Those of you that have read my walking blog for a bit will have seen that I quite like a sunset, its rare that I’m up in time for a sunrise but a sunset is definitely one for me. I even try to make a bit of a pilgrimage to the Cox Tor area of Dartmoor to see a really good one each year, around June. However I don’t think that I’ve ever had a sunset walk in the first week of February, and I’d say that this walk is already penciled in for walks of the year. The golden hour colours were magnificent and the timing of our arrival on Wigford Down were almost as impressive as the sunset display. To add to that, if nature’s display wasn’t enough, we had a display of our own human making. Last year I managed to come across 4 fellas walking naked on the edge of Dartmoor, near to Grippers Hill (here), now we arrived at the summit of Sheeps Tor to find it had been taken over by a silent disco. There was a DJ sat at a small desk, with a laptop, bopping away with his headphones on, whilst 50 odd people dressed in thick coats, hats and warm footwear gyrated smoothly under headphones of their own. All bar one that is. He was completely naked, except his headset and knee strap and was doing handstands, cartwheels and frog jumps around the summit!! I was just stunned and was grateful to some stunning views across towards Lee Moor for drawing my gaze away. I can’t imagine that we can beat this experience this year, and alongside the stunning colours and views it certainly will be a walk that lives long in the memory. So there you have it, even in the wilds of Dartmoor, expect anything to happen!

Start – Clearbrook parking

Route – Callisham Tor – Lovaton – Marchant’s Cross – Yeo Farm – Sheepstor – Sheepstor Cross – Maiden Tor – Narrow Tor – Sheeps Tor – Ringmoor Down – Ringmoor Stone Row and Circle – Brisworthy Plantation – Wigford Down

Distance – 9 miles    Start time – 1pm   Time taken – 4hrs 30mins Highest Point – Sheeps Tor 366metres

Weather – Blue skies, sunshine, cold and a glorious ending