Dartmoor has enjoyed several dry and sunny days in a row. I can’t tell you the joy I feel at being able to walk without the bulk and the swishing sound of waterproofs for the first time in many months! Do you feel the same way? 

Spring arrived in the valleys several weeks ago and, as always, has taken it’s time journeying up here to the high moor. The nights are still cold but swallows, swifts, house martins and cuckoos have all recently arrived. Bright lime-green coloured leaves of hawthorn, ash, beech and oak are slowly emerging. Busy dung and violet oil beetles meander across my path on every walk. And there are new lambs and foals at every turn - I love to see their different colours, markings and antics as they frolic around their mums.

I am starting to gear up towards the busy season so, whilst I can, have spent time exploring new locations and routes to bring to you as well as enjoying the peacefulness and feeling of spaciousness that comes with solo meandering. I stride out far and fast at times as well as often sit and contemplate next to a gurgling, copper-gold coloured brook, or lie in the midst of a ruined hut circle wondering how our ancestors may have lived on this land, and admiring the clouds shapeshifting across the sky. Hope you’ll join me on a walk, talk or nature-connection experience sometime soon.

Emma x

What you’ll find here…

• NEW Walks; Wander & Wonder and The Dartmoor Walking Festival is back, join us for the Mariners Way Walk fundraising for Devon Air Ambulance.

• Public Walks - Most of the Public Group Walks are sold out with waitlists - please add yourselves if you’re interested in attending in case of cancellations.

• Private Hire - join Emma for a bespoke day out, tailored to your needs or group.

• Dartmoor’s Latest News

New Walks

Wander and Wonder

Feel daily stresses melt away and senses come alive as we walk silently together along ancient tracks, cross sinuous copper-gold coloured streams on high open moorland, journey past old stones and bones, and watch the clouds shapeshifting above us. Every step brings us closer to appreciating the beauty, history, and magic of this living, working landscape.

Mariners Way Walk - Dartmoor Walking Festival Fundraising for Devon Air Ambulance

Walk a section of the ancient Mariners Way through beautiful woodland, fields, and old holloways then back up on to the open moor along a tor ridge taking in the stunning 360 degree views on a clear day. We’ll walk through the ruins of Bronze Age hut circles and field systems, and hopefully see flora, fauna and other wonders along the way.

Public Walks

Most of the Public Group Walks are sold out with waitlists - please add yourselves if you’re interested in attending in case of cancellations.

There is still some availability on the following:

Private Hire

Dartmoor News

There are lots of interesting events and discussions happening across Dartmoor at the moment:

• Various Beltane celebrations are happening across Dartmoor including the annual Green Man Festival at Bovey Tracey on Saturday 27th April; a Jack in the Green Procession in Chagford on Sunday 28th April; and on 1st May various early morning morris dance festivities to welcome in the summer including Cogs and Wheels at Belstone, Dartmoor Border Morris at Leeden Tor, and Beltane Border Morris at Haytor and Lustleigh MayDay on 4th May (All of these events can be found by searching on Facebook or on the organisers websites.)

• Teams of teenagers are out training for the Ten Tors across Dartmoor at the moment, have you seen them? Good luck to them all for this year’s event!

• Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society is funding a REFLECT to PROTECT campaign 'to raise awareness and stop the deaths of livestock roaming freely by the unfenced roads on the moor. The collars work by reflecting in car headlights making drivers aware of livestock on or near the roadside. Over 1000 cow and pony collars have been purchased by Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society and you should see livestock wearing them any day now!’

• The 'Myth and Magic' Exhibition at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton is worth a visit.

• The 'River Dart's Anglers’ exhibition at the Princetown Visitors Centre reveals interesting history and ecology above and under the water. Free to attend and running until 24th July.

• Working Sheepdog Demonstrations are taking place again in Postbridge from May to September with champion sheepdog trialists Jed and Kenny Watson. Free to attend.

• The Secretary of State officially responded to the Fursdon Review (The Independent Review of Protected Site Management on Dartmoor), which sets out ambitions and next steps.

• Volunteering opportunities abound on Dartmoor - how about helping DNPA Rangers on one of their second Sunday conservation days at Haytor; or Saturday 18th May morning at Roborough Rock, Yelverton airfield; or Saturday 22nd June morning at Cadover Bridge Car Park. For more information, email volunteering@dartmoor.gov.uk

What people are saying about us…

'Wild and windy and wonderful! 

I so thoroughly enjoyed my walk out onto the Moors with Emma. I felt so safe when the weather started to turn a bit and the knowledge Emma shared about this ancient land was so appreciated. Emma shared stories and myths as well as the factual parts of how this land evolved. All fascinating stuff. I was able to take my time and really get to be on the land. We spent almost all day walking around to stone circles as well as the forested parts with all of the gorgeous moss covered trees and ground, just lovely. I feel truly full and blessed that I got to walk out with such a wonderful woman who knows the land here. Highly recommend! 'Julia J

Thank you for reading! We’ve recently swapped our newsletter provider and format. Let us know what you think - info@dartmoorsdaughter.com

We hope to see you on the moor over the next few months, and if not, you can catch up with us in our next newsletter at the Summer Solstice