Perfect walk

Dartmoor is a beautiful place to walk. The sense of space is breathtaking. The liberating feeling of being able to walk miles and miles across a wild open terrain in the company of gently grazing animals, singing birds, croaking ravens and teems of wildlife with breathtaking moorland views all around, draws me back time and time again.

Dartmoor is a very special place. Natural and wild, steeped in history with a living, working community, visitors and walkers who bring life to this otherwise bleak and lonely landscape.  There is always somewhere to cool down with a drink or heat up in front of the fire, if you plan your visit that way, and every walk will provide a unique experience.

Moorland Views

With 368 square miles of outstanding moorland landscape with its rough grazing land, wooded river valleys, striking granite tors and historical finds, there is something for everyone on Dartmoor. There are also lots of events organised by throughout the year to make your visit all the more worthwhile.

I am blessed to live in a town known as a 'Gateway to the Moor' on the south eastern edge of Dartmoor. The term speaks of the mystery of the moor, the wild terrain, inclement weather, ghost stories, folklore and old traditions. Arriving on the moor is like entering a different world. Whether it's for a long hike or a short, invigorating walk to blow away the cobwebs, walking on Dartmoor is always worthwhile.

Pathways & Animal Tracks

Dartmoor is somewhere you can go for a quick escape, finding a considerate (and allowed) parking space and just walking in any direction from the road. There are paths everywhere so its easy just to start walking and then turn back or loop round when you are done.

At least once a week, I like to step out a bit further in search of lesser beaten tracks which lead out into the distance in the general direction of a mighty granite tor, a woody valley, a river or a place of historical interest such as a stone circle, old settlement or abandoned granite quarry.

Open Space

There is something special about being the only human being in a landscape stretching out so far and wide around you. There is a calming silence filled only with the beautiful sounds and clean energy of nature that you can hear and feel so acutely because it's the only thing there.

Then you start to tune into the distant and gentle day to day sounds of the working countryside. A walk on Dartmoor enables you to tune into the hum of life itself. It piques the senses which in turn heightens your sense of well being. It provides a wonderful way to experience being in perfect harmony with the natural world.

Planning a routes

There are many fabulous recommended walks with guidance on how to prepare for and enjoy your walk on the Dartmoor National Park website. Choose from many different routes for all abilities, time-scales and interests. Make sure you are well prepared, as much as it is a beautiful place,  Dartmoor can present challenges or dangers which are important to know about and avoid in all circumstances.

Checking out Visitor Centres

You will find brilliant advice in this regard in a book I bought at the Dartmoor National Park Visitor's Centre at Postbridge called 'Searching for Stone Circles' by Helen Louise. The author is a very experienced moorland walker with a great sense of humour and lots of excellent tips. My particular favourite being: 'Make sure you have a vague idea of where you are going [and] it's a good idea to fold your map to the correct area before you leave so that you don't end up in a ridiculous, wind-fuelled, map-attack situation.'  Great stuff.

Using a map

I love studying my Ordenance Survey Map of Dartmoor and circling all the places I would like to visit and routes I have taken. Many are too far off the beaten track for my level of walking and navigational skills but fortunately there are plenty of reachable places to explore with different sights and sounds to offer through the seasons. For certain, I will never run out of new places to explore.

The trick is to find a good place to park in one of the small car parks or designated car bays dotted along the network of roads that criss-cross the moor. This is the hardest part if you go at busiest visiting times so it's always a good idea to try and avoid peak times outside working hours and over the weekend. Be sure not to park in front of gates, entrances or anywhere where other vehicles/animals may need to pass through. Always close gates behind you and leave no trace!

Following the Countryside Code

The Rangers Code is an excellent resource in this regard, and talks you through the do's and don'ts for yourself, your friends and family, and your animals. You can spread the word about looking after the moors on social media using the hashtag #lovemoorlife.

Being prepared

You will find in every guide about walking on Dartmoor that whatever the season, the weather can quickly change. Storms, winds and mists can drift in at speed from any direction. I always take a small rucksack packed as lightly as possible with essentials needed - depending on the season - for hot sunshine, thirst, hunger, no shelter, wet ground, mist, rain, snow and high winds.

For every walk I always take plenty of water, a map, compass, fully charged phone/camera, notebook and pen. In the summer I add a sunhat, sunglasses, lip balm, a loose and light shirt, fruit and extra water. In the winter it's a warm waterproof hat, scarf, gloves, waterproofs, energy bars, socks and an extra layer. Always wear comfortable walking boots preferably with a bit of tread and wear a quality coat that will protect you in all weathers.

I don't take waterproofs very often but I do take a waterproof mat I made out of an old shrunken blanket and a thick plastic bag. It's bigger than a cushion and smaller than a picnic blanket so it's doesn't take up too much room. When you find that perfect spot on a big granite rock overlooking nothing but breathtaking moorland landscape with stunning scenic views, it's always good to have something comfy and dry to sit on.

Stepping out!

Walks on wide open landscapes like Dartmoor, give you space so that your mind can work through anything it needs to work through and process thoughts thoroughly and let unwanted thoughts go.

Long walks give you time to practice the art of focusing on each beautiful moment discovered in a breathtaking wilderness. Spending lengths of time in Nature draws you into paying attention to the macro and micro elements of our unique and mysterious natural environment.

Walking outside makes you feel in balance with Nature - and that's the perfect place to be for any human being.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf