A grand tour of the listed tops of Dartmoor:- a second visit to the two Nuttall mountains of the region and thirteen new 500m+ Dewey tops, including two of the small group that top 600m.
A Dartmoor backpack had been on the radar for some time, our only previous visit being a day walk in 1995 for the two Nuttalls. A plot of all the tops on Memory-Map suggested a grandslam of the whole group totalling around 56 miles, an ambitious route for 3 days given the long drive there and back, but one that would take me through the wild and remote heartland and out to some of the distinctive tors for which Dartmoor is so renowned. It would have been more relaxed and comfortable over 4 days, but I had 3 and the forecast predicted fine dry weather in the south - the challenge was on.
The heartland of northern Dartmoor is a vast expanse of domed hills and sinuous valleys dotted with rocky tors, a landscape that can test navigation skills for the unfamiliar. On this backpack in clear and mainly sunny weather, I utilized my compass and scrutinized the map detail and contours extensively, far more than on any other trip for years.
The central region of the northern moor is also famed for its bogs, but the recent lack of significant rain was another enticement for this trip. I encountered only a handful of very brief boggy bits and most of those were not up on the high moor, in fact most of the moorland seemed parched - more of a soft crunch than a squelch.
14 Comments
Some amazing sights there Geoff. Quite a trip. Did you find the navigation difficult?
Phil,
The navigation wasn’t hard, I just needed to correlate the map and landscape more carefully than usual with frequent use of the compass. It was very similar to the early days on Bleaklow and Kinder where we originally learnt the skills. In mist the lack of distinctive features in some parts would have made it harder to verify my position as I went along.
Beautiful landscape there, Geoff. The weather also seemed to have been on your side, a great report! Did you meet Martin Rye, who also was last weekend in Dartmoor?!
Great trip report and photo’s Geoff, have only ever been on Dartmoor once before about 10 years ago when we went down to bag the two Nuttall’s down there. Never really saw much of it as it was so misty, think we might have to add this to our ‘Places to Visit’ list!
Gary
Hendrick,
Great weather and a dry Dartmoor - ideal!
No I didn’t meet Martin, I only discovered that he was going to Dartmoor when I returned home. I was there Wednesday to Friday, I think he set off on Friday night.
Gary,
Exactly like us: a single whirlwind visit for the two Nuttalls, but it was hot and sunny when we went (1995). It’s one of the largest wilderness areas we have, it definitely should be in a walker’s portfolio.
i arrived on Friday night. Great Links Tor is superb and must be visited sometime. Great photos Geoff. Very great actually. I am envies. The navigation there is all about paying attention to the contour lines and features. Defiantly sharpens the navigation skill walking there.
Martin,
I find it hard to capture the spaciousness in a photo, it has to be experienced. The landscape certainly made me pay attention to detail and contours, a good thing really and a satisfying result.
That certainly is a good long walk over 3 days Geoff. Has made me want to revisit the area again as it has been many years since my one and only visit. I had thought about it for this coming weekend but the thought of the M5 on a bank hol fills me with dread!
James,
The M6/M5 on a bank holiday sure is fearsome, but the hundreds of Ten Tors trainees on the moor on a bank holiday weekend just before the real event is much worse!.
Nice pics as per usual there Geoff.
That Grey Stones stone circle looks bloody good eh?
Never been down that part of the UK. You got me intrigued now as thanks to your report.
Cheers!
Terry,
The Grey Stones circles seem so strange because of their remoteness, little visited out there on a tussocky hillside in the middle of nowhere. Every backpacker should have at least one good trek down there.
By the way, I haven’t deserted your C2C trek postings, I’m following the day-to-day accounts and awaiting the remaining installments.
Hi. i Love your site.
I would like to know if i can ask the moderator, for permission, if I can let the users of the site, know about by back packing / ramblers hostel in Torquay for people wishing to walk Dartmoor.
Sincerely
Dave
Edit by Geoff:
Thanks for asking, but there are absolutely no commercial links on the blog or main website. People can still find the hostel by Googling with terms on this edited comment.
Re post #12. Well Dave, you seem to have let users of the site know now, though I’m not sure if I can envisage the “moderator” staying at your hostel. Perhaps I’m wrong?
Phil,
Definitely not wrong, hostelling never was our thing!.