I visited Dartmoor this spring and went on a couple of charity letterbox walks. (For those who do not know, letterboxing is basically like a treasure hunt; clues are given to find plastic boxes containing stamps that finders collect. I scanned some of the better stamps and wrote an article here: Letterboxing Rubber Stamp Designs). The charity letterbox trails are a short walk around 2.5 to 6 miles long in Dartmoor.
The first walk completed this year was nearly five miles long and covered the area around Sourton Tors. The walk commemorated a couple of plane crashes that happened in World War 2. The stamps featured World War 2 planes.
Bottom of Sourton Tor
The walk went up around Sourton Tor, Branscombe's Loaf, and Corn Ridge before heading back down Sourton Tor. Before climbing too far up Sourton Tor, there is a gentle walk up through pasture with several small springs and streams.
I found one of the letterboxes near a tree. (For those interested in the charity walk, I can provide the information where you can send off a couple of pounds for the clues. Note that charity walks typically remain on the moors until the autumn, and there are new walks every year.) The rubber stamp is inside the pill box, and I took a break to get my coloured ink pads out so that I could make a stamp in my book.
A letterbox on the moor
I walked further up Sourton Tor. There are amazing views here with a lot of rocks. The majority of the rocks are at the tops of the hills. There are so many places to hide letterboxes.
Sourton Tor
The walking can be steep in some places. Make sure that your boots are very comfortable; mine were not comfortable or flexible enough for me so I got a couple of blisters on my heels where shoes always tend to rub.
A steep path up Sourton Tor
There are sheep and ponies roaming the tors on Dartmoor, and new lambs were walking around with their mothers. The sheep pose no problems, but I am a little bit wary of the ponies as they can be unpredictable.
Sheep and lambs on Dartmoor
I stopped to enjoy the view over the hills from Sourton Tor. Below is a photograph of Sourton church.
Sourton Church
When arriving to the top of the tors, suddenly there's a little bit further to go to get to the top and the next large pile of rocks.
Sourton Tor
Ponies scattered across the moors and tors make a pretty photograph with the countryside and lower hills in the distance.
Pony on Sourton Tor
Dartmoor Pony
The walk continued around a steep valley between Corn Ridge and Sourton Tor, and we walked around this to Branscombe's Loaf. In the distance we saw Yes Tor and High Wilhays, and a couple of the plane crashes happened near here.
Branscombe's Loaf gets its name from an old story about Bishop Branscombe who was walking on Corn Ridge and was stopped by another traveller who offered him bread and cheese. Branscombe noticed that the other traveler had hooves for feet (and hence the devil), so he threw the cheese and bread on the ground. The cheese and bread turned to into the granite rocks known as Branscombe's Loaf.
Yes Tor and High Wilhays from Branscombe's Loaf
Walking further around Branscombe's Loaf and Corn Ridge, there are nice views of Meldon Resevoir and this bridge (below) near it. I've walked around this area in the past. Near the area is The King's Way, an ancient road that linked Okehampton with Tavistock.
Looking toward Meldon Resevoir
I walked around the other side of Branscombe's Loaf, and I captured the following view of Corn Ridge and Sourton Tor.
Sourton Tor
Dartmoor Ponies
After completing the walk, I drove back to Belstone and had a well-needed drink and meal at The Tors Inn in Belstone. I often stay in Belston when I visit Dartmoor. It is easy to get to and the tors are not far. In fact, Belstone Tor is simply a quick walk away from here (behind the pub in the below photograph).
Belstone Tors Inn
Belstone has a few historical buildings, such as this "Telegraph Office" and iconic red phone box and in-wall post box.
Belstone
I took a photo of some beautiful tree blossoms.
Blossoms
Belstone cottage and moors
Have you walked around Sourton Tors or in any of these locations mentioned?
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