Whiteworks near Princetown.
Dartmoor National Park was created in 1951 and covers an area of 369 square miles in the heart of Devonshire in the South West of England. It is an area of stark wilderness and great beauty; all around are the signs of man's existence on the moor from Bronze Age hut circles to tin mining in the last century. The National Park Authority manages the upkeep of the Moor and the hundreds of stone walls and ancient sites on it.
Please visit the Moor, but also keep to the rules designed to protect the delicate environment:-
- Park in designated places.
- DON'T feed the ponies. It attracts them to the roads where they can be injured by traffic.
- Follow the guidelines for your activity (available in Park offices).
- Stick to paths.
- During wet weather try and stay on hard tracks.
- Always use stiles and gates to cross walls, DON'T jump over.
- In dry weather the Moor can be a tinderbox, be careful with stoves and cigarettes.
- Don't move stones, they are often part of an archaeological feature.
- Follow signs around restoration sites.
Camping:-
Backpackers may camp on open moor if they follow a few rules:-
- Not in enclosed land.
- Not within 100m of a road.
- Out of site of dwellings.
- Not in reservoir catchments.
- Not in 'recreational' areas such as Cadover Bridge and Spitchwick.
- Site camping and caravans on authorized sites ONLY.
Take care of yourself on the Moor !
Dartmoor can be VERY wet and VERY windy; conditions can change quickly. A few easy precautions can save you (and us) a lot of trouble.
Leave a note with your family or friends saying where you are going and when you expect to get back. Don't forget to tell them when you do!
On any walk think about a quick way off the Moor if the weather turns foul. How much daylight is left? - is a member of the group tired or lagging behind?
If you are caught out on the Moor and can't get to safety then try to find cover in the shelter of a Tor or other feature.
If you come off the Moor in a different location than expected and are sitting in a warm pub, phone family or the Police in case you become the subject of a search and rescue mission!
Don't rely on your mobile phone working everywhere.
Check the local weather forecast.
Make sure that you are equipped for the Moor - basic kit would include :-
- Emergency food in addition to any planned meals - glucose sweets, biscuits, nuts etc.
- Map 1:25,000 and compass - and know how to use them.
- Emergency whistle - six blasts every minute is the recognised distress signal.
- A working torch with spare bulb. Powerful enough to signal with to help us find you.
- Small first aid kit - plasters + small bandages.
- Survival bag - as big as you are and bright orange colour.
- Dry spare clothing in a plastic bag (and mobile phone?).
- Good ankle supporting boots are a must.
- Waterproofs are a MUST for Dartmoor !
Be aware of standard distress calls on whistles or torches......
A casualty would blow/flash SIX times a minute on their whistle/torch, and would be answered by THREE blasts/flashes from a Rescue Team.The DRG use horns that are quite distinct from a whistle and carry well in the wind to attract a search subject's attention.