A day out on Dartmoor

Dartmoor is a place where the beauty of nature can be seen in all its glory. With its rolling hills, rocky outcrops, pristine forests, and ancient woodlands. It’s easy to see why it has been dubbed “the last great wilderness of England.” A day spent on Dartmoor is a day well spent.

Dartmoor National Park is a large, wild area of moorland in Devon, South West England. It covers 954 km² (368 sq mi) and is the largest open space in the southwest peninsula. The moor contains lofty granite tors – rocky hills or mini mountains formed by the weathering of granite and exposed granite cliffs. The highest point on Dartmoor is High Willhays, at 621 metres (2,037 ft) above sea level.

I took Izzy, my 10-year-old daughter, up to explore a couple of the better-known granite tors – Haytor and Hound Tor. After clambering over the rocks, we checked out Jay’s Grave and then headed to one of the many attractive Dartmoor towns and villages in the centre of Dartmoor national park, Widecombe-in-the-moor, where I enjoyed a cider shandy in one of the smallest pubs in England.

We drove up the windy B3387 from Bovey Tracy onto Dartmoor. On the way, we passed many carefree sheep on the road. They were variously ambling, sunning themselves or with their heads firmly into the banks rooting out the tastiest of the lush greenery. Hats off to the cyclists who negotiate these roads and seemed to be making light work powering up some often very steep roads.

As we rounded a bend, we caught our first reasonably close-up view of Haytor