|
Famous
worldwide, and immortalised in the Sherlock Holmes classic The Hound
of the Baskervilles, Dartmoor is one of Devon's priceless jewels.
It
is easy to see why the moor is a mecca for millions of visitors
and an addiction among outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.
With hundreds of miles of rights of way and views to die for, it
is one of the few places left in the county where you really can
get away from it all.
 |
| Burrator
Reservoir in autumn haze |
The
unique granite wilderness is administered by the Dartmoor
National Park Authority.
There are over 160 tors, some climbing to nearly 1,500ft above sea
level.
Dotted
around the moor, there are picturesque towns and villages, placed
among the reservoirs, thousands of acres of woodland and sites of
archaeological importance.
The Dartmoor Way
is a circular walking and cycling route that sweeps for almost 90
miles around the national park.
View
Dartmoor on this short video:
Not
surprisingly the moor also has groups set up to protect it, including
the Dartmoor Preservation Association, the
Dartmoor Society and the Dartmoor Trust.
Then there are the groups whic have a special interest in the moor's
wildlife - like the Dartmoor
Pony Society.
 |
| Widecombe-in-the
Moor |
The
Dartmoor Rescue Group
helps with the annual Ten Tors expedition, and throughout
the year they are on hand to help the police with search and rescue
tasks.
And, as in all of Britain's national parks,
there are scores of information points and centres run by
the park authority that provide a wealth of information on walks
and the moor itself.
Hundreds of years ago, the moor was regarded as a savage place to
be avoided - but that changed over time and the moor now attracts
people from around the world.
The challenge now is to try and allow continued access to the moor,
while at the same time preserving the moor's natural beauty for
the future.
|
