky places as well – and it always looks appealing in that sense too.
oh well, got yourself down there, plenty to see and do, its a huge area. Some cracking places to camp as well both commercial and wild
Only go there this year if you have webbed feet. Those moors be a bit damp……….
I reckon you are right! And I darent even think about mid Wales at the moment either!
But the traffic on the way down there, even if you are only coming from Portsmouth, is off-putting.
yes, it can be I agree although I normally dont have too bad a time of it coming from South Wales