Topsy's Dartmoor Rambles

[Topsy]

Lovely shots, Paul. As someone has said on the blog, the light was fantastic this week

Thanks Kerry, sometimes I get lucky but mostly I have to make do with what I get.

 

[Topsy]

Week 14.

With almost clear blue skies and strong winds I decided to take a walk along the Princetown Dismantled Railway to Ingra Tor in order to avoid the worst of the wind, however, I did return via Leeden Tor on the open Moor so I got a taste of that wind, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Leeden Tor.



Ingra Tor.



Ruins alongside the Dismantled Railway.



Bridges on the Dismantled Railway (one over, one under).



Little Leeden Tor.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 15.

Another mainly blue sky walk, this time from Bonehill Rocks to Honeybag Tor with my Leica M9s, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

The Cairns on top of Chinkwell Tor.



Bonehill Rocks from Bonehill Middle.



Bonehill Rocks.



Looking towards Bell Tor.



Young Adder on the track up to Chinkwell Tor.



Hound Tor from the lower slopes of Chinkwell Tor.



Chinkwell Tor.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Another lovely set of shots Paul. I'd love to tag along on one of these walks

 

[Topsy]

Another lovely set of shots Paul. I'd love to tag along on one of these walks

Thanks Kerry. I'm not adverse to company now and then if you're serious.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Thanks Kerry. I'm not adverse to company now and then if you're serious.

Oh I absolutely am Paul. It wouldn't be for a while though; I'm travelling all over the place for work at the moment, so my weekends are very much involving staying at home as much as possible!

 

[Topsy]

Week 16.

The weather forecast for this week was giving heavy rain for Tuesday but only showery intervals and cloud for Monday so I opted for a Monday walk with my trusty workhorsed for poor weather my Fujifilm X-T2s. I decided, becsuse of the timings of the weather fronts, I would stay quite local so I could leave a bit later to avoid the worst showers so I took a loop around Vixen, Heckwood, Pew and Feather Tors with a quick look at Windy Post, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Vixen Tor.



A shot over the wall due to "No Public Access".



Ironically farther down there is a gate.



There's also a Lone Tree on the way to Heckwood Tor and you know the law.



The view from Heckwood Tor across to Cox, Gt Staple & Gt Mis Tors.



The view from Pew Tor to the South West.



Feather Tor.



Windy Post (without th 10 Stop).




That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[zx9]

Nice to see some purposeful looking cloud, the Vixen tor picture is superb.

 

[Topsy]

Nice to see some purposeful looking cloud, the Vixen tor picture is superb.

Thanks Keith, sometimes I'm lucky and get nice clouds.

 

[Nod]

And if you're REALLY lucky, they don't empty themselves on you!

As always, enjoying the stories and shots.

 

[Topsy]

Week 17.

This week we were one of the 13,000 homes left without water after a mains burst so I needed to stay close incase there were any issues at home so I took a quick walk with my Leica M9s (I also took my Leica D-Lux 7 to do some experimenting with filters) over Black Tor (Walkhampton) and down to the Falls on the River Meavy, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

The Falls, shot with the D-Lux 7.



While it was set up an A400M Atlas (the replacement for the C-130 Hercules) photo-bombed me so I fired the shutter.



Black Tor.



The Logan Stone.



The Falls



The Logan Stone (again).




That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Lovely shots as always Paul.

In an unexpected turn of events, I'm going to be spending three days in Bovey Tracy in a couple of weeks. I won't have time to join you on a walk, but I'll definitely be heading over to Princetown to explore my old stomping grounds

 

[Topsy]

Lovely shots as always Paul.

In an unexpected turn of events, I'm going to be spending three days in Bovey Tracy in a couple of weeks. I won't have time to join you on a walk, but I'll definitely be heading over to Princetown to explore my old stomping grounds

PM me the details Kerry, I might be able to meet up depending (if you want) when and what I've got on.

 

[Nod]

The Plume (of Feathers) is open again - probably old news but worth repeating!

 

[skullfunkerry]

The Plume (of Feathers) is open again - probably old news but worth repeating!

In Princetown?

 

[Jannyfox]

In Princetown?

Yes

 

[Nod]

Sorry, yes, as Jan has already said!

Plenty of space and bike(r) friendly. Plenty of parking at the back of the pub, NOT in the first courtyard to the left - that's a tea room!

 

[skullfunkerry]

I used to live right opposite the Plume of Feathers. My mum & stepdad ran the Mace supermarket on the corner and we lived in the attached house. It's all been knocked down, it's a visitor centre now I believe.

 

[Topsy]

Week 18.

This week was all clear blue skies so I decided to go down Venford Brook with my Bronica SQ-B loaded with Kodak Portra 160 to shoot the Twin Falls. I also took my Fujifilm GFX 50Ss to do some panoramas, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Venford Falls (Bronica).



GFX Panoramas.



Looking downstream.



After the Falls I went back to the car, changed from my wellies to boots and headed off to Bench Tor, on the way I spotted this Stonechat on the Gorse (GFX hand held 32-64mm).







A cropped shot from the Bronica.



As I was getting ready in the morning I heard Cuckoos, then I saw them (3 of them) with my Binos. I tried to get a shot but my kit isn't wildlife kit so this was the best I could get.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Lovely set this week Paul. You're right, those 65x24 shots are fab. I'd have the b&w one of the falls on my wall any day of the week

 

[Topsy]

Lovely set this week Paul. You're right, those 65x24 shots are fab. I'd have the b&w one of the falls on my wall any day of the week

Thanks mate.

 

[skullfunkerry]

I used to live right opposite the Plume of Feathers. My mum & stepdad ran the Mace supermarket on the corner and we lived in the attached house. It's all been knocked down, it's a visitor centre now I believe.

Having been to Princetown this week, I have to issue a correction: the shop and house was opposite the Devil's Elbow, not the Plume

 

[Nod]

Close enough!

The Devil's Elbow is now the tea room I referred to in post #497.

By chance, I was one of the last customers in the shop (by then an Olde Worlde Gifte Shoppe...) on its last day. Bought Mrs Nod a fluffy hat!

 

[Topsy]

Week 19.

This week there had been a huge wildfire on the high Moor and the public were asked to stay off so I decided to take my Leica M9s out to Bellever & Laughter Tors, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Bellever Tor Trig Point.



I had parked in Dunnabridge Car Park just opposite Dunnabridge Farm.



My route took me past Laughter Tor Standing Stone.



And past the old Sheep Pound.



Then up to Laughter Tor.



"Little Bellever Tor".



On the way back I went over for a look at Dunnabridge Pound.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Lovely shots as always Paul. Shame we didn't get to meet up last week; I'm hoping to be back again before too long, though.

 

[Topsy]

Lovely shots as always Paul. Shame we didn't get to meet up last week; I'm hoping to be back again before too long, though.

Thanks Kerry,

 

[Jannyfox]

It's a really scenic bit of the moor and you had the weather for it. I spent Monday coming up with a Plan B but fortunately they got the fire out so I got up to Quinters Man onTuesday. I could see where it had burned over the side of Cut Hill. And you still get people arguing about how/why we get wild fires. Unbelievable!

 

[Topsy]

It's a really scenic bit of the moor and you had the weather for it. I spent Monday coming up with a Plan B but fortunately they got the fire out so I got up to Quinters Man onTuesday. I could see where it had burned over the side of Cut Hill. And you still get people arguing about how/why we get wild fires. Unbelievable!

Thanks Jan.
I saw the smoke from the fire when I was out riding my bike on Sunday afternoon I could tell it was a big one.

 

[Topsy]

Week 20.

This week I went up to the North to East Mill, Oke & Belstone Tors, I took both my Bronica SQ-B and my GFX 50Ss, unfortunately the Post Office haven't yet delivered my film to the lab so they'll have to wait. Meanwhile here are some of my GFX shots, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

East Mill Tor with Yes Tor in the distance.



The early cloud was cold and damp.



East Mill again & Yes Tor.



Belstone Tor (and the Logan Stone).



Henry's Ford was a lot fuller than I was expecting but I managed to get across with dry feet.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Lovely shots Paul. I especially like the 10th one in your blog post, looking down into the valley

 

[Topsy]

Lovely shots Paul. I especially like the 10th one in your blog post, looking down into the valley

Thanks Kerry.

 

[Topsy]

Here are some of the Bronica shots, not all worked and not all that did work worked in 1-1 aspect ratio.

 

[Topsy]

Week 21.

Another nice bright day this week so I went out to Yar Tor and Sharp Tor with the Leica M9s, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Yar Tor.



Yar Tor with a Pony.



Across the road towards Sharp Tor the ground has much more vegetation, trees and such all in full Spring blossom and sporting Old Man's Beards.



Cottage by the Bog (note the Cotton Grass in the foreground).



Lone Tree on Sharp Tor.



I managed to get some wildlife photography in again with my super long telephoto lens (actually 75mm), the Stonechats here are quite used to people so they let me get quite close.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Lovely shots Paul

 

[Topsy]

Lovely shots Paul

Thanks Kerry.

 

[Topsy]

Week 22.

This week after a rained out Tuesday I decided to take my medium format stuff up to Gt & Little Mis Tors on Wednesday, I also took in Church Rock and Over Tor, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Great Mis Tor.









After Gt Mis I was heading down to Little Mis and spotted a Curlew that I must have put up as I walked down the track. I only had the 75mm end of the zoom on my D-Lux 7 so this is a really huge crop but it's the firs Curlew I've seen on the Moor. I spent a while watching it through my Binos.



Little Mis Tor



I also had my Bronica along but I didn't finish the film.



This was the composition of Over Tor that I was shooting (taken with my GFX 50S).




That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 23.

This week as Tuesday was giving a dry day I decided to take my Bronica SQ-B back out to finish that film from last week. I went up to Shelstone Tor to get some shots of Black a Tor Copse and a Lone Tree on Shelstone Tor, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Shelstone Tor.



West Okement Valley from that Lone Tree on Shelstone Tor.



The old gate into Prewley Newtake.



From the Bronica, Portra 160.



Bronica again.



A slightly different angle (Bronica again).



These are a couple of the film shots from last week's photowalk up to Gt Mis Tor.



Over Tor.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Nice! Is that square(ish) boulder natural, or would it have had some bits taken off in the past, do you know Paul?

 

[Topsy]

Nice! Is that square(ish) boulder natural, or would it have had some bits taken off in the past, do you know Paul?

I think it's natural Kerry, the way these things were formed from volcanic activity which have had all the softer earth etc eroded over time that has caused Tors to topple forming the Clitter below. There was certainly no obvious evidence of man's invervention on it.

 

[Topsy]

Week 24.

This week I took my Leica M9s and went looking for some old mineworks called South Lodes Gully, on the way I visited Vitifer Mine Ruins as well as Hookney and Birch Tors, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Birch Tor overlooking The Warren House Inn.



South Lodes Gully.



Vitifer Mine Ruins.



Hookney Tor.



The view of Grimspound from Hookney Tor.



On the way I did spot a Lone Tree and you know the Law.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.