Visions for 2022

Leeden Tor just after sunset

Last March I wrote a blog post detailing my thoughts and intentions for 2021, which was certainly a year like no other, I think we can all agree. In that post I outlined several things that I wanted to achieve in that year and this will in part be a summary of how that went, as well as my visions for 2022.

My Remaining Tors

In that post, I first began by talking about my remaining tors, of which I had 25 left to visit. I am happy to say that almost a year later, in January 2022, I have just 9 left; and I am really hoping to finish this year. Tor bagging has been a long journey thus far and although there is a technical end in sight, there is also the thrill of revisiting 'some old friends'. Last Monday, as I write this, I revisited Roos Tor with Paul Rendell (Editor of the Dartmoor News magazine). It had been three years since my last visit and the tor was better than I remembered. It felt like a new tor almost and as is often the way on Dartmoor, the good old weather can make all the difference.

My remaining tors are, in alphabetical order: Fox Tor (Mary Tavy), High Tor, Hustler Tor, Kent's Tor, Kitt's Hole, Prescombe Rocks, Ravens' Tor (Lydford Gorge), Skit Crags, and Was Tor.

Dartmoor South to North: My Charity Fundraiser

North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team at Yes Tor Ford

Last year, I wrote that I wanted to complete the long distance walk known as Dartmoor North to South, which is basically walking from Okehampton to Ivybridge - about 33 miles or so - in a single day. The weather in summer was OK, but the walk never happened, and it was only in the New Year that I contemplated doing it as a charity fundraiser. Ever since my mum had that accident on the slope of Yes Tor in November 2019, I wanted to give something back. There is a supporters group, but it never really appealed to me (I'll be honest). Instead I wanted to raise some much-needed funds for North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team.

Like other search and rescue teams, North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team is comprised of volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, saving people's lives, be it a walker lost in the fog or someone who has had an accident on the moor. And it's not just North Dartmoor either, as the rescue team covers a great part of Mid and North Devon, extending too into North Cornwall. If a neighbouring search and rescue team also needs assistance, they will attend. Many of us would be lost without them.

I set up this JustGiving page which is still open should anyone wish to make a donation (thank you). I haven't decided when to complete the walk; as it will be for a day, I would rather wait for a nice day so that I can enjoy the route. I am walking South to North (like the former OATS Walk) as it's uphill!

My Book, East Dartmoor's Lesser-Known Tors and Rocks

Rooks Hole Tor

Yes, you heard me, a book! Ever since 2019 (and earlier than that, in fact), I have wanted to write a book about Dartmoor, but I hadn't satisfied myself with a particular subject within Dartmoor. There are so many books about Dartmoor and you think that everything has been covered, but I couldn't leave it as that. After several failed attempts at trying to write a book myself using Lulu or Solentro (failed because I had no motivation, not the websites), I took a step back and did some research, eventually concluding that the best way forward was to write a manuscript on Word. It was a slow burner, and between the summer of 2019 and winter of 2021 little progress had been made. But in December, just before Christmas, I had tested positive for COVID-19, and believe it or not this was the turning point.

I was fortunate enough to only have one mild symptom which meant that I was effectively able to carry out normal tasks within the home, but my 10-day isolation turned into 6 or 7 hour days just writing and writing on the computer. I was doing nearly 5000 words a day and had contented myself on the subject of East Dartmoor's Lesser-Known Tors and Rocks. Why, you may ask? Well, why would I waste valuable money and space talking about all 850+ named tors and significant rocks when the well-known (those named on OS Maps, of which there are over 160) have been described countless times before, and when that many locations in one book would not be economically viable? I was reminded of Eric Hemery's tremendous book 'High Dartmoor', published in 1983; a true masterpiece and considered a bible by many Dartmoor enthusiasts. But it has one problem - it's huge - and there's a reason it's not being reprinted anymore. It retailed for £50 which is just too steep for your average customer. I needed to be ruthless with my definition and so I conjured up 300 locations on East Dartmoor, which as you may know is a sentimental region to me and contains some magnificent rockpiles that are not noted on maps. That is my USP; to encourage people to explore areas alien to them and learn as they go along about the significance of this area. Maps can only show so much and yet there is a fantastic array of hidden tors in the woodland valleys that receive barely any press.

Each tor will be assigned a photograph (if it's public access or visible from public land), as well as a paragraph about it and additional information. I want to highlight this largely overlooked part of the National Park that deserves greater awareness.

I am indebted to the work of Tim Jenkinson and Paul Buck, whom alongside myself made the Tors of Dartmoor database, after which the book is largely inspired, so successful. By using this website I was able to easily refer to National Grid References and who first found or named each tor, accompanied by own research or twist, if you like. This book is not affiliated with the website, but I must give credit where it is due; it is an exceptional resource.

I won't reveal too much else, but this month I visited the printers and have made arrangements to start working on the initial design of the book, done in a professional way and not by some amateur (!) who hasn't got a clue what he's doing. I am in the proofreading stage going over accounts, asking people for their opinions on the snippets that I give them, and just getting a feel for what the finished product will look like. I am not rushing, there is no need to; this book is a labour of love and requires patience to obtain the best result. I hope that readers of this blog will consider purchasing it once it's been published!

Tors of Dartmoor

Tors of Dartmoor

As I've touched on already, the Tors of Dartmoor database has been a lifesaver for me, an example that hard work pays off. Both Tim and Paul have once again demonstrated passion for the project and assisted me in explorations in search of new tors, as has Paul Rendell in some cases. The ToD Team didn't manage to get out as much as we perhaps would have liked to in 2021, but 2022 should hopefully be different. In March 2021, we listed 862 locations for tors and rocks, but now, it is up to 886. New features installed by webmaster Paul include: searching by tor classification (i.e. if you want to visit all of the summit tors); searching by Ordnance Survey marked tors; searching by tors which do not appear on OS Maps (lesser-known tors); or searching for all public access tors.

I have actively been plugging away with the Tors of Dartmoor Facebook page, introducing a 'Tor of the Day' post where at 9am, you will see a link to a tor or notable rock. This is to generate interest and engagement, especially for those who are keen to learn more about lesser-known tors (LKTs).

Dartefacts

Dartefacts Home Page

In March 2021, the Dartefacts website contained 13066 items, but it has since grown further to 16152 items. The website records all of Dartmoor's artefacts, although how many there are is up for debate like anything! The concept was coined by Rob Naylor who owns the website and Peter and Karin Brooks and myself are contributors; and I will admit, I certainly upload my fair share! I often add Registered Users' finds and sometimes data to the site and it is always a thrill to see the website continue to expand. It is both educational and fun and brings together and celebrates everything that is important about Dartmoor.

In September 2021, I was lucky enough to meet up with Rob for a benchmarking walk on Penn Moor, on the South Moor; boy I didn't know what I was getting into! I love benchmark hunting, it's a real passion of mine, but I never thought I'd find someone more enthusiastic than myself. I rarely focus too long if I can't find a benchmark, but Rob is the opposite; he will be determined to search every single rock on the horizon! It was a good walk and we had a very successful haul at the end of it. I look forward to doing more walks with Rob and hopefully Peter and Karin too someday with their dog Meg.

Rob has found a benchmark

Bodmin Moor

"It has been the best part of a year since I last walked on Bodmin Moor with Sheron Vowden, but because this moorland is not local to me I doubt I will be walking there until the end of 2021. We can only be optimistic." Yeah, that didn't quite go to plan - I still haven't been back! But not all is lost: Sheron and I, along with some other friends who completed the Perambulation with us, have booked a date in February to get back to Bodmin Moor. I miss it dearly and it is a stunning landscape once you find your way around the fences and gates.

Dartmoor News

Dartmoor News Magazines throughout the years

Dartmoor News is a bi-monthly magazine that is full of interesting news items about Dartmoor, including articles written by experts and amateurs alike; it features articles about boundary stones, wild flowers, lesser-known tors, police stations and much more. It is an excellent little magazine that Paul has put a stupendous amount of effort into creating. It is produced by Dartprint Ltd in Tavistock who format the layout and do a splendid job.

I continue to write in the magazine about different subjects but, as one would expect, primarily tors! I would highly recommend that you subscribe if you haven't already; for just £30, you will have the magazine delivered to your door every two months for a year, plus, if you order at the time of me writing this, a free Dartmoor News calendar (worth £7) too! Visit Dartmoor News.

Youth Rangers

Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) runs their Junior and Youth Ranger programmes to engage young people with the fabulous Dartmoor landscape, its culture and its history. The goal is to familiarise people with Dartmoor and for them to gain respect by carrying out tasks to improve it, such as dry stone walling, clearing paths, woodland management, etc. To my embarrassment, it never clicked with me until I read an article in the Dartmoor News, and despite being at the upper end of the age range at 19, are nonetheless taking part in as many activities as possible. You get to meet new people, learn new skills and share a rewarding outcome. It's humbling to see the results at the end and to give something back. I mean, I am up here regularly after all!

Summary

There is certainly more that I could have mentioned in this post, but I think I've just about covered all of the major aspects. I, for one, am excited for what 2022 will bring. I am optimistic that I will get back to Bodmin Moor. It's been too long, there so much to see. I am very excited about the book, naturally, whilst also a little frightened at the same time. Everyone has an opinion and many books have already been written about tors. I am confident, however, that my effort (which acknowledges many others) will be well received as it describes East Dartmoor, an ill-described part of the National Park, with lots for people to discover. I also hope that I will conclude my tor bagging journey and celebrate with cake or even a banana! I know that people have already visited all of the tors listed on the Tors of Dartmoor database, but I'm probably the youngest to attempt the challenge, and it's not a popular club just yet because of what it demands.

What I didn't mention was Dartmoor 365, a book written by John Hayward and first published in 1991, which divides the National Park into 365 square miles (which it was at the time; it is now 368). I am close to finishing visiting all of the locations so 2022 should also mark the end of that journey, and there are many 1044 squares remaining to keep me busy.

There's plenty left to see on Dartmoor and long may that continue!