Topsy's Dartmoor Rambles

[Topsy]

Week 17.

Another week another walk, this time with my Fuji X-T2s over Bonehill Rocks, Bell Tor, Chinkwell Tor and Honeybag Tor then over to Rippon Tor to find that Recumbent Cross that I missed last time I was there and finally up on to Top Tor. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Top Tor with the view of Haytor Rocks, Saddle and Rippon Tors in the distance.



Bonehill Rocks.



Bell Tor.



The Recumbent Cross on Rippon Tor.



Thanks for looking.

 

[Jannyfox]

Tuesday again when I should have gone down there but didn't get my act in gear and ended up doing something else (also hard outdoor work just without the view.......)?
Was that 'cross' ever a real cross or just a chance formation? I've never noticed it but then I don't notice much, including where I'm putting my feet a lot of the time

 

[Topsy]

Tuesday again when I should have gone down there but didn't get my act in gear and ended up doing something else (also hard outdoor work just without the view.......)?
Was that 'cross' ever a real cross or just a chance formation? I've never noticed it but then I don't notice much, including where I'm putting my feet a lot of the time

One theory is that it was carved in situ to ward off evil spirits in Medieval times.

 

[Nod]

VERY nearly went up to Haytor on Tuesday but decided it would be dry enough to do the diamond rather than the triangle so went to Buckfast, Two Bridges rather than cutting up from Newton to M'hampstead via the Tor. As you can imagine, I got a little damp! Ah! The joys of motorcycling!!!

As always, Paul, a lovely set and an interesting commentary. (As an aside, the first time I saw the 10 commandments up at Buckland, I sat on them before the carving was pointed out to me!)

 

[Jannyfox]

(As an aside, the first time I saw the 10 commandments up at Buckland, I sat on them before the carving was pointed out to me!)

I've been asked where they are several times by people standing right next to them.

 

[Topsy]

VERY nearly went up to Haytor on Tuesday but decided it would be dry enough to do the diamond rather than the triangle so went to Buckfast, Two Bridges rather than cutting up from Newton to M'hampstead via the Tor. As you can imagine, I got a little damp! Ah! The joys of motorcycling!!!

As always, Paul, a lovely set and an interesting commentary. (As an aside, the first time I saw the 10 commandments up at Buckland, I sat on them before the carving was pointed out to me!)

Thanks Nod.

 

[Topsy]

Week 18.

This week I decided to take only my Leica M9 Rangefinders out over to Tavy Cleave, Hare and Ger Tors. Using a Digital Rangefinder with 14 year old tech was challenging for landscape but I managed to get some decent shots. I bracketed exposures a lot so had much more PP to do, it's surprising how dependant one becomes on the WYSIWYG with modern digital EVF cameras. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Tavy Cleave.



Ger Tor.



View from Hare Tor.



Pony and Foal near Nattor Farm.

 

[Topsy]

Week 19.

Heavy rain and thunder were the forecast this week, I found a small gap in the weather for a short walk along the River Lyd to Black Rock and the Falls there. I did get rained and when I got back to the car the worst of the storm hit me. I took this shot whilst sheltering under the tailgate of my car, rain pounding and thunder growling. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog



Black Rock with Dow Tor in the distance.



There is a memorial and bench at Black Tor.



The Falls are just below the Rock.



Thanks for looking in.

 

[Jannyfox]

Well done for getting out. First one's brilliant. That's why I have a Defender - so I don't have to huddle in a puddle under a tail gate...............
It was better there when noone knew about it........ I wonder how many have stopped to read and absorb the plaque. It's very thought provoking (well, I think so). Had a nice fresh brew of Lyd tea there many a time

 

[Topsy]

Well done for getting out. First one's brilliant. That's why I have a Defender - so I don't have to huddle in a puddle under a tail gate...............
It was better there when noone knew about it........ I wonder how many have stopped to read and absorb the plaque. It's very thought provoking (well, I think so). Had a nice fresh brew of Lyd tea there many a time

Thanks Jan, actually the upward lifting rear door of the Suzuki Vitara makes a good shelter, sitting on the edge of the boot. The plaque is thought provoking and the guy obviously enjoyed Dartmoor. Believe it or not in almost 50 years of living in Dartmoor National Park it's the first time I have visited Black Rock although I've been over Lydford High Down many times just never turned right.

 

[Topsy]

Week 20.

This week I went over to Fox Tor with my Fuji GFX 50Ss, I parked in the Car Park at the end of the main track that leads to Nun's Cross Farm then went out via the farm and cross over the top to Fox Tor before dropping down to the Mires and following the Dry Stone Wall back to Nun's Cross and the Car Park. As usual you can see the full story and photos on my Blog on ePHOTOzine https://www.ephotozine.com///user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Nun's Cross.



Fox Tor.



Dry Stone Wall on route back.



Back at the Farm and there was Cattle gathering going on, I was particularly envious of the chap on the motorcycle it looked more like fun than work



Thanks for looking, as always comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 21.

This week I decided to take my Leica M9s on another landscape photowalk this time out to Bleak House and back via Great Links Tor and Widgery Cross. TBH the dynamic range of the CCD sensors struggled with the extreme light in this landscape as the sky for the most part was just very bright high cloud making contrast control almost impossible (the 14 stops of DR in my GFX would have been a better choice). As usual you can see the full story and photos on my Blog on ePHOTOzine https://www.ephotozine.com///user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Dead Tree under Widgery Cross (can be seen through the right hand branches).



A closer view of Widgery Cross.



Bleak House.



Great Links Tor.



Thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 22.

All blue cloudless skies this week but it has been a long dry spell so I decided to head out to Fur Tor (at last), as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com///user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Fur Tor aka Queen of the Moor.



Cut Hill.



East Dart River on the way back to the car park.



Last view back up the East Dart River Valley before descending into the Postbridge Visitor Centre.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for stopping by to look.

 

[Topsy]

Week 23.

another week of blue cloudless skies this week, I decided tog for a curcuit around Rimgmoor Down taking in Brisworthy Stone Circle, Legis and Gutter Tors. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com///user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Brisworthy Stone Circle.



The Hawthorn was in full bloom



Legis Tor.



Gutter Tor.



On the way back there was a good view of Sheeps Tor with Leather and Sharpitors in the distance.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Jannyfox]

Thanks for the reminder that Brisworthy and Legis are still on my hit list. I tried for them a while ago (I come over from the Whiteworks road as all the way round to the west side is just too long a drive for me) but I wasn't sure about the cows that were in my way so cut short. I think that was the day I had the encounter with the Mad Cow of Older Bottom, but that came later. Where's the post? I like odd things like that.
Oddly enough for a landscape photographer I quite like clear blue skies. When there's cloud it's always in the wrong place so the light is everywhere but where I want it to be and/or the dynamic range is too much for my sensor. I've stood for what's seemed like hours under a cloudy sky waiting for the light to fall right and either freezing or having to leave frustrated or someone gets in the way at the crucial moment.
Too hot for me to go there atm. I don't function at anything over 20 deg

 

[Topsy]

Thanks for the reminder that Brisworthy and Legis are still on my hit list. I tried for them a while ago (I come over from the Whiteworks road as all the way round to the west side is just too long a drive for me) but I wasn't sure about the cows that were in my way so cut short. I think that was the day I had the encounter with the Mad Cow of Older Bottom, but that came later. Where's the post? I like odd things like that.
Oddly enough for a landscape photographer I quite like clear blue skies. When there's cloud it's always in the wrong place so the light is everywhere but where I want it to be and/or the dynamic range is too much for my sensor. I've stood for what's seemed like hours under a cloudy sky waiting for the light to fall right and either freezing or having to leave frustrated or someone gets in the way at the crucial moment.
Too hot for me to go there atm. I don't function at anything over 20 deg

Hi Jan, the post is just beside a Cairn (but the Cairn isn't very obvious) SX 566666.

 

[Jannyfox]

Hi Jan, the post is just beside a Cairn (but the Cairn isn't very obvious) SX 566666.

Got the cairn on the map. Thanks for that

 

[Topsy]

Got the cairn on the map. Thanks for that

You can just see the post on the left in this shot, the Cairn is in the green scar to the right of the right had track just to the left of that gorse bush, as I said it isn't vert obvious.

 

[Topsy]

Week 24.

Another week where the forecast was for clear blue skies and sunshine so I decided to go out to Swelltor and Foggintor Quarries with my Bronica SQ-Ai loaded with Ilford FP4 Plus B&W film. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com///user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Lone Tree on Kings Tor.



Ruins at Swelltor Quarry.


Ruins at Foggintor Quarry.



Foggintor Quarry Entrance.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 25.

Dodging rain again I went South to Tristis Rock, I thought I might also take a look at Piles Copse. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com///user/topsyrm-149719/blog

I saw these Foxgloves beside a Churchyard entrance.



Up at Tristis Rock I could see Piles Copse in the distance.



On the way up to Harford Moor Gate I thought this old Stable was worth a shot.



Harford Moor Gate.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 26.

This week I went back to an old favourite of mine Down Tor Stone Row, via The Miniscule Sausage Area (aka Snappers Tor) as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine https://www.ephotozine.com////user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

The Stone Row has a Circle at the start of it.



This little enclave is on the way up to The Miniscule Sausage Area, I call it the BBQ Area.



The Miniscule Sausage Area, popular with local climbers for thechnical practice.



Down Tor itself has an interesting collection of roky formations.





That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 27.

Poor weather once again dictated when and where I went, it also curtailed some of the plan. I decided to go out to Doe Tor then search for some ruins I had heard about beside Doetor Brook, as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine https://www.ephotozine.com////user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Brat Tor (Widgery Cross) with Doe Tor in the distance.



Doe Tor Farm Ruins.



Doe Tor.



The Ruins beside Doetor Brook.






That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[medwaygreen]

Good set Paul, I particularly like #2. What did you have your camera set to regarding film simulation?

 

[Jannyfox]

The ruins are Foxholes (Wheal Frederick) mine. In one of the images in your blog there is a hump in the ground above the building which was the ramp that carried the launder for the water wheel. The wheel pit is just a jumble of rocks in a bit of a hollow below where the launder was. You can trace the leat from there back to the stream fairly easily and the tail race less easily. You can also see the buddling floor where the ore was crushed. It's the flat area below the building with two stone circles. In one of them you can see where the central support was, or you could when I did a sketch map years ago. I've never managed to get a photo of the buddling floor. It probably dates from the mid 1800s. The Historic England listing is worth a read

 

[Topsy]

Good set Paul, I particularly like #2. What did you have your camera set to regarding film simulation?

Thanks Richard, I use Classic Chrome in Lightroom on the RAW files from both my X-T2s and GFXs.

 

[Topsy]

The ruins are Foxholes (Wheal Frederick) mine. In one of the images in your blog there is a hump in the ground above the building which was the ramp that carried the launder for the water wheel. The wheel pit is just a jumble of rocks in a bit of a hollow below where the launder was. You can trace the leat from there back to the stream fairly easily and the tail race less easily. You can also see the buddling floor where the ore was crushed. It's the flat area below the building with two stone circles. In one of them you can see where the central support was, or you could when I did a sketch map years ago. I've never managed to get a photo of the buddling floor. It probably dates from the mid 1800s. The Historic England listing is worth a read

View attachment 394856

Thanks Jan, as I said in my Blog I will go back one day in better weather and light to explore it properly particularly now I know what it is. I'll look up the Historic England listing.

 

[Topsy]

Week 28.

Another week where the weather wasn't good enough to go on to the high moor, visibility down to 50m so no chance of any photos on my photowalk, what happened to the summer? As the weather was so poor up higher I decided to go into the Burrator Valley and get some (more) shots of Farm Ruins and since there was a gap in the weather I went up onto Sheeps Tor for a look. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine https://www.ephotozine.com////user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Sheeps Tor looking down to Burrator Reservoir (and some bad weather).



The View from Sheepstor Common of Gutter Tor (and some more bad weather).



On the way out from Norsworthy Bridge through Middleworth Plantation I passed Middleworth Farm Ruins.



And Deancombe Farm Ruins.



Out of the Plantation and on the way to Sheeps Tor via Sheepstor Common (Down Tor in the distance and more bad weather).



Once off Sheeps Tor I went down to the Reservoir road and headed back to the car, I called in at Longstone Manor to grab a couple of shots.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 29.

This week I had a gap in the rain but the clouds were grey and bright giving awfull contrasty light for most of the walk, I went around Cox, Roos, Gt & Middle Staple Tors then over to Barn Hill to see Vixen Tor. As usual you can see the full story in my Blog on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Cox Tor.



Roos Tor.



Gt Staple Tor.



Vixen Tor.



Thanks for looking in.

 

[Topsy]

Week 30.

I was short on time this week because of an unavoidable clash of appointments so I decided to stay close to home again and keep the walk as short as possible. The weather was changeable but the gaps fit nicely with my plan so Sharpitor, Peek Hill and Leather Tor were the route. As usual you can see the full story in my Blog on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Sharpitor.





Peek Hill (and that changeable weather).



View of Burrator Reservoir and Sheeps Tor from Peek Hill.



Leather Tor.



Pano shot from Sharpitor (you know I love a Pano).




That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Nod]

Wish the weather had been changeable up there today! Rather damp and foggy up there for the ECBC run (and my waterproof trousers aren't!!!)

 

[Topsy]

Week 31.

Once again the great british summer gave me some changeable conditions, I decided to go up Sourton Tors and over Corn Ridge to Brandscombe's Loaf but that changeable weather meant I had to modify my plan along the way. As usual you can see the full story in my Blog on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Sourton Tors Trig Point.



Brandscombe's Loaf (and Cheeses).



Some of that great british summer changeable weather.



The weather starting to clear a bit on Sourtion Tors.



A view of Yes Tor and High Willhays in the low cloud from Corn Ridge.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 32.

I had very little time this week so I needed a short Photowalk close to home, Great Mis Tor fits that criteria nicely. As usual you can see the full story in my Blog on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog



It was a bit cloudy at first.



By the time I was at Little Mis the clouds were clearing.



Great views from the top of Gt Mis.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 33.

This week I went out to Lints Tor via Dinger Tor then back over High Willhays and Yes Tor.

Lints Tor.





Dinger Tor.



High Willhays.



Yes Tor.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 34.

This week I felt like taking the Bronica out for a spin so headed for one of my vavourite water features on Dartmoor, Venford Falls. I also took in Bench Tor and on the way home Combestone Tor. Unfortunately I don't have the film scans back yet so any shots posted are from the Fuji X-T2, I'll add some film shots when I have them. As usual you can see the full story in my Blog on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Venford Falls.



Bench Tor.



Bronica on Location.



Lone Tree on Bench Tor.



Combestone Tor.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Topsy]

Week 35.

This week the weather was decidedly grey and damp, I went out to Emsworthy Rocks and across to Haytor Quarry and the Rocks. With Mizzle in the wind shooting direction was limited therefore compositions were restricted. As always you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog

The Lone Tree on Emsworthy Rocks.



The night before the photowalk the weather forecast was for a bright area around Widecombe so I thought I might get a good shot of Hound Tor anf Greator Rocks, unfortunately on the day the weather wasn't quite so bright.



I sought shelter in Haytor Quarry but so did half of the holidaymakers on Dartmoor so no great shots in there either.



These trees are just outside the main entrance to the Quarry, the condition of them rather matched the weather.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[Jannyfox]

I remember when there when there were 3 larches at the site of the original village. I think it was in the storms of early 2014 that one came down. I photographed all 3 in March 2013 and 2 plus the 3rd newly snapped over with the top propped on the ground in March 2014. It's sad seeing only a stump there now - like losing an old friend. I have a canvas print on my wall of my first cat (long since dead) sitting on a rock with 2 of the trees (one being the now ex tree) just visible behind her in thick mist.

 

[Brentor]

Week 34.

This week I felt like taking the Bronica out for a spin so headed for one of my vavourite water features on Dartmoor, Venford Falls. I also took in Bench Tor and on the way home Combestone Tor. Unfortunately I don't have the film scans back yet so any shots posted are from the Fuji X-T2, I'll add some film shots when I have them. As usual you can see the full story in my Blog on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Venford Falls.

View attachment 399445

Bench Tor.

View attachment 399447

Bronica on Location.

View attachment 399448

Lone Tree on Bench Tor.

View attachment 399449

Combestone Tor.

View attachment 399450

That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

Ventor Falls and Combestone Tor, two of my favourite places on Dartmoor. Has the fallen tree gone from Ventor Falls, I can’t quite tell from your picture?

 

[Topsy]

Ventor Falls and Combestone Tor, two of my favourite places on Dartmoor. Has the fallen tree gone from Ventor Falls, I can’t quite tell from your picture?

It is still there but a lot lower down now so not as obvious in the photos, see bottom right corner of the original shot. BTW it's Venford Falls.

 

[Topsy]

Week 36.

This week undewr hot clear blue skies I decided to go to Bellever Tor and Laughter Tor, I took my Leica M9s to travel light. As usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Bellever Tor.



Ponies on Bellever Tor.



Laughter Tor Sheep Pound.



I came back via Dunnabridge Farm.



That's all for this week folks, thanks for looking.

 

[nog]

Lovely pics again, our son lives in Okehampton so we go down that way a few times every year.
That looks a pretty remote place for a postbox