Topsy's Dartmoor Rambles

[billy nomates]

Week 14.

This week with no live firing on Willsworthy Ranges I decided to go back in to get those 2 Tors that evaded me last time I tried, Sharp Tor and Chat Tor. The weather was a bit unpredictable so I just packed my Fuji X-T2s. A change in plam on the ground meant I changed my route to include Brat Tor instead od Doe Tor, as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

My main priority were Sharp Tor and Chat Tor.

Sharp Tor.

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From Sharp Tor there is a good view (weather permitting) of Hare Tor.

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Chat Tor with Lower and Higher Dunnagoats in the distance.

View attachment 419441

River Lyd running high and the reason for the change in plan.

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New first stop, Brat Tor and Widgery Cross.

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That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

Are there three different Sharp Tors?

 

[Jannyfox]

Are there three different Sharp Tors?

6 according to Hemery. The tor namers weren't very imaginative, like the mountain namers in Scotland. If the description fits.....

 

[Topsy]

Are there three different Sharp Tors?

Yes, as far as I know personally. One is the one in my post on Willsworthy Range, another is over towards Dartmeet beside Yar and Corndon Tors the other is over by Piles Copse in the Ugborough area. I have been to them all in my Dartmoor Rambles.

6 according to Hemery. The tor namers weren't very imaginative, like the mountain namers in Scotland. If the description fits.....

I have no idea where the other 3 might be but am interested.

 

[Jannyfox]

Yes, as far as I know personally. One is the one in my post on Willsworthy Range, another is over towards Dartmeet beside Yar and Corndon Tors the other is over by Piles Copse in the Ugborough area. I have been to them all in my Dartmoor Rambles.

I have no idea where the other 3 might be but am interested.

Those were the same 3 that immediately sprang to mind for me. I need to look the others up when I have time

 

[sirch]

I really like the Sharp Tor composition and it's great to see projects like this progressing

 

[Topsy]

I really like the Sharp Tor composition and it's great to see projects like this progressing

Thanks Chris.

 

[Topsy]

I just did a search on https://www.torsofdartmoor.co.uk/results_tors.php?tor_name=sharp+tor and found seven, not all are marked on the OS Map and some are called other things on the OS Map.

Sharp Tor (Castle Drogo) SX 7286 8986

Sharp Tor (Chinkwell) SX 7282 7807

Sharp Tor (Harford Moor) SX 6489 6172

Sharp Tor (Lydford) SX 5501 8485

Sharp Tor (Peter Tavy) SX 5248 7704

Sharp Tor (Tavy Cleave) SX 5540 8332

Sharp Tor (Yar Tor Down) SX 6865 7296

 

[Nod]

There are 2 River Darts in Devon too! One joins the Exe at Bickleigh about 400m below Bickleigh Bridge and the other is rather better known.

 

[Jannyfox]

I just did a search on https://www.torsofdartmoor.co.uk/results_tors.php?tor_name=sharp+tor and found seven, not all are marked on the OS Map and some are called other things on the OS Map.

Sharp Tor (Castle Drogo) SX 7286 8986

Sharp Tor (Chinkwell) SX 7282 7807

Sharp Tor (Harford Moor) SX 6489 6172

Sharp Tor (Lydford) SX 5501 8485

Sharp Tor (Peter Tavy) SX 5248 7704

Sharp Tor (Tavy Cleave) SX 5540 8332

Sharp Tor (Yar Tor Down) SX 6865 7296

You know I've just had to go and check them all out, don't you? Apart from the ones we're all familiar with the others are either called something else or not marked by OS but I do know them. Except the Castle Drogo one which is named but I don't know it 'cos I've never been there

 

[Topsy]

You know I've just had to go and check them all out, don't you? Apart from the ones we're all familiar with the others are either called something else or not marked by OS but I do know them. Except the Castle Drogo one which is named but I don't know it 'cos I've never been there

Me too and I've been to them all except Castle Drogo.

 

[Jannyfox]

There are 2 River Darts in Devon too! One joins the Exe at Bickleigh about 400m below Bickleigh Bridge and the other is rather better known.

I found out places names are not unique at all when as a young child I moved house to a different county........ then found my new school was in the next village just down the road, that had the same name as the village just down the road from the place we'd left.............. Confused, I was

 

[Topsy]

Week 15.

This week with reasonable weather I decided to go back to the Birch Tor area to get those Tors that eluded me last month due to bad visibility so my priority for this walk was Shapley and Hookney Tors plus Chaw Gulley. I parked at Bennet's Cross Car Park again so my route took me up Birch Tor and along the Two Moors Way, as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

First stop was Birch Tor, you can just make out The Warren House Inn (the white spec in the distance).



I then headed along the Two Moors Way to Shapley Tor.



Then over to Hookney Tor.



On the way back I went through Chaw Gulley.



There is a Lone Tree at either end.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Jannyfox]

How long till you finish this project and we can have some decent weather again? You seem to have put a hex on it

It's a lovely area - lots of interesting things

 

[Topsy]

It's only Tuesdays when I go out that the weather is bad............

 

[Nod]

Used to have lunch at the Warren House Inn relatively often, until they tried charging £2.50 for a pint of orange squash... Never again!

Looking forward to getting up on the moor on the bike a bit more this year - weather permitting (so probably not Tuesdays!!!)

 

[Topsy]

Used to have lunch at the Warren House Inn relatively often, until they tried charging £2.50 for a pint of orange squash... Never again!

Looking forward to getting up on the moor on the bike a bit more this year - weather permitting (so probably not Tuesdays!!!)

Ping me when you're out on your bike, I may be able to meet up.

 

[Nod]

Will do. I tend to stick to the Eastern side of the Moor but am happy to travel further into the wilds! Usual route is from Moretonhampstead to Two Bridges/Princetown then down past Huccabexworthy (!) to Buckfastleigh or Ashburton via Combestone Tor and Venford Reservoir.

 

[Topsy]

Will do. I tend to stick to the Eastern side of the Moor but am happy to travel further into the wilds! Usual route is from Moretonhampstead to Two Bridges/Princetown then down past Huccabexworthy (!) to Buckfastleigh or Ashburton via Combestone Tor and Venford Reservoir.

Moretonhampstead seems to be half way between us so would probably make a good meet up point. I'm really only tied up Tuesdays and Thursdays most weeks. Once the weather has stabilised we ought to make a plan.

 

[Nod]

Or the caff in Princetown, or Mr Jolly's in Bovey.

Time and place TBC!!!

 

[Topsy]

As you say TBC, however, Princetown is only 7.5 miles from me by the longest route my bike wouldn't be warmed up by then. Never been to Mr Jolly's in Bovey, come to think of it I don't recall ever going to Bovey.

 

[Topsy]

As you say TBC, however, Princetown is only 7.5 miles from me by the longest route my bike wouldn't be warmed up by then. Never been to Mr Jolly's in Bovey, come to think of it I don't recall ever going to Bovey.

Doh yes I have to DNPA at Parke not far from Jo;lly's.

 

[Nod]

There's also Ullacombe Farm's café a mile or 2 down from HayTor towards Bovey.

 

[Topsy]

There's also Ullacombe Farm's café a mile or 2 down from HayTor towards Bovey.

I kinda like the idea of Jolly's now I've go*^*ed it.

 

[Nod]

Some of the bikes are pretty cool (and some are all but unrideable - like the friction drive Shovelhead with the motor etc. in backwards!)

 

[Topsy]

Week 16.

More changeable weather this week with the best of it around the Widecombe area so that's where I went. I first went to Bonehill Rocks and walked the ridgeline to Honeybag Tor then went around to Hemsworthy Gate to go up Top Tor to shoot across to Rippon Tor, Saddle Tor and Haytor Rocks, as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Bonehill Rocks.



Hound Tor from Bell Tor.



Honeybag Tor.



Bell Tor on the way back.



Rippon Tor from Top Tor.



My favourite from the day, Rippon Tor, Saddle Tor and Haytor Rocks from Top Tor.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 17.

This week I decided to go out over to Down Tor Stone Row with my Bronica SQ-Ai loaded with Portra 160 plus my Leica M9s, as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

Down Tor Stone Row (Bronica).





On the way to Down Tor is Snapper's Tor.

Bronica.



Leica.



I did also go ovet to Combshead Tor to finish the film.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 18.

This week Tuesday was rained off, now I'm not afraid to go out in the rain but there'd have been no photos from my Photowalk so I went on Wwednesday instead but I didn't have as much time as usual so I stayed close to home. I decided to go around Sharpitor to Peek Hill and Lowrey Tor then back via Leather Tor to Sharpitor. I took my Fujifilm GFX 50S, as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

The view from Little Sharpitor ove Swelltor Quarry & Kings Tor out to Gt * Middle Stape Tors.



Leather Tor from the lower slope of Peek Hill.



Burrator Reservoir and Sheeps Tor with Lowrey Tor in the foreground.



The Top of Sharpitor.





I did do some Panos as I always do with the GFX but they are in the Panorama Thread. https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/lets-see-your-panoramas.707491/

That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 19.

A film shoot this week with my Bronica SQ-Ai loaded with Kodak Ektar 100 up on Shelstone Tor above the West Okement Valley. I did also take my Fuji X-T2 for some digital shots, as usual you can see the full story and photos in my Blog over on ePHOTOzine. https://www.ephotozine.com//user/topsyrm-149719/blog

The Bronica setup (X-T2).



The Shot.



On top of Shelstone Tor.





West Okement Valley.



Looking Back towards Shelstone Tor (X-T2).



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 20.

This week was another film Photowalk this time to Legis & Gutter Tors unfortunately this time I don't have the scans back but as normal I shot duplicates on my Fuji X-T2s to use in my Blog which as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Legis Tor.



The Bronica Setup for a shot of Ditsworthy Warren House on the 250mm.



The shot (or at least a digital one taken at the same time).



Gutter Tor.





There was also a Lone Tree so I had to............



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

I finally got my film scans back from last week, overall I'm dissapointed, the Bronica was having issues locking up so I lost 4 frames sorting it out. Then after changing Batteries I thought I was ok but the exposures were all over the place (not my metering BTW). I had 8 frames altogether that were salvegeable but 3 of those were badlyunder exposed (Ektar isn't good with underexposure), I think what was happening intermittently the Bronica was defaulting to 1/250thy when I needed 1/30th but I can't tell with the shutter noise between those 2.

Anyway I did salvage some, here they are.

Correctly Exposed.



Correctly Exposed.



Underexposed.



Underexposed.



Underexposed.



Correctly Exposed.



Correctly Exposed.



Correctly Exposed.

 

[Topsy]

Week 21.

This week I had a short window between rain in the morning and Thunderstorms in the afternoon so I decided to stay close to home and do a short walk to get out and back dry (hopefully). I decided to go over to Black Tor just outside of Princetown and go down to Black Tor Falls on the River Meavy. I did think I might also go up to Hart Tor but the Thunderstorms put paid to that idea. I took my Fuji GFX 50S plus an X-T2, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Black Tor Logan Stone.



Black Tor.



The River Meavy Valley.



Black Tor Falls.



Stormy Weather where I had just been shot from Peek Hill on the way home.



That evening skies after the storms had passed through.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 22.

This week I took my Bronica SQ-B out loaded with Kodak Ektar 100 to get some shots of Vixen Tor via Cox, Roos and the Staples, I also took mt Fuji X-T2 to get some additional digital shots,as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Vixen Tor (Bronica).




Roos Tor (Bronica).



Gt Staple Tor (Bronica).



Lone Tree on Heckwood Tor (Fuji).



Dartmoor Ponies (Fuji).



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Topsy]

Week 23.

This week I decided to go up to Rowtor and East Mill Tor on the North Moor with the Fuji GFX 50S to get some Panoramas in that 65x24 aspect ratio that the GFX system has, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

East Mill Tor Panoramas.



I passed the old Military Tank Range on the way to Rowtor, the old railway system is now just an artifact of the Military Training on Dartmoor.



Rowtor.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Jannyfox]

I was hoping to get to that area next week. First time on the moor since the op on my leg. When is the only day I'm free to go? Thursday. When is it forecast to pee down? Yep, Thursday. I'm really not liking the weather so far this year

 

[Topsy]

I was hoping to get to that area next week. First time on the moor since the op on my leg. When is the only day I'm free to go? Thursday. When is it forecast to pee down? Yep, Thursday. I'm really not liking the weather so far this year

I hear you....... I've lost count of the thunderstorms I've had to run away from this year.

 

[Topsy]

Week 24.

This week I took my Bronica SQ-B out to Black Tor near Okehampton loaded with Kodak Portra 160 to shoot the 3 main Stacks that make up the Tor. I did as normal take my Fuji X-T2 along for some extra shots to document the walk, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Black Tor (Fuji).



Film Shots.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Jannyfox]

Needless to say I didn't get there last week. Tuesday's looking good, and not too warm

 

[Topsy]

Week 25.

This week I went out to East Dart Falls, I took my Leica M9s and Bronica SQ-B (with a 6x4.5 back) loaded with Fuji Provia 100F. I used the M9s to document the walk out and the Bronica for the main shots of the falls etc, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.

Broadrun Rocks South on the way out.





The Bronica setup at the Falls.



A couple of the film shots of the Falls.



That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.

 

[Jannyfox]

Lovely. I used to go there a lot when I had a local base and could get out for short walks but now I'm further away and do all day walks I don't really go there. I can however recommend the walk up to Whitehorse Hill and back down the river. Was out myself on Tuesday from Row Tor. Now it's too hot for a bit. I don't do heat

 

[Topsy]

Lovely. I used to go there a lot when I had a local base and could get out for short walks but now I'm further away and do all day walks I don't really go there. I can however recommend the walk up to Whitehorse Hill and back down the river. Was out myself on Tuesday from Row Tor. Now it's too hot for a bit. I don't do heat

I've had East Dart Falls on my list for ages having never been before. TBH I understand why it is so popular but photographically there isn't that much scope. I was hoping to get more from the walk than I did, I was going to go back along the other side of the river and take in Hartland Tor but by the time I had faffed around finding shots of the falls with the Bronica I didn't have either the time or enthusiasm.