Dartmoor is more than capable for setting challenges of all shapes and sizes but probably one of the more stranger of such took place over one hundred years ago. It involved a man, a vintage motorcycle and over fifteen miles of the moor’s rugged landscape. The man was Mr. J. …
Read More »Mythical Bottor Rock
Amongst other claims to fame the small rock pile called Bottor Rock is arguably the most eastern of Dartmoor tors. The small pile can be found just south-west of the tiny village of Hennock and stands at a height of 793 feet. If you read most of the topographical Dartmoor …
Read More »The Purple Harvest on Dartmoor.
“To where the Whortleberries lure I hie, Thinking of tasty whortleberry pie; A most delightful, delicacy it To set before the epicure is fit! The picker’s task, maybe, is tedious, Gathering the blue-black globules of the bush. Now once again is whortleberry time, Down westwards in our glorious summer …
Read More »‘Just William’ on Dartmoor
As a boy I loved the ‘Just William’ books which were written by Richmal Crompton, William was my hero, always into mischief but ever the lovable rogue. In many ways he somewhat reflected my childhood spending his days roaming his village and countryside on his various adventures and misadventures. …
Read More »The Well-Watered Land
Author – Jez Wilkinson Paperback – 192 pages. Publisher – Blackingstone Publishing Publication Date – 1st September 2016 ISBN-10 – 0995498601 ISBN-13 – 078-0995498600 Price – £12 Normally it takes me ages to finish a book as I find that reading is so soporific that I usually fall asleep after …
Read More »Near Miss at Princetown
It’s Tuesday the 19th of June 1933 and Dartmoor was enveloped in one of its infamous mists, the inhabitants of Princetown are going about their daily business with the odd day tripper viewing the notorious Dartmoor Prison. At about 1.00pm the sound of a distant approaching aircraft could be …
Read More »Palstone Cross – Rescued by the Monks
On the 1st of March 1950 the Western Morning News carried the following headline – “Ancient Devon cross found broken and buried beside farm gate.” and this was referring to the discovery of an important relic of Dartmoor’s history. As with many of the old stone crosses which once …
Read More »Done One From Dartmoor
“I will never try it again, I did not know what Dartmoor was like.” Princetown – February the 6th 1931 – It was a typical chilly February day at Princetown with the infamous Dartmoor mist rolling across the moor. The village was going about its daily business when suddenly the …
Read More »Did He Die or Disappear?
On the 26th of February 1909 the following appeared in many of the local newspapers; “The usually peaceful little town of Okehampton is just now greatly excited at the fact that Mr. Harford Green, a Hertfordshire gentleman, who had been staying there, has been missing for three days.” What they …
Read More »River Dart Claim’st a Heart
“Dart, Dart, cruel Dart, every year thou claim’st a heart.” The above famous saying dates way back into the realms of Dartmoor’s folklore and refers to the fact that over the centuries the River Dart has claimed many lives. There can be no question that at times the river can …
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