Topsy's Dartmoor Rambles

[Topsy]

Lovely as ever Paul. Some cracking examples there of that particular shade of green which I only ever associate with Dartmoor grass

The processing brings out the autumn colours wonderfully.

I am getting to know that area well and I have never even been there, thanks for sharing!

Thanks guys.

 

[Topsy]

Week 46.

This week the weather was against a "photowalk" plus I needed to get my walk & photos processed by Tuesday evening so I could drop my computer off for a much needed upgrade so I opted for a close short walk on Monday afternoon while there was a gap in the weather. I took my Fujifilm GFX 50S up to Ingra & Leeden Tors, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Ingra Tor.



Leeden Tor.




Of course having the GFX along meant panoramas and the skies were worth it.








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

 

[Nod]

As always, love the different moods that the Moor often shows - frequently within minutes!

 

[Topsy]

Week 47.

More bad weather this week but a gap on Tuesday allowed me to get out with my Fujifilm GFX 50S to Bellever Tor, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.



I went out via Postbridge.



Then up through the Kraps Ring clearing.



On top of Lakeland Hill Bellever Tor came into view.



There was some rain about though.



The Trig Point.



That rain caught me up so I decided to go back via the forestry track for some shelter.



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

 

[Barney]

Week 47.

More bad weather this week but a gap on Tuesday allowed me to get out with my Fujifilm GFX 50S to Bellever Tor, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

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I went out via Postbridge.

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Then up through the Kraps Ring clearing.

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On top of Lakeland Hill Bellever Tor came into view.

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There was some rain about though.

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The Trig Point.

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That rain caught me up so I decided to go back via the forestry track for some shelter.

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

Gorgeous natural looking shots as usual Paul, the bridge is my favourite from the set, It would have been the penultimate but I would like to have seen a tad more into the background hills on that one.

 

[Topsy]

Gorgeous natural looking shots as usual Paul, the bridge is my favourite from the set, It would have been the penultimate but I would like to have seen a tad more into the background hills on that one.

Thanks Wayne.

 

[Topsy]

Week 48.

This week the weather gave me blue sky shooting with very few clouds, I took my Fujifilm GFX 50S kit up to the Lone Tree on Emsworthy Rocks then went into Haytor Quarry on the way back, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.






The red/brown carpet of dead bracken.



Haytor Quarry.



Haytor Rocks.



On the way home I stopped off to get a couple of shots of the movie set on Sharp Tor.



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

 

[Barney]

A beautiful day and Photos to suit as usual Paul, the quarry shot is outstanding IMO

 

[Topsy]

Thanks Wayne, tbh it was a toss up between that one and the Lone Tree one for my Blog opening shot and my weekly upload to the gallery on EOPZ. Looking back I may not have chosen wisely.

 

[Barney]

Thanks Wayne, tbh it was a toss up between that one and the Lone Tree one for my Blog opening shot and my weekly upload to the gallery on EOPZ. Looking back I may not have chosen wisely.

I can see the rocks underwater leading me to the cliff, and then that white tree standing in the patch of shade, i am sure I could take a hundred pictures just of that tree alone, and when the snow and frosted ice edged water there must be magical.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[billy nomates]

Cracking images as usual, and on the side of the Moor I'm more familiar with.
I had to laugh seeing that last image, for a few years I have had an idea for a composite image of what I think is the Hawthorn tree just in the bottom right of your image with Sharp Tor behind it.
My idea came whilst watching Notting Hill where Hugh Grant walks through Camden Market ( I think ) in a continuous shot and the passage of the seasons is expressed by changes in weather and decoration as he walks along. So my idea was to take images from the same spot about every 8 weeks and then blend them into a single image after a year, hopefully starting in spring gradually moving across in bands as leaves form and then fall to a snow covered winter finish.
I have just got a new R8, partly to try and reignite the spark for getting out and about. So I dragged myself out on a cold and frosty morning last week, only to find the background has altered just a bit at present.

 

[Topsy]

Cracking images as usual, and on the side of the Moor I'm more familiar with.
I had to laugh seeing that last image, for a few years I have had an idea for a composite image of what I think is the Hawthorn tree just in the bottom right of your image with Sharp Tor behind it.
My idea came whilst watching Notting Hill where Hugh Grant walks through Camden Market ( I think ) in a continuous shot and the passage of the seasons is expressed by changes in weather and decoration as he walks along. So my idea was to take images from the same spot about every 8 weeks and then blend them into a single image after a year, hopefully starting in spring gradually moving across in bands as leaves form and then fall to a snow covered winter finish.
I have just got a new R8, partly to try and reignite the spark for getting out and about. So I dragged myself out on a cold and frosty morning last week, only to find the background has altered just a bit at present.

I'm sure they'll clean it up after they're finished filming so you can start again.

 

[Topsy]

Week 49.

This week there was only a small gap in the insessent rain so I grabbed the opportunity and took my Fujifilm GFX 50S kit up to Black Tor (Walkhampton) and the falls, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Black Tor Falls.



The Logan Stone (Balancing Rock) on Black Tor.



The rain wasn't far away.





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

 

[Boots]

Another great set - thanks for sharing!

 

[Topsy]

Another great set - thanks for sharing!

Thanks Paul.

 

[Nod]

The rain wasn't far away.

It rarely is up on the Moor!!!

As always, thanks for sharing your views.

 

[Jannyfox]

The weather is going to be perfect from the new year as I make my return from a knackered foot.......

 

[Nod]

Thanks, Jan - might get up there for some sunshine while you're crook!!!

All the best for a full and reasonably fast recovery.

 

[Jannyfox]

Thanks, Jan - might get up there for some sunshine while you're crook!!!

All the best for a full and reasonably fast recovery.

Pretty well is recovered now, Nod. Hence it's going to be lovely weather now, isn't it
Moral of the tale - if you're going to drop something heavy on your foot, wear appropriate footwear. Or if you're wearing slippers, don't drop heavy objects........

 

[Nod]

Same when using sharp kitchen knives!

Being slightly cack handed these days, I try to avoid awkward lifting - just in case!!!

If it's lovely up on the Moor, just shove the waterproofs in the bottom of the rucksack and the clouds will start to gather...

 

[Topsy]

It rarely is up on the Moor!!!

As always, thanks for sharing your views.

Thanks @Nod

 

[Barney]

Nice balance there Paul between the interesting skies and the interesting foregrounds.

 

[Topsy]

Nice balance there Paul between the interesting skies and the interesting foregrounds.

Thanks Wayne.

 

[Topsy]

Week 50.

More rain for most of the week plus Storm Bale but there was a gap so I took it and went out to Blakey Tor with my Fujifilm GFX kit & Bronica SQ-B, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.



Having parked in Princetown I couldn't resist a shot of the Prison in the low cloud.



I went out via the Conchie Road.



Having the GFX along made framing panoramas easy.



I only had one shot in mind with the Bronica but the film isn't finished so I can't show it.



Here's one of the composition taken with my Leica D-Lux 7.



As ever the poor weather was never far away.



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

 

[skullfunkerry]

Week 50.

More rain for most of the week plus Storm Bale but there was a gap so I took it and went out to Blakey Tor with my Fujifilm GFX kit & Bronica SQ-B, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

View attachment 470109

Having parked in Princetown I couldn't resist a shot of the Prison in the low cloud.

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I went out via the Conchie Road.

View attachment 470111

Having the GFX along made framing panoramas easy.

View attachment 470112

I only had one shot in mind with the Bronica but the film isn't finished so I can't show it.

View attachment 470113

Here's one of the composition taken with my Leica D-Lux 7.

View attachment 470115

As ever the poor weather was never far away.

View attachment 470114

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

Lovely shots Paul. Always enjoy reading your blog, and when it's around Princetown it brings back a lot of memories. That shot of the prison took me straight back to playing in those fields as a kid, and the strange feeling I'd get when I looked across at the prison looming over us...

 

[Topsy]

Lovely shots Paul. Always enjoy reading your blog, and when it's around Princetown it brings back a lot of memories. That shot of the prison took me straight back to playing in those fields as a kid, and the strange feeling I'd get when I looked across at the prison looming over us...

Thanks Kerry.

 

[Barney]

Beautiful photo's as always Paul, I cannot wait to see the film image, I hope you framed it the same as the D-Lux 7 shot, Those rocks look like they will fall off a cliff at any minute!

 

[Topsy]

Week 51.

This week with good dry weather and no firing on Tuesday at Willsworthy Ranges I went up one of my favourite areas with my Leica M9s, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Hare Tor from Ger Tor in the Willsworthy Range Danger Area.



Route out past Nattor Farm.



Ponies are always welcome on my photowalks.



Possibly my favourite view on Dartmoor, Tavy Cleave.



A shot from the top of Ger Tor over the Cleave past Tavy Cleave Rocks and on to Fur Tor.



Hare Tor from the other side of Ger Tor.



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

 

[Barney]

Week 51.

This week with good dry weather and no firing on Tuesday at Willsworthy Ranges I went up one of my favourite areas with my Leica M9s, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Hare Tor from Ger Tor in the Willsworthy Range Danger Area.

View attachment 470594

Route out past Nattor Farm.

View attachment 470595

Ponies are always welcome on my photowalks.

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Possibly my favourite view on Dartmoor, Tavy Cleave.

View attachment 470597

A shot from the top of Ger Tor over the Cleave past Tavy Cleave Rocks and on to Fur Tor.

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Hare Tor from the other side of Ger Tor.

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

Super photo's as usual Paul, I can see why its one of your favourite walks, a nice blend of the rocks and the vistas. The lane leading to the farm outbuildings is a fantastic shot, love the light dancing on the embankment.

 

[Topsy]

Super photo's as usual Paul, I can see why its one of your favourite walks, a nice blend of the rocks and the vistas. The lane leading to the farm outbuildings is a fantastic shot, love the light dancing on the embankment.

Thanks Wayne.

 

[Topsy]

Week 52.

This week with changeable weather in charge and the festive season making its own constraints I opted for a close and short walk to Gt Mis Tor returning via Over Tor with my Fujifilm X-T2 kit, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Having parked at Four WInds Car Park the route to Great Mis Tor was easy.



Passing Little Mis Tor on the way.



Great Mis Tor.





Looking back towards Little Mis Tor under some very moody skies.



Little Mis Tor.



Over Tor.



Almost back at the Car Park, Great & Little Mis Tors under heavy cloud.



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

 

[Gav.]

Love the B&W

 

[skullfunkerry]

Absolutely beautiful Paul. It's not in this post but the panorama looking towards Church Rock is like the perfect encapsulation of Dartmoor, to me.

 

[Topsy]

Absolutely beautiful Paul. It's not in this post but the panorama looking towards Church Rock is like the perfect encapsulation of Dartmoor, to me.

Thanks Kerry, I take it you mean this one?



Church Rock is just up to the left of this shot following the Quad track out of the gully, in the distance are Roos, Great Staple and Middle Staple Tors.

 

[skullfunkerry]

Thanks Kerry, I take it you mean this one?

View attachment 471091

Church Rock is just up to the left of this shot following the Quad track out of the gully, in the distance are Roos, Great Staple and Middle Staple Tors.

Yep, that's the one. It brought back memories of playing on the moors with my friends in the summer: we used to just head up towards Hessary and then go and explore - although when I say explore, we were probably never more than a mile away from town

 

[Topsy]

Week 1 again.

Here we go again starting another year and another 52 challenge, the challenge being to get out on Dartmoor at least once a week and record my walk for my Blog over on ePHOTOzine; https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog

As always at this time of year other things have claims on one's time so once again I opted for a short drive to a local walk to maximise time on the ground, I took my Fujiflim GFX 50S kit up around Pew Tor, as always you can see the full story and photos in my Blog.

Pew Tor.



Windy Post on the way.



Feather Tor overlooking Great Staple Tor.



Heckwood Tor with Vixen Tor in the background.



Since I had the GFX I had to do some panoramas.





As always Ponies are welcome.



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

 

[Barney]

Great shots as usual Paul, I have two questions and two comments,

Whats that stone in the first shot with thew writing on and how did the hills get named "tors", is it peculiar to that area,
The chem trails in the fist shot are super for leading in the eye in the first B&W picture, the ponies are lovely arn't they, I would have waited until the top pony lifted its head, Low down head down, high up head up.

Have a great year up them Tors!

 

[Boots]

Great set as usual. Love the B&W ones!

 

[Topsy]

Great shots as usual Paul, I have two questions and two comments,

Whats that stone in the first shot with thew writing on and how did the hills get named "tors", is it peculiar to that area,
The chem trails in the fist shot are super for leading in the eye in the first B&W picture, the ponies are lovely arn't they, I would have waited until the top pony lifted its head, Low down head down, high up head up.

Have a great year up them Tors!

Thanks Wayne, that stone is a Boundary Stone used to mark boundaries between different Parishes, that particular one marks the boundary between Princetown Parish and Sampford Spiney Parish.

Tors is a common name on most moorlands for hills with rocky outcrops, think Mam Tor/Higger Tor in the Peak District (OOP North (although some on Dartmoor the rocks are hardly obvious)) as for how they got named Pew Tor, Feather Tor etc I have no idea.

I agree that the Pony shot would have been better with the one on top's head up but it wasn't being co-operative and to be honest by the time I was there I was already frozen through so I couldn't be bothered waiting. Also I had a last shot of Windy Post in mind and the sun was already getting too low to manage it. I'll use the excuse that I am really only documenting my walk with most of these shots with just one or two in mind as actual landscape shots.

BTW I too am originally from "OOP North", (Yorkshire) but have lived in the south for most of my adult life which has probably softened me to the proper cold.

 

[Topsy]

Great set as usual. Love the B&W ones!

Thanks Paul.