Haytor Rocks Dartmoor

Haytor Rocks taken from the not so familiar northern approach. The rocks are situated in the eastern part of the moor. This mass of granite stands at 1,499 feet above sea level and is continually used for climbing practice by enthusiasts and clubs.

The area in the middle of the photograph (the other side of the stoney ridge) has quarry workings and an old tramway which used to transport lumps of granite 10 miles down to the Stover Canal in the nineteenth century. Haytor Granite, a very fine quality stone, was used for building but the cheaper Cornish granite won in the end.

The ponies are not the native Dartmoor breed which are now a rare breed. These are a Heinz 57 variety - I think there is even some Shetland blood in some of them. Sadly a lot of the ponies are culled and end up as meat for the Continent. These animals are looking for grass in between the gorse clumps.

In a few days time this view will be covered with the whitestuff again.

We took our time driving back to Somerset and strolled around Princetown, home of the infamous prison, had lunch at the Old Inn in Widdecombe - lovely not to have to share the village with a thousand other grockles! - and looked at the views.

(I had to back-blip yesterday's if anyone is interested in looking!}