On Monday 25th November, how many 34 DPA members and friends met in the main car park at Widecombe and set off for a walk around the area, mainly to the tors to the north – Honeybag, Chinkwell, Sharp and Bel Tors and Bonehill Rocks. This part of the walk was kindly “trailed” for us…

This walk was postponed from 25th October because of the storm warnings in the weather forecasts. On this new date – 11 enthusiasts turned out for the event.  Although the walk started near Bedford Bridge, the West Devon Brick Works and Wheal Franco copper mine, we considered these at the end of the walk, although…

While debates about Brexit raged in parliament, 13 volunteers took refuge at Common Wood where we spent the day improving the habitat for butterflies. We gathered at Hillbridge at 10 o’clock on Monday 21 October.  Derek Collins seemed concerned that the Dartmoor Preservation Association’s ‘APY’ wagon had got rather muddy so, while we waited for…

The trek up to the site was lovely in the sunshine although it was very wet underfoot. Water ran down the track and filled all the depressions in the path. The ford was deep and lively but we all made it across safely. After a brief rest, we all set off on our separate tasks….

Eighteen of us gathered at Cold East Cross (formerly Ham Hill Cross), ready for the walk to Buckland Beacon and the Commandments Stones, and also, incidentally the 1935 Jubilee Stone. From the start of the walk – on a grey, mizzly day to start with. The walk started with seeing parish boundary stones incised with…

The second Tuesday in September is traditionally the date of Widecombe Fair. This year is probably the sixth year that the DPA has had a presence, the earliest blog post on the subject is from September 2014, on the old blog. Well done to Derek Collins and Phil Hutt for their early start to put…

Every year, August Bank Holiday Monday is the The Lustleigh Village Show – and what a show. Doors open at 10.00 am and close at 5.30 pm, a full day. There is far too much in the Show to be covered in a short blog like this one – the web site is well worth a…

The walk met at the car park below Rowtor – a total of twenty-two DPA members and friends, on a warm, sunny periods sort of a day. The weather forecast was for temperatures of 23-25°C but it was not over-bearingly hot – quite comfortable in fact. We set of straight up the gentle slope to Rowtor….

Thursday 15th August was the date of the Chagford Show. It was a grey day and the forecast wasn’t overly encouraging. While it did rain slightly, the day was mostly cool and dry but, for August, the sun wasn’t exactly splitting the flagstones! However, we were there. Volunteers Derek Collins and Claude Williams made a…

The 42nd Dartmoor Folk Festival took place on 9th, 10th & 11th August at South Zeal, up Oakhampton way (using a spelling from the old tithe map). Dartmoor Preservation Association had its usual presence with a stall i.e. a table in the big Craft & Trade Marquee. The Festival “starts up” on the Friday evening with…