Dartmoor: Hound Tor

dog friendly | easy | parking

For the last time that morning, I pulled the layers on blankets further up my neck and rubbed my cold nose. Monty stirred from under the blankets where he had taken refuge from the unexpected freezing temperatures of the night before and suddenly felt a need to get out of the tent and away from the nights attempt to sleep.

Slightly dreamlike from the sleep deprivation I grabbed the camera and opened the back door of the car for Monty. We were at Five Wyches, a campsite a stones throw from many of the famous tors of Dartmoor. Being in such close proximity meant access to catch dawn was easy and would be a crime to miss the crisp, October morning magic.

As the car ascended into the ruggedness of moors we passed Haytor, where we’d spent a mystical morning a few days previous and rattled over a cattle grid to find our way to a small car park where we were to leave the car and make a small, easy climb to Hound Tor to watch the sun come up. A small group of black moorland sheep ran on sight of us and so it was to be we were the only beings here witnessing the morning light bathe the rocks in a golden glow. I stood, closed my eyes and took in a number of deep breaths before fiddling with the camera and remote to get the obligatory shot.

Milling around the rocks I felt an immense sense of contentness. Like I needed nothing except this moment to nourish every part of my being.

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