A calm day on Dartmoor and a chance to get out. I originally wanted to go further north east, more around Moretonhampstead, but time didn’t allow so I opted for something nearer. Venford Reservoir is a favourite of mine and North Tor gives great plunging views down into the Dart valley. The reservoir was very low on water, which shows how little rain has fallen on Dartmoor over the summer (similar levels seen at Fernworthy and Burrator), so the minor flooding this week downstream around Exeter and parts of Devon are a surprise. Clearly something is wrong with our river management, when after the first heavy rainfall of the autumn we get floods, there should have been plenty of places for the water to go before it hits the towns downstream.