I want this blog to be a collection of my thoughts, stories and photos. But mostly, I want this blog to be relatable, accessible and a way of sharing my love of walking in the hills. In order to do that, I think laying myself bare (in a very metaphorical sense) with an “about me” section probably helps.
I’m not a moorland baby. Nor did I grow up walking over hills or exploring the wonders of the countryside. I haven’t even worked in the outdoor space (having spent my career in the NHS) nor do I know anyone that does. I’m a Londoner (yes, I’m one of those that moved to the countryside after lockdown), who took a risk and moved to Dartmoor. That’s how I ended up here – no planning, no thought, and much to her consternation, no real discussion with my wife. I took a punt and ended up lucky, very lucky, and I haven’t looked back.
So, I first came upon Dartmoor as a naïve city boy who took a punt. This wasn’t my first introduction to walking through the hills of the UK however. As a child, I spent the majority of my summers being dragged over mountains and through river valleys in the Lake District by my dad, who was a keen hiker. I therefore came to Dartmoor with a base knowledge of what a map is and how a compass works, but my knowledge and skill were limited by a passion for Arsenal Football Club and the pub, meaning I didn’t spend as much time out and about as I should have.
Moving to Devon therefore gave me, my wife and our future child the opportunity for a different lifestyle. My real introduction to Dartmoor came when I stumbled over the “All the Tors Challenge” (https://allthetorschallenge.com/) on a reddit post. My wife and I wanted a structured way of exploring the moor and visiting all the Tors felt like the perfect way to do it. Even better, it gave us a really good way of exploring the best pubs Dartmoor has to offer, because finishing a long hike in the pub is almost the law down here. So, I ordered us a book each, dusted off the compass and OS Map and our Dartmoor adventures began.
Our love of the moors has only grown over the years and this has expanded to a love of the countryside across the Southwest, the Brecon Beacons and the Lake District (this one is a bit of a cheat as my wife grew up there and I spent most summers of my childhood there) and hiking in the hills and uplands of the UK. This is a love we’re hoping to instil in our daughter who was born as we were halfway through our Tors list (and who at two years old was able to point at a rock and shout “Tor”).
On a personal level, the love of hiking that I developed has led me to gaining my Hill and Moorland Leader Qualification, joining the Army Cadet Force as an adult instructor and leading groups in the hills.
My ongoing adventures in the hills have coincided with new jobs, new houses, newborns and new qualifications. The solitude of the hills has given me solace during times of stress, laughs during times of sadness and an escape when everything felt closed. I want to share my love and enthusiasm with others, especially those who are less able to access the moorland terrain, and this is why I set up this blog. I don’t know where this blog is heading, what it will contain and what I’ll put on it, but I hope my passion shines through and you get a few funny tales, considered (although not always sensible, coherent or ordered) thoughts and local folklore. I hope that for the few minutes you spend reading a post or flicking through photos, I am able to transport you into the hills and possibly even inspire.
Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and I hope you like what it offers. Please feel free to get in touch through moorlandramblings@gmail.com with any feedback, requests or just to say hello.
George
Moorland Ramblings 