Photography Walk with The Museum of Dartmoor Life - Foggintor Quarry & Swell Tor Quarry
Way back in November of 2024 I led a photography walk with The Museum of Dartmoor Life.
Technically, I walked with some of the volunteers from the museum, I didn’t walk with the museum (though that might have been splendidly entertaining) 😍
I’ve long been acquainted with Kristy, the curator/manager of the museum in Okehampton and she has successfully cajoled to do things for the museum on numerous occasions (not that I’m complaining; merely that I’d most likely not put myself forward without her prodding; I mean, gentle encouragement.)
If you’ve never visited, it’s a wonderful place to learn more about the way life has changed through the years on Dartmoor : dartmoorlife.org.uk
I’d checked in with Kristy the day before our walk as the weather forecast had been for heavy mist and we’d decided that as I’d planned a route that stayed mostly on a track (in fact predominantly an old railway track) we were fairly sure I’d not lose anybody!
I was joined by Rob of Discover Dartmoor who I had the pleasure of meeting when we both attended a Hill & Moorland Leader training course with Ibex Outdoor.
At the time I’d not completed my ITC Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid so (apart from his wonderful company) having Rob along was an extra comfort in case of emergencies.
On the old railway track past Yellowmeade Farm, leading to the ruins of Hill Cottages
As forewarned, we arrived at the car parking area near the entrance to Yellowmeade Farm, to discover that visibility was quite reduced. Plenty of good old fashioned Dartmoor mist to add some excitement and adventurous zeal to what (on a clear summers day) is a very safe and easily accessible walk indeed 💚
As a photographer I’m obviously going to be biased, a misty day is always a happy day.
We were, however, very careful to make sure that we didn’t lose anybody in the murkiness, taking in turns to follow the group, keeping a head count and looking out for uneven ground.
As you make your way along the old tramway from the small parking area on the edge of the B3357 (The Tavistock to Princetown Road) after you pass Yellowmeade Farm (I’ve noticed that sometimes it appears to drop the final “e”) you start to notice that the vestiges of railway tracks are visible in the trail. A quick look at the map below shows that these remains are part of the quarry railway, and not the municipal Yelverton to Princetown Railway.
Image from : The Plymouth & Dartmoor Railway and its Fore-Runners by H.G Kendall 1968
As you continue to traverse the well worn trail and you begin to approach the ruins of Eva’s Farm you will start to notice the etched stone footings that once held steel tracks to move stone around the quarry.
Before the walk I had ascertained that it wasn’t the best idea to enter the flooded quarry area from the Northern entrance (due to the slippery rocks and substantial drop) however, I took time to show the volunteers the safer route into the area from the other side and suggested what to look out for if they visited again in better weather.
The flooded area of Foggintor Quarry - images not from the day of our visit 😁
There are a plethora of things to see on the walk around.
This area is known as Foggintor Quarry (previously it was called Royal Oak)
“Mr. Nixon’s Statue of William IV - Now that the scaffolding and hoard are removed, we will mention that the whole of this monument including the figure, is executed in Foggintor granite, and that the total cost is £2200. Peterhead granite would have been preferred on account of colour, but the price asked for it was so high as to prevent its adoption.”
Statue of King William the Fourth Erected by the Corporation of the City of London in King William Street. Published by Printed by M & N Hanhart 1844 (Source Wikipedia ) Since 1936 it has stood in King William Walk in Greenwich
I personally love the mundane nature of the article mentioning the price and that another source would have been preferred, but cost was a factor … it makes you realise that people are people, whatever the era 🤣
Once we’d checked out the area around Foggintor Quarry - The ruins of Eva’s Farm … the
After stopping at the ruins of the Blacksmith Shop for a snack and a cuppa, we continued along the route of the old railway, stopping to check out the abandoned Corbels alleged to be for London Bridge.
“I invited Paul to organise a walk on Dartmoor, with photo opportunities, for some of the volunteers at the Museum of Dartmoor Life.
He asked many questions about what we required and the abilities of our walkers and from that planned a very accessible route.
We met on the most theatrical of misty mornings which was amazing for photographs and the mist seemed to clear whenever there was another spectacular view to admire.
Paul’s knowledge of the area was vast and we all learned a great deal about its history and he also gave us hints to improve our photos.
We felt safe in Paul’s hands, so we did not have to worry about maps and directions and everyone agreed that it was a marvellous adventure.
I would recommend Paul as a guide to anyone.”
If you’re interested in a walk around the area, or, anywhere on Dartmoor; either for photography purposes, or just for the sheer pleasure of experiencing the outdoors; feel free to get in touch 😍
Time restraints, the weather and walkers capabilities meant we only managed to visit a small proportion of the amazing history on offer. I recommend the following brilliantly researched and knowledgeable website articles :
https://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/2016/05/14/foggintor/