“Beyond, like the hogged back of a brown bear, Wigford Down rolled over the gorges of Dewerstone, and further yet, retreated fields and forests, great uplifted plains, and sudden elevations that glimmered along their crests with the tender green of distant larch and beech.” Eden Phillpotts – The Three Brothers, …
Read More »Dartmoor’s Highest Waterfall
I think when anybody visits an area they always like to see the highest, longest, shortest, deepest or oldest features that are on offer. In this light, the longest waterfall in Devon is the White Lady falls which can be found at the southern end of Lydford Gorge. The …
Read More »Dartmoor’s Puggie Stone
“As we continue the road uphill we shall see the Puggie, Puckie, or Pixy Stone, in a field on the. right-hand side ; a big granite rock, mossy and overgrown ; on the top is a rock basin, but there is no possibility of getting up to it without …
Read More »Dartmoor 1867
Dartmoor 1867 – it could well be the name of a strong beer but in this case it is the story of one man’s expedition over Dartmoor in 1867. It is a delightful article which was published in the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette on the 10th of January, 1867. …
Read More »Dartmoor’s Lost Village of Oxhead
Look on any map of Dartmoor for the village of Oxhead, sometimes reported as Oxtend, and you will find no mention of it. However since the early 1900s it did exist on the northern part of Dartmoor and although many people actually saw it no trace of its inhabitants …
Read More »Hanging Out at the Highwayman
Higher Blackabroom – Day 1. We had decided to take a weekend break on Dartmoor and return to our favourite holiday cottage at Higher Blackabroom. Over the past few years we have stayed there on several occasions as it is secluded, peaceful, comfortable and (for the girls) a good WiFi …
Read More »Death on the River Walkham
“Walla (river Walkham) already began to wake, to rise, and murmur with great rain messages from the midmost Moor. Anon her volume came down and her valleys echoed with huge riot. The river lifted a sound as of myriads that made mighty exodus to the bellow of trumpets and …
Read More »Fox Tor Farm
“In nettles, stereobate; deep, stands Fox Tor Farm, and the plant—sure and faithful follower of man— is significant upon this sequestered fastness : for hither it came with those who toiled to reclaim the region in the past, and no other nettles shall be found for miles. Other evidences …
Read More »The Saviour Rock
During the late March of 2017 there was a great deal of excitement on Dartmoor which brought locals and pilgrims from afar out to the remote Great Staple Tor on Dartmoor. All were trying to find ‘The Saviour’s Rock’ which had caused something of a mini media storm. The story …
Read More »Princep’s Folly
Back in 1905 William Crossing first published his work – ‘Gems in a Granite Setting‘ and in this he notes that on Gidleigh tor a house was built and the ruins were still visible. He also suggests that locally it was said that the house was never finished. However …
Read More »