Drizzlecombe, Darmoor, Devon, 24 June 2013

 

 

 

Drizzlecombe, Dartmoor.  A night vigil on one the most amazing places for a once in a lifetime event. The Super Moon on the 24th of June, 2013.

We walked along the well worn dirt and gravel tracks, passing sheep with their lambs at their sides. It was a wide open place, windswept and full of mystery.  Over the crest of a 'Tor' the path led across to Ditsworthy Warren House, which most people recognize as Narracotte Farm from the movie 'The War Horse'.  Once bustling with actors, extras, cameras and other Hollywood paraphernalia, it has been relegated back to it's lonely vigil of the surrounding Tors, River Dart and the empty warren.  The windows are boarded up against the elements and so sits with a quiet dignity waiting for it's next moment in the spotlight.  It stands like an oasis wih a few small trees and a stonewall whose holes are large enough that the moorland sheep wander in freely to graze on it's overgrown grass.

 

Passing beyond the house you begin up a sloping
 uneven  path  and not far ahead you can see a solitary sentinel against the skyline as it stands at the end of a row of stones that are very low to the ground.  A plain upright stone.  It is not until you walk past it and look back can you see the odd shape.  Like a hook or knob that protrudes out the at the top. This is called the 'Bone Stone', one of many ancient monoliths erected by a people long since passed.  Not far away is another reminder of these ancient people, 'Giant's Basin',  more commonly know as a cairn [mound of rocks] to the south of the 'bone stone'.  This cairn was robbed many years ago of any treasures it might have held and now stands as a literal shell of itself.  Climbing up to it's crater and standing within the 'bowl' it offers a different perspective of the moor from it's slightly higher vantage point.

 As the dusk settled in, so too did a chill which made the evening feel more like late autumn than late June [A good fleece is a great idea when the plan is to be out on the moors at any time but be sure to have one on hand if you plan to be out into the twilight hours]. We sat and waited for the show to begin. And what a show. It is very hard to describe the scene and unfortunately the photos do not do it justice, but from the pitch blackness of the night a slight glow of white began to appear just above the crest of a distant hill.  The light grew brighter until the edge of a massive orb finally broke the surface.  It seemed to take forever as it slowly rose above the horizon and began to dwarf the hillside. The atmosphere was peaceful and calm. The breeze that we had felt for most of the evening seemed to have subsided or perhaps we just didn't notice. The spectacle before us was so mesmerizing.  Breathtaking. It was one of those times where you don't care what time it.  You know in your heart and soul that you are witnessing something very special. 
Time seemed to stand still.  We watched in silence...
 

When we finally did begin our retreat, the moon was well up in the night sky above us.  Our path lit only by the moon which cast the whole of the moor in silvery shades of grey. Retracing our steps we once again passed by Ditsworthy House which was bathed in moonlight and shadow.  The day had ended. It was now 1am and the cold of the night was sinking in. Our hands were cold and our breath was mist in the air, but it had been worth it.



NEXT UP A VISIT TO A SHIMMERING POOL OF WATER WITH LINKS TO KING ARTHUR AND HIS FAMOUS SWORD 'EXCALIBER'