72 DigitalSLR PhotographyJanuary 2020
1) Widecombe Church looks photogenic in its rural setting.
2) Houndtor is a great place to visit after a dusting of snow.
3) Arms Tor has superb far reaching views stretching for miles
and miles. 4) Bowerman’s Nose is one of the most popular,
recognisableandphotogenicoutcropsonthemoors.theriverfringes– a goodspotto
photographonanovercastday.Meanwhile,
BratTor– a shortdriveaway,foundonthe
A 386 towardsTavistock – isalsoworth
visiting.Thereis parkingclosetotheFox
andHounds pubandthe torininstantly
recognisable thanks tothelargegranite
crossthat sits uponits summit –knownas
theWidgeryCross.Thewalkis steepin
places,but onceyouhaveclimbedtothe
top,considerexploringnearby Hare Tor,
ArmsTorandDoeTortoo.
EastDartmoor
Movingeast,wediscoversomeofthemoors
best-lovedtors–HaytorRocks,Houndtor,
SaddleTorandBowerman’sNose.Theyare
allgroupedfairlyclosetogether,a short
distancefromtheB33 8 7 thatleadsfrom
BoveyTraceytoWidecombe-in-the-Moor.
Haytoris a popular touristhotspotandbest
avoidedduringholidays.Houndtoris
arguably morephotogenic.Thereis carpark
withina ten-minutewalkofthetorandthe
climbis gentle, makingthis aneasily
accessiblelocationformostphotgraphers.
Itis a relativelylargetorwithsomeshapely
rocks andstacks toweaveintoyour
compositions.Itis worthvisitingearly
morning– notonlydoesthelight promiseto
bebetter,buttherewillbefewervisitors.
A shorthopfromhereis Bowerman’s Nose
- oneof Dartmoor’smostdistinctiveand
photogenic outcrops.Thereislimitedparking
along the minor road that runs from Houndtor
to LangstoneCrossin Manaton,buttheroad
is narrowandroughin places.Instead, walk
fromHoundtorcarpark.Locallegendis that
witchesturnedalocalhuntsmancalled
Bowermanintostoneafterhedisrupted
them.This reallyis a superbspotandworks
particularly wellin autumn,whenthebracken
is golden.Warm,eveninglightkissingthe
largerockstackhelpsproducegreatshots.
In the spring,Holwelllawn– near
Houndtor–is carpetedwithbluebells,
floweringin theopen,ratherthanwithin
woodland.AndclosebyisEmsworthy.
Again this areais awashwithbluebellsin
spring. Drystonewallsandtheruinsof a
moorlandfarm,witha distinctiveredtinroof,
addinterestto images.Lonehawthorntrees
aredottedabout,creatingstrongfocalpoints.
Avoidtheinevitable crowdsin springby
visitinghereearly orlatein theday,whenthe
lightis alsomoreattractive.Emsworthy mire
is greatforinsects,includingraremarsh
fritillary butterflies. Meanwhile listenforcuckoosandbemindfulof adders.
NearDrewsteigntonisCastleDrogoand
FingleBridge – a woodedvalleywitha 17 th
CenturystonebridgearchingovertheRiver
Teign. Thisis a lovelyspotto explore.Lookfor
suitable viewpointsas youwalkalongthe
footpaththatrunsnextto theriver.Visitona
cloudyday,asdiffusedlowcontrastlight suits
woodlandphotography, andusea polarising
filterto addsaturationandpunchto your
shots.Anexposureof arounda halfa second
to twosecondslongwillproducea nicelevel
ofmotionblur.Thestretchofriverfrom
Newbridge, nearPondsgate,is alsoworth
investigating.Walkalongthe rivertoBuckland
Bridge– another picturesquestonebridge,
worthyofa photoortwo.Andin autumnyou
may alsofind curious and delicatefungi to12 3