I’ve been on Dartmoor. My goodness, it was nice to get away.
Dartmoor is frequently misty and moody, as it was on one walk.
Yet it can often be fine and sunny. But whichever it is, I always think of it as unfailingly beautiful.
The sheep get everywhere, including on the top of old spoil heaps from derelict mine workings.
Hooten Wheals is one such disused mine, with a plethora of remnants of old buildings and machine structures still extant. I believe the circular structures are the remains ofΒ buddles, circular shallow settling tanks used to extract the minerals from the rock.
There are also plentiful remains of farms, houses and all sorts of settlements, from prehistoric times through to the recent past. These buildings at Swincombe are probably not particularly old.
Old stone crosses are found all over Dartmoor. Their uses include marking the boundaries of the influences of various abbeys and waymarking paths. This one (and the one in the distance) are on Ter Hill.
And because Dartmoor is so open, you get skies.
Wonderful skies.
I hadn’t realised that stone crosses might be for anything other than grave markers. Dartmoor is certainly beautiful. It’s many years since I’ve been there.
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The stone crosses on Dartmoor have a very long history, Val. I don’t know how old the oldest ones are, but I think it’s in excess of 800 years.
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Wow!
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Ah so lonely and beautiful! What wonderful scenery you have to explore. It must be inspiring and a fire to the imagination!
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It’s a lovely place, Meg. Long been a favourite of mine.
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I can see why! Weβre moving to Ireland in the spring; I hope to explore the lonely places over there! π
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Hey, you’ll have loads of super places to explore! And some great beers…
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Right? I canβt wait!
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Beautiful place, with a haunting loneliness…even without the hound.
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It is, Himanshu. One of my favourite places. Have you been there?
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No, but it’s been on my list since I read “the Hound of the Baskervilles”. π
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I’ve walked across Foxtor Mire at night – the area that the Great Grimpen Mire is based upon in the novel. Fortunately it’s not quite as dangerous as the fictitious version.
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Fantastic eerie photos Mick. Dartmoor has a real atmosphere about it doesn’t it? Something between joyous and sinister. We love walking there, good for thinking.
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Very good for thinking, Jonno. I had much to ponder while I was there. Possibly more on that later…
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Rustic and full of unspoiled nature. Perfect place for nature lovers. So no clue on those crumbling house structures?
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That one used to be a farm, I think, Arv.
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I see. π
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Nice!
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Thanks, Jason.
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What a gorgeous area for a walk! Thanks for the photos, Mick.
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You’re welcome, Ann. It’s a favourite of mine.
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a place not overrun by technology?
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Only the technology of the nineteenth century!
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Looks like the emphasis should be on the moor, but perhaps it should be called Leasuremoor rather than Dartmoor.
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Sounds like Dartmoor did you a world of good.ππΊπ»ππ·πΉπΌ
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It did – in more ways than one!
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I love the pictures. Beautiful.
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It’s a favourite place of mine.
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