This week I took the Bronica SQ-Ai out to Kings Tor via Merrivale Stone Rows then on to Swelltor and Foggintor Quarries. The weather was fine with some cloud perfect for Fuji Provia 100F. As usual I took my Fuji X-T2 for those on the move shots and to replicate the film shots in case I don’t get the scans back in time for this Blog (spoiler I didn't so all these shots are digitals from the X-T2).
Kings Tor Lone Tree.
Foggintor Quarries.
Having parked in the 4 Winds Car Park near Merrivale Quarry I set of for Kings Tor via the Merrivale Stone Rows, this was the first shoot location for the Bronica.
On the way over I couldn’t resist a PANO of the Quarry with Gt Staple and Roos Tors in the background.
From the Stone Rows I headed over to Kings Tor, first stop the corner of the Newtake to cross the stream. On the way down there is a huge Standing Stone (Menhir) sitting within a Stone Circle.
I reached the Newtake wall and followed it around to the stream crossing point.
Once over the stream I climbed up the side of Kings Tor, I was looking for that Lone Tree but on the forward slopes I noticed a great view of Vixen Tor and the rocky outcrop on the lower slopes of Kings Tor, another Bronica shoot.
I searched around on top of Kings Tor, there are loads of impressive rock formations up there.
Eventually I found the Lone Tree, time for another Bronica shoot.
After the tree shoot I headed over to Swelltor and the Quarries, these are quite the hidden gem less well known than Foggintor so less people around.
There is plenty of evidence of the former workings at these quarries.
Time for another Bronica shot (you can see Vixen Tor in the trees through the gap).
As I made my way over to Foggintor Quarries looking South I could see the old service track for the Quarries underneath Leeden Tor and that old stone bridge that leads to nowhere.
It wasn’t long before I reached Foggintor Quarries, I made my way up the southern edge with 3 shots in mind for the Bronica. First up was from the top of that southern edge.
I had 2 other shots in mind but from here I could see they wouldn’t be worth using film on. One was from the North entrance but that area was mobbed by people out for the day (didn’t bother to photograph them, there were children with them), the other was of the old Quarry Captain’s building but that was mobbed by cattle.
I decided to finish the film from the top where I was along the southern edge trying to find shots with no people in them.
I set off back to the car having finished the film, on the way past Yellowmead Farm I heard helicopters (again) but couldn’t see them (quite normal for Military Helicopters, they fly low). Finally they came out from behind the high ground to my right, 2 Merlins, I managed to grab a quick shot as they flew over 4 Winds Car Park (and my car).
One final shot as I made my way back to the car through the boggy ground (thankful that we’ve had a dry spell).
That’s all for this week folks, as always comments welcome.
Tags: 52 Challenge Dartmoor Photowalk Swelltor and Foggintor Quarries Kings Tor Dartmoor Merrivale Stone Rows
such a restful scene.
such a restful scene.
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