Dartmoor – hunting the megaliths

Part of the attraction of Dartmoor is the sense that time has stood still here for centuries. There are few official footpaths, any settlements were inhabited centuries ago and the hills have a permanence that has and will outlast the surrounding Devon countryside. South Dartmoor is possibly more picturesque than the north, less moody and softer than the ruggedness elsewhere in the park. To access south Dartmoor, it is best to park up in one of the small villages on the edge. I start my trek in Harford, near Ivybridge. After a short descent, you arrive on the Two Moors Way, one of the park's long distance footpaths. Rare for Dartmoor, it is an actual track road. Given how few proper footpaths there are here, it is worth enjoying while you can. After elevating to 461m on Ugborough Moor, you get good views of Plymouth and towards the Devon coast. The disused mine tram line curves deeper into Dartmoor proper.

The Moors Way is fairly easy going and having been injured for most of this year, it was a nice gentle warm up for my knee. But I turned in a north westerly direction towards Red Lake and Erme Pits hill, where there was once a mine. Once you reach the hill beyond, you get good views to the north and Higher Hartor Tor and Princetown in the far distance. I now started to test the knee, heading south then west below Langcombe hill. Eventually you get a sight of the old settlements and as you get closer, the Drizzlecombe stones. The megaliths are lined up over the space of 500 metres or so. There are several other cairns, stone rows and menhirs (standing stones) dotted around. The purpose of these is debated by historians: possible territorial markers; sacrificial altars; calendar tools or ideological symbols. Dartmoor has plenty of megaliths, stone circles and assorted archaeological points, that have all outlived the man made life on its edges. It is one of England's finest locations for unblemished ancient archaeology.

The route back to Harford needs plenty of cross country navigation. You head south west up a long gully, beside a stream to Shavercombe Head. After crossing Stall Moor and Harford Moor you can walk below the Two Moors way or stay lower and follow very bare trails through bracken and clumpy grass. This is bit harder work, but more authentic than the man made track above.

Peak Practice!

Been a quiet winter on the trekking front with the move to the south coast. The only outdoor options there are the south downs, B&Q or the beach. Not real wilderness. So despite knee and hip injuries, we headed to the Peak District for a three day trek. Starting off at the usual spot in Hope, we did the first slog up besides Win Hill, with rucksacks fully loaded. From there you head north and follow forest trails above Ladybower reservoir. At 400 metres plus there was still snow and the view out towards Kinder and Bleaklow was quite awesome and feeling more like Scandinavia than UK. The plan was to stay slightly lower and in the forests. There was a lot of passing sleet but the odd glimpse of spring sun.

After heading further north besides Derwent and Howden reservoirs, we found a great camp spot. Just below Ridgewalk Moor and by a river with good tree shelter.

The following morning we carried on a track above the camping spot and then followed a horseshoe round below the moor. We found a couple of shelters, worth remembering for future. Then we arrived back at the reservoirs. Having walked in the rain for a few hours, we were glad to get back to Hagg Side where we pitched. This large forest still had cloud lingering from the rain. There were great views of Lose Hill, the Edale Valley and Woodlands Valley which Snake Road or more simply the A57 follows. As the rain clouds cleared, we also had a sunset.

Just warming up...