Devon wasn’t my original
home; my irst walking
experiences were on the
Malvern Hills in landlocked
Worcestershire, but, thanks to
a job move for my husband, for
the past 20 years I have lived
right on the Devon coast in
Torquay. With a young family,
moving to the seaside was
perfect for us, and with all the
beaches and coast walks, we
felt like we were on holiday for
the irst six months.
As the children grew, I
became more involved with
volunteering in the outdoors,
irst as a Scout leader and later
as a leader for Dartmoor’s Ten
Tors Challenge and the Duke
of Edinburgh’s Award. My
irst backpacking experiences
on Dartmoor were all in the
winter as part of Ten Tors
training but these days I
explore the moor across the
seasons, often leaving my tent
at home in favour of my bivvy
bag or hammock.
I didn’t have to live here
long before I realised, despite
our relative lack of snow, how
exciting the changes of season
could be. Dartmoor can be
a challenging environment
in the colder months, with
water levels rising quickly
after rain and mists appearing
almost from nowhere. My
navigation training has kept
me out of trouble on personal
walks more than a few times
but I enjoy walking in almost
all weathers except when it’s
particularly hot. But where
better to walk during a heat
wave than along a coast path
that offers sea swimming
delights and impromptu
encounters with marine
wildlife?
Whatever the season,
Dartmoor remains my
favourite place to walk. I love
the wildness of Dartmoor’s
north moor but, when I need
a quick walking ix, I often ind
myself on the tamer slopes ofEast Dartmoor. Haytor is one
of Dartmoor’s most popular
tourist destinations and often
disregarded as too busy by
more serious walkers but the
tor itself is stunning and there
are plenty of shorter walks
around the area that can take
you, almost immediately, away
from the crowds and into some
fantastic scenery.
I write the walking blog
Two Blondes Walking with
my friend Lucy Atkins and we
often ind ourselves escaping
on winter evenings to walk
up to a favourite spot, watch
the sunset while we put the
world to rights, and then
practice our night nav as we
head back to the car in the
dark. If you have the navigation
skills, exploring Dartmoor at
night is an experience I would
recommend because it makes
you notice the smallest detail
and appreciate little clues such
as dips in the ground and even
wind direction.DARTMOORFi Darby lives in Torquay
on the Devon coast
Fi Darby blogs at http://www.twoblondeswalking.comMY REGULAR WALK
Top Tor, Pil Tor & Rippon Tor
MAP: OS 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 191
My most regular Dartmoor walk takes me on a
short East Dartmoor circuit from Hemsworthy
Gate. We usually do this one after work so it is only
4km and includes Top Tor, Pil Tor and Rippon Tor.
We have a favourite place to stop and watch the
sunset and frequently ind ourselves doing most
of the walk in the dark. The steepness of the uphill
sections on this one depends on which way round
you walk it, so we generally make a decision based
on how busy our days have been.
TOP RECOMMENDATION
Hamel Down and Grimspound
from Widecombe
MAP: OS 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 191
Widecombe is a great place to start and end a walk
because it has plenty of parking and a pub with
open ires. It’s a pull up the hill from Widecombe
onto Hamel Down but, once you are up there, you
can enjoy far-reaching views and, at the end of
the ridge, explore the Bronze Age settlement at
Grimspound. The return leg via Natsworthy can be
extended to include the famous Hound Tor as well
as Bonehill Rocks but can just as easily turn into a
gentle meander down a rather lovely Devon lane.Hay Tor at night
Photo: Oscar Fiske/Shutterstock
Spring 2019 The Great Outdoors 35