Brecon Beacons Snowstorm

Decided to try out another moorland in Wales.  Brecon Beacons in November are beautiful; sharp, constrasty and beckoning.

THE DARTMOOR TORS COMPENDIUM IS LAUNCHED!

On Saturday 29th July 2017 the Dartmoor Tors Compendium book was launched at the Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown as part of their Summer Fair.  The day was a great success and I am so grateful to all those who came to the launch and helped me achieve the book.

The book is 334 pages long with 718 photographs, most of which are black and white.

You can have a look at a sample here.

You can also buy the book online here.

Next project is an exhibition of photographs at the Visitor Centre in Princetown at the end of August 2017.

Belstone Tors, Higher Tor and the Taw

A beautiful day to mooch around the northern tors after a week of rain.  Belstone is really majestic and the views north across Mid-Devon's farmland tapestry are truly spectacular.  Higher Tor showed me a new profile which I'd never appreciated before, and I found an abandoned granite trough I'd not noticed previously on Belstone.

Belstone Tors, Dartmoor

Higher Tor, Dartmoor

River Taw and the Green Moor of a Lush Dartmoor

Also, I will have some news later this week about my book, Dartmoor Tors Compendium.  See www.dartmoor-tors.co.uk for more details.

Pew Tor on Dartmoor

Pootled around Pew Tor on an achingly clear day, with a warm breeze swirling around the granite stacks at the top.  I love Pew Tor; it's so accessible and changes every visit.

Pew Tor Quarry with Alarmingly Green Water

Dartmoor Hawthorn in Bloom, losing very Japanese

Pew Tor, all neat and tidy

The Great Great Mis Tor Straw Fence

Sunshine and blue skies are a gift on Dartmoor and not to be ignored.

I've been reconnaissance trekking a route for a new charity walk and followed the fence on the way up to Great Mis Tor.  This fence catches the wind blown grasses and often looks like a raffia eco-fence.

I just think it looks really cool.

Wind-Blown Fence Near Great Mis Tor, Dartmoor

The River Lyd at "Widgeries"

Everyone calls it "Widgeries" after Widgery Cross on top of Brat Tor (not "Widgery Tor" I hasten to add).  It is the quick Dartmoor walk that loops from near the Dartmoor Inn at Lydford.

The River Lyd follows the change between the granite and metamorphic rocks, carving out a beautiful little valley.  The water cascades down the rocks forming masses of pools and all around there are traces of tin mining heritage and medieval farming.

A slow shot on a slow, dull day:

River Lyd near Brat Tor, Dartmoor

DSRT Tavistock in The Lake District

A week of winter hill walking and mountaineering in the Lakes with some of the DSRT Team provided a great excuse for some winter fun Type 1.

Two days of snow, ice and clear sun was a gift.  Clambered up Scafell Pike, St Sunday Crag, Dollywagon Pike, Helvellyn, Causey Pike, Crag Hill to name a few.  Dartmoor weather then caught us up and rendered the views anonymous.  It's been a while since I stayed in a bunk house and I had clearly forgotten the smell of drying rooms until after the first wet walk.  Ye gods, you cold hardly breathe in the fug of smelly clothing and boots.  Fruity isn't even close.

A few photos of the better bits:

Nethermost Pike on the way to Helvellyn in Winter

Team members clinging on to Scafell Pike in the wind

Grisedale Tarn on the way to Helvellyn

Dramatic lighting on the Helvellyn ridge

Whiteside Bank after Helvellyn

Frozen tarn on way down from Scafell Pike 

Exploring the Wonders of the Hautes-Alpes in France at Serre des Ormes

Spent a wonderful week winter walking in France at the fabulous Serre des Ormes, run by Kate & Paul.  Incredible food, company and location.

The Gorges de la Méouge is a geologist's paradise with startling folds in the sedimentary rock, slabs chock full of ammonites and caves, stacks and arches galore.

Best day was snow shoeing up to Téte de Merlant.  Ours were the first tracks out on the deep virgin snow.  running down the steep snow fields has to be in my top 3 fun things to do.

The lighting and clouds was so dramatic.  Here are a few photographs.

Mountain landscape at Téte de Merlant

Mountain Views at Téte de Merlant

Snow Shoeing up to Téte de Merlant

Amazing Sedimentary Folds in the Gorges de la Méouge

Climbing into Le Rocher de la Baume to reach the summit

The French still have the best vintage wall advertising