Saturday 25th January saw 20 DPA members and friends gather at Lowery Cross car parks for a circuit of Yeanna Down, Yeannadowne (1662), known in recent times as Yennadon Down – it was named so well that they “Downed” it twice. The weather was “exceeding grey” – some folk telephoned to cancel because they were…

On 8 January a group of volunteers cleared some of the larger World War Two practice trenches on Mardon Down. Some are quite deep and filled with water at the moment. In March there will be another volunteer work day when we hope to complete clearance and begin surveying and recording the features. Here are…

After being postponed from the 19th Dec due to heavy rain being forecast and the already water-logged conditions underfoot of one grassy slope in particular, turning it into a bit of a ski slope, the walk finally took place with 13 remainers of the original group on place on Thursday 9th January – with yet…

Peter Randall-Page is a world famous sculptor living and working in Drewsteignton. From 1990 to 1996 he worked with the arts and environmental charity COMMON GROUND to create a series of sculptures set into the landscape around Drewsteignton.  The objective was to promote the idea of ‘local distinctiveness’ as a means of engaging people with…

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…