ANOTHER TOR.....ANOTHER SHAPE.....

ANOTHER TOR.....ANOTHER SHAPE....

Still making our way across the Dartmoor landscape.....here is another Tor and yet another shape. In the background can be seen it's Sister Tor sat on the skyline.....When the weather is bad, these natural structures can offer a very useful  protection from the harsh elements for both sheep and any passing walker.........

THE RINGASTAN

THE RINGASTAN - DARTMOOR

Looking like a fairy ring this small stone circle is known as The Ringastan (meaning ring of stones). It is also known as The Runnage Circle as well as the Soussons Common Cairn Circle.... 
This stone circle is situated just twenty metres from a small road and it dates from the Bronze Age. The circle consists of 22 visible stones with a diameter of 8.6 metres. 
There has been talk of recent witchcraft activities taking place at this site, but whether or not that is true, it is a truly magical site to visit.....

HUNTINGDON WARREN CLAPPER BRIDGE

CLAPPER BRIDGE AT HUNTINGDON WARREN

As well as the Standing stones.... Stone circles and Tors, Dartmoor is also famous for its many Clapper bridges. 
According to the Dartmoor National Park Authority the word 'clapper' derives from an Anglo-Saxon word  (cleaca) meaning 'bridging the stepping stones'.
The definition of a clapper bridge is flat stones held in place only by their own weight. Some of them have only one slab but they can have up to nine. 
Some of the bridges have pillars consisting of stones, some are just laid directly onto the banks.
The one shown in the above photograph crosses the Western Wella Brook and is often used by walkers making their way along the 'Two Moors Way' National trail.

DARK WOODS........

DARK WOODS.....

Dartmoor is not all open moorland and tors, there are a number of wooded areas. This image is of a small woodland area that I walked through on a recent backpacking trip. 
Most of the Dartmoor woodland areas tend to be a mix of overgrown trees and moss covered rocks............almost Tolkein-esque in their appearance....... dark gloomy and eerily quiet.

LONGSTONE...

THE SHOVEL DOWN LONGSTONE

On Shovel Down near Chagford Common on Dartmoor can be found the Longstone. 
This standing stone is about three metres in height and it is thought to be over 3,500 years old. 
In the year 1240 it was recorded as a boundary stone mentioned in the Perambulation of the Forest Bounds. 
Shovel Down is a good place to visit for those who are interested in these structures....As well as the Longstone, a Stone Circle, Bronze age Stone Rows and a Cairn can all be found here as well.

WHITE MOOR DOWN

WHITE MOOR DOWN STONE CIRCLE

This is an image of White Moor Down stone circle on Dartmoor. The circle which is a bronze age structure is also known as Whit Moot stone circle. There is an aura of mystery and almost a dark foreboding surrounding standing stones whether they are in a line, a circle or just standing on their own.......plenty of history and plenty of past shadows here.....

DOOR TO THE GARDEN..

DOOR TO THE GARDEN...TITCHFIELD

Another image from Titchfield Abbey.......this time a view of the garden area through one of the outer wall door frames. 
Back in the day when the Abbey was in use, this garden area would  have been built on, indeed it still has foundations still visible near the tree.

OPEN WINDOWS.....

OPEN WINDOWS

Inside the central section of the medieval Tichfield Abbey near Farnham in Hampshire. No glass in these windows and no roof on the building either......