A Picnic On The Moor
Scorhill Stone Circle, Dartmoor
The wonderful Indian Summer continues. I just can’t get enough of being outside. So when Em of Dartmoor Ramblings (here) invited me up for a second trip on to the moor I leapt at the chance.
Dartmoor is currently tinged with yellow and gold from the drying grasses and the gorse.
Could there be a better place on a day like this?
Gorse blooms against the blue sky.
With a little photobombing from a sprig of heather.
We walked through a landscape which changes constantly with the play of light on the hills.
Along the beautiful North Teign River..
..where rowan berries mingle with the gorse
..and scrambled over rocks to find a perfect spot right by the water to sit, tuck into our rolls and set the world to rights.
A stone bridge across the river
Em’s dog Jack was not above a little photobombing of his own..
After lunch we carried on to reach the stone circle.
It really is a circle but I couldn’t photograph it all, principally because there was someone sitting right in the middle of it. But I rather like the detail of the individual stones. The circle dates back to the Bronze Age, 3300-1200BC.
A view back to Kestor, which we visited last time I was up here with Em (here). I love the way the sun is lighting up that green field.
And finally…
Dung fungi
Have you ever seen anything quite like this?
Omelette anyone?
The photos came out brilliantly! Love the one of Jack on the bridge obviously. He’s on my lap as Ivwrite this…..x
Taking a lot of photos was a good strategy! Many thanks for a lovely day out Em, it was a much needed break.
It looks fabulous. Jack is one lucky little doggy to have that as his playground.
He certainly is, and enjoys it to the full.
It looks fabulous, what a wonderful place to visit.
It really is. Like you we have some beautiful landscapes on our doorstep, we just need to get out more and explore them.
A truely beautiful wild place. The stone bridge is incredible, just one piece of rock?
The smaller one is, yes. Goodness knows what it took to get it there.
Such an amazing place to walk and photograph. Just seeing the old stone bridge and part of the stone circle makes your mind wonder how and when they were created.
Absolutely Linda. It’s quite a special place.
I think I’ll pass on the omelette but the other photos are stunning. I think it is all the more amazing since we know it won’t last forever this beautiful Indian Summer we are enjoying. Breathe deeply and enjoy!
Yes, I really want to make the most of it while it lasts. There’s plenty to do in the garden but other days out are planned.
Stunning, its years since I walked on Dartmoor, but it is a magical place, and you had the perfect weather for it too. Love the stones, TNG and I got rather excited by a stone circle in the middle of Llangefni, the “capital” of the Island. We were incensed that such a wonderful feature had been encroached upon by a discount store car park, and that nobody had bothered to put up a sign or anything. We felt really foolish when we realised it was just a set of Gorsedd stones, built in the 50s to celebrate the Eisteddford! Apparently, whenever the Eisteddford takes place in a location without a stone circle, they build one! Called Gorsedd stones. We were gutted… There was an altar stone complete with steps to two sides and everything!
Absolutely gorgeous weather, no coat even up that high.
I just looked up the Llangefni stones, they do look a bit older than they are, I can see why you got excited.
I’ll pass on the omelet for now thanks but Dartmoor is such a stunning place. It’s been a couple of years now since we’ve been and seeing your pictures makes me yearn to visit again soon.
There are some beautiful grasses and sedges up there. Lovely russet coloured ones that you’d pay a fortune for in a garden centre.
Well, they do say that’s the best medium for mushrooms to grow in. Thanks for sharing your photos of the moor. Those slabs over the river are much bigger than I thought at first. Love the pictures of the standing stones too.
The mushrooms were really strange, an odd sheen on the surface as though they were made out of some kind of ceramic.
Love the photos…They are so engaging and interesting.
Thanks Charlie. I was pleased with how they turned out, I took a smaller camera than the one we usually use.
Such a beautiful place and gorgeous photos. Not sure I fancy your omelette though!
Rest assured, the mushrooms remained unpicked!
I’ve truly been rendered speechless by looking at the beauty of that place. Thanks for these beautiful photos, Jessica. xxx
p.s. And no, I have never seen dung fungi. Fascinating!
It is fascinating. I wonder how the fungi spores get there in the first place. Do they blow in on the wind or does the cow eat them?
Utterly gorgeous photos as always, almost makes us feel we’re there on the picnic, the wind whipping through your hair! 🙂 I love this time of year, the rich colours and textures never look better! Those grasses are gorgeous and my new favourite thing!
Katie
Hi Katie, thanks and welcome to rusty duck.
By the ragged look of the trees the wind would whip through your hair often. But on a day like yesterday it is absolutely glorious!
Where’s Lorna Doon when you need her? Fantastic photos of a wonderful part of the country. What better day to be out there ? I almost feel I’ve been! Loved the stone bridge … and jaunty jack trotting across!
We couldn’t have picked a better day. Jack was everywhere all at once, that dog has an unlimited supply of energy.
Some of these pics would make stunning prints, what an astonishingly beautiful place. I just love the standing stones and those mushrooms. We have them all over the garden, when the white caps fade horrid black slime seeps off them!!!xxx
I am noticing a lot of mushrooms around the place now. Thankfully without the black slime.. yet. It must be autumn! Thanks snowbird.
dare I say that but for the sun (though we have had some today) it looks similar to the view from my kitchen window 😉 but you knew that already Jessica, sounds like a beautiful walk with good company, how irritating to walk so far and have someone sitting in the stone circle, I love the stone circles, to touch something someone was touching all those years ago, connection, make the most of your sunshine while you can, Frances
One day I will make it to Callanish. It’s on my list.
but you might need a passport 🙁
Jessica I may have said it before (sorry) but you and Mike were clever not to buy in Scotland, Frances
Frances, it may be easier to say from this side of Hadrian’s Wall, but keep the faith. The polls are coming back the other way and there are still plenty of waverers. Surely for them maintaining the status quo is the least risky option? What I hate about it all is that it is becoming so divisive. Scots against Scots.
it’s a verbal civil war,
Jessica thanks for your words of comfort, I’m resigned to moving now, my worry is selling, property doesn’t sell fast here, Frances p.s. no need to comment, thanks for your thoughts,
Frances, wait and see what happens. What you have there is so special.
What an utterly beautiful place Dartmoor is. Your photos are fantastic Jessica, I’m glad you had such a good walk. It’s somewhere I’d love to explore again soon, it’s a long time since I’ve been there. CJ xx
We often drive across the moor as a pleasurable way of getting from one side of Devon to the other. But really the only way to see it is on foot, there’s so much to explore.
Would it be bad to say that the phrase ‘Dung fungi’ made me snort tea all over the place? I am such a child…
It’s when you start to snort dung fungi that I will be getting worried..
Thank you for this. I used to visit Dartmoor a lot when we lived down south, haven’t been for years. It’s a beautiful place to have on your doorstep 🙂
It certainly is. We can see it (weather permitting!) from the village, a constant reminder to visit more often.
Beautiful place. Thank you for showing these views. I was glad for you to read “wonderful Indian Summer continues” as here for the last few weeks it has been very rainy – a downpour this morning.
As a gardener on clay I am never happy. Although the warm weather is lovely for getting out and about a bit of rain (maybe overnight 😉 ) would be a bit handy.
Jessica what a heavenly spot….the gorse is stunning. I have always wanted to visit this beautiful spot and now you have made me long to go there…added to the lists of must visit…
It is well worth it Donna, you wouldn’t be disappointed.
Absolutely gorgeous, Dartmoor at its best. Thanks for the reminder to get out to some of Cumbria’s circles which I haven’t visited for far too long.
There is something very haunting about them is there not.
Brilliant photos Jessica, Dartmoor is so beautiful and your images do it proud. Good to see the weather has been so fair up high and you and Em have been out to enjoy it.
I took loads of layers and left most of them in the car! It was a really lovely day.
Perfect weather for it by the look of things. Dartmoor is a unique place, isn’t it?
Quite unique. Especially when le soleil brille.
Stunning photos! Dartmoor is beautiful even when the sun isn’t shining so to see it in its bright and beautiful glory was a real treat x
Thanks Chel. I was really lucky with the weather, it was incredibly beautiful up there.
What a wonderful way to spend a sunny September day. It is so beautiful and wonderful photographs.
A lovely post.
Thanks Chloris.
Lovely photos but I think I’ll pass on the omelette
Me too I think.
What brilliant photos – makes me wish I was artistic and could paint one of these scenes – lovely!
The colours are fantastic right now, they must have inspired many an artist. I wish I had that sort of talent too.
Your photos are wonderful, Jessica. It’s a beautiful setting and it looks very peaceful and quiet, just by the look of it, do you know what I mean? Those hills are spectacular and there is so much history. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jennifer. I do know what you mean, and it is too. Just the sound of the river, the breeze and the birds.
A wonderful day to be on Dartmoor with Em it looks so much warmer than last time you visited her. Your pictures make me wish we were visiting Dartmoor once more. There is just something about the place that keeps calling us back. Sarah x
Much warmer! I think the photos have managed to persuade Mike that we should walk more on the moor. It’s the only way to find the really special places.
Wonderful photos, Jessica – and all that sky….. 🙂
Huge skies and great views in every direction.