Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor

After the conference finished on the Saturday, we made our way to Devon and Dartmoor. After buying some maps from the information centre (from a chatty little Devonshire man who regularly visited Bondi), we drove up to the high moor. We didn't think that it was as spectacular as the high moors of Durham and Yorkshire, where we had spent much time during 1997 and more recently in 2004. However, there was still plenty of wonderful scenery, and the last of the heather was blooming and adding to the effect.

Above: Dartmoor Below: Bodmin Moor

Dartmoor is covered with natural stony outcrops (some very large) known as tors, and many of these were weathered into most interesting shapes. There was lots of driving through narrow lanes with high hedgerows towering over the car. This photo gives some idea of the conditions.

The moor is also home to wild ponies, who roam over it in small herds. They are a very small (and hardy) breed, and while they are quite friendly with people, there are signs everywhere stating ‘Do Not Feed the Horses’. We also drove past the famous Dartmoor prison, on our way to our B & B, a dairy farm in Cornwall.

We spent the next morning in Cornwall exploring Bodwin Moor, as it had a number of stone circles and ancient monuments. We visited 3 stone circles in a row known as The Hurlers, as well as Trethevy Quoit (known as a kist, this was probably a tomb) and some carved monuments known as King Doniert’s Stones and Long Tom.

Above and below: The Hurlers, three stone circles adjacent to one another





Above: Trethevy Quoit Below: King Doniert's Stone