Ever since I was a young man, having read The Hound of the Baskervilles, I've wanted to see the moor. Not sure I'll make it...thanks for sharing. And your hound seems infinitely sweeter in disposition compared to the legendary hound on the moor.
Hahaha, don’t let her fluffy docile appearance fool you, off camera she is a truly terrifying beast!! I love it up on the moors, atmospheric to the point of bleak, especially when the mist comes rolling in! Glad you enjoyed it Ray, Atb, Simon.
Simon has an impressive command of the “Kings English” and speaks so well that he could and should be a professional presenter with a show of his own. Simon’s channel (and Andy of Kent Survival) are the best channels on all of RU-vid. Watching his videos makes me want to fly across the pond and walk the Peddars Way, the Norfolk Coast, and Dartmoor. Simon could be a “tourism ambassador” for the official Visit Britain website. For what it's worth: I’m an American living in the Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona, USA.
Simon, I came across your page by chance. Looking for some videos on Dartmoor and different places where others walk. I am lucky enough to see the moors from my home and just love walking on them. I watched your video of Maggie and yourself on the moors and totally loved it. I have now spend most evenings for the past week watching and catching up with your RU-vid channel. I am blown away with your knowledge and skill and look forward to watching the rest of your videos. Off to the moors now but I know what I’ll be doing when I get back. 😃👍👍👍
Haven’t been on Dartmoor for many a year, it looked as I remembered it, bleak, wet and windy. Well done to the pair of you an extremely enjoyable film. ⛺️
Hi Mike - yep, your description is very accurate! I spent a lot of time on Dartmoor as a youngster, on yearly school expeditions - I can't remember the sun shining for more than about 10 minutes - but I do remember being wet and wind-blasted!! still love it though, makes you feel alive! Thanks for watching, Atb, Simon.
Shame that some TV producers don't give you a show on one of the major channels Simon! I'm sure their ratings would go up if you did a series about your adventures. I would much prefer to watch travel programs presented by normal, decent blokes like yourself rather than by some cranky ex-celebrity. Also your wonderful style and enthusiasm would encourage thousands of people, especially youngsters, to enjoy the great outdoors! You could call your show something like "One man and his dog (and canoe)", or "Long distance walkies" , etc, etc. Whatever forms your films would take, I for one would love to see them!!! Thanks so much for your great work so far! Best of luck to you, cheers.
You're very welcome Simon. I think you are so liked by everyone because you are sincere and naturally come across as a kind, patient older brother, best friend, and favourite teacher all rolled into one! You're style is the best!! Thanks again and please keep the videos coming. Cheers.
Always seems slightly shocking to see you outside your home territory Simon. . darned foreigner visitors hehehe lol. Surprising how much Maggie looks like a Dartmoor Pony. No wonder she looks so at home, bless her.
A nice time out with Maggie. I find moorland a little bleak for my tastes, but walking on moorland makes finding those little pockets of woodland all the more special. Very enjoyable. Cheers Al
Knucker - Thanks Al, it certainly did feel a bit bleak and desolate at points, but I quite like that! The woods and mountains would always win if I had to choose, but makes a nice contrast. Atb, Simon.
Brings back memories of my four day yomp across Dartmoor with two friends. Never been so wet and tired. Worth it though. I am sure Maggie would have liked Hound Tor.
Cheers Gabriel - glad you enjoyed the stroll! It is a special place, haunting, bleak at times but yes, as you perfectly described ‘emotionally poignant’ Atb, Simon.
Cheers Mike! It’s a wild, windswept and somewhat barren landscape but I love it! Some of our best preserved ancient woodland can be found here too. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for coming along!! Atb, Simon.
I believe you have a somewhat tight community up there, I Sub to Palua and Her husband, but your sollo style more simulates my own. I'll reciprocate on my Ch, this Spring, Your sure to enjoy that and would love having U along in Oregon. You have a Great Demeanor Simon, that's something that ranks high with me! Thanks for keeping it real I love both your Ch.s! .. Mike, & The Kody Dog
Oregon Mike H - thanks Mike, I look forward to watching it. Just one thing I’m a bit confused by - you said you like both my channels? I only have the one - that I’m aware of that is!! Atb, Simon.
Woops I memt Instagram as a "2nd Ch." Excuse me. I believe I first learned of your Ch. through Instagram, If I'm wrong about that as well then please, do you know of a good Psychologist I could be referred to? .. HA! I know you would greatly enjoy my Instagram feed if you have not yet seen it: Oregon_Mike_H "thats the profile ID" Later Simon and Thanks Again! ... Mike.
+Hike with Mike - Cheers Mike, it really is beautiful, in a rugged, raw and slightly eerie way! Let's you know that Mother Nature is still boss too!! Atb, Simon.
Good video and nice to see someone other than the normal channels I watch that go up Dartmoor shame about the weather in a clear day you can see for miles from sheep's Tor 😁👍
Simon, you should really take the top surface of grass off if cooking like that and then place it back when finished this way you wont mark the ground. Good vid
Love Dartmoor, always used to go with my parents letterboxing, my Mum still loves to walk now on the Moors, her favourite place, all the best and stay safe, Taz
Haha - you are right on all three counts!! I’ve only ever had one day on Dartmoor when the sun stayed out - always seems to mist over or rain! 😁 love it though!
I recently hiked from ivy ridge to Princetown. I planned to take the two moors way and pick up Abbots way. However, I got a bit lost and finished up fighting my way across Red Lake Mire. I would not recommend this lol.
What did Maggie get to eat for lunch? I hope she got something. She's a good dog. What breed of dog is she? Why do you always keep her muzzled and on a leash? Are dogs allowed to run wild and free in areas where there aren't too many people like in a moor? I like the video. I just hope Mags got some food to eat too.
Maggie gets fed twice a day as it recommended for dogs, she did have some of my stew though as a treat! What you call a muzzle is actually a head collar - Newfoundland’s are notorious pullers - their instinct is to pull with a conventional collar, it’s just what they do - a head collar gently discourages this by pulling the head gently to the side when they pull. As for dogs off lead, it’s not so much people that are the issue, it’s livestock on the moors - sheep, cows and ponies roam freely on the moors - it’s their home, I don’t think dogs should be running about disturbing and distressing them, just my opinion! 😁
@@simonablokeinthewoods Yes I agree with you. I thought maybe there was some law that states you have to have her on a lease at all times. Something like that. I like Maggie quite a bit. I think she is a great dog and so well trained. Good job Simon. She looks pretty happy with you as her human DAD. I've never been in the moors but they look pretty remote and like a great place in which to hike and just get away from other people, Eh? Thanks for another really great video Simon!
Not a great great fan of Dartmoor, its ok but I'm not very fond of treeless landscapes such as that. Love those little remnants of the forest that are left on Dartmoor though, Piles Copse, Wistmans Wood etc etc, absolutely fabulous, thanks again mate.
+James S D - Cheers James, I too love the woodland, and there certainly are some beautiful little snippets about! I also love the exposure of open moorland though, makes a great contrast! Add to that some interesting rocky outcrops, a stream or two and you've got a fairly varied area. But yes, it can be pretty bleak and windswept too!! Glad you enjoyed! Atb, Simon.
Dartmoor was covered in woodland once upon a time, the end of the last Ice age and until our Neolithic ancestors began to clear the forest, as was most of Britain of course. Its an artificial landscape moorland really, if it wasn't managed and if left it would just revert to forest after some time, once again as would most of the UK. As I say I don't like treeless landscapes, not too fond of the Scottish highlands over it but love the bits that are still wooded, thanks mate.
James S D - I'd love to go back in time to see what our environment looked like in the days of our ancestors. I heard it would have been possible to walk across the country from east anglia to the Welsh coast without leaving tree cover! A woodsmans paradise.
Oh yes, wouldn't that be fabulous! With the cattle, sheep and deer present on Dartmoor, tree saplings are gone before they've got a chance to grow up. But I've noticed that there are initiatives, planting trees on Dartmoor. Around Moretonhampstead there's quite a large area of hills covered by woodland and on the bus to Exeter I've seen woodland with quite a large number of deer in it. In my 4,5 months of living in Moretonhampstead I've seen more deer than I've seen throughout my life, in Holland. I'm 67 now. There's hardly wild countryside in Holland, except the forests of the Royal family, which are private. The Northern islands of Holland are relatively left to nature, with Terschelling's National Park De Boschplaat: a long sandy beach and dunes with woodland.
That is a good point you raise! It depends on where I’m using it - I carry a square of carbon felt that I sometimes use if I’m worried about scorching the ground.
Nicely done, an area I know very well (I look after Nuns Cross Farm) If you ever fancy a walking partner when you're down give me a shout, our mutual acquaintance Andy (Kent Survival) has my email and can vouch I don't eat people....often.