In September we joined a storytelling walk, organised by the The Museum of Dartmoor Life, as part of their Magic and Myth exhibition. Before setting off, Comms Officer Helen spoke to the group about our 3Ps Leave No Trace wild toileting initiative and shared her top tips on a successful wild pee.
The walk was led by Jane Ingram of the Ramblers Association and took around 2.5 hours at a gentle pace, with a range of ages in the group of twenty people who had booked on. It was a free outing offered by the museum, in collaboration with the DPA and the Ramblers Association, aimed at inspiring people to connect with the stories of Dartmoor.
We began by heading towards Wistman’s Wood, before stopping outside the ancient oak trees to hear the tale of the wild hunt and the wisht hounds kenneled in the very heart of the forest. Helen also told the story of an unlucky farmer who crossed paths with the Dark Huntsman, whilst crossing the moor on the way home from market.
After this, we were privileged to climb up to Crockern Tor and look down at the very patch of land which, in the well-known folktale, Old Crockern once warned a greedy farmer off ploughing. Old Crockern said: ‘if you so much as scratch my skin with a ploughshare, I’ll tear out your pockets!’ The warning wasn’t heeded, but the farmer’s efforts to make a fortune by cultivating the moor failed and he left Dartmoor, defeated and penniless.
Hannah from Moorland Guides Dartmoor Walks was in the group and we all took a moment to reflect on greed, the importance of access to wild spaces and the joy of exploring Dartmoor. As highlighted by the exhibition at the Museum of Dartmoor Life, the rich tapestry of stories associated with many locations on the moor are an important part of our cultural heritage. Preservation of the landscape also includes the preservation of our connection with it through story, and much folklore still carries a relevant message in the modern day, as Old Crockern being adopted as a focus for recent rallies about access to the moor goes to prove.
The Magic and Myth exhibition at the Museum of Dartmoor Life is open until early November 2024.