As part of our collaborative ‘Dartmoor Calling’ project with Clapham Film Unit, local guides led two Sylvia Sayer Walks. These walks took in some of the sites on Dartmoor which Lady Sayer campaigned so passionately to protect.

We are delighted to now share a printable walk leaflet, which includes both written instructions and a map of the Princetown circular walk route. This walk commemorates Sylvia Sayer’s successful campaign to stop Swincombe Valley and Foxtor Mire being lost under a reservoir. The entire loop is 13.82km and we recommend allowing 4 hours to complete it.

Including tors, a communications tower subject to a failed campaign, Geoff Sayer’s memorial gate, the ‘Crock of Gold’ cist and spectacular views of Swincombe Valley, this walk connects Lady Sayer’s campaigning to tangible results.

Physical copies are available in the Princetown Visitor Centre, or there’s a printable PDF version free to download from our website.

Working with Charlotte to support the Dartmoor Calling project has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for the DPA, which has highlighted the vital work, both historically and ongoing, that people are putting in to protect Dartmoor. The invitation to share stories of campaigning, activism and conservation was warmly received, with a broad cross-section of the community coming forward to share their projects and hopes for the landscape. As an access and conservation charity, it has been inspiring to hear of the many successes with regenerative farming and campaigns to secure access to the moor and halt inappropriate development. The legacy of the project is also hugely important, as many new people have connected with Dartmoor through the documentary, walks and book. We hope that these people will go on to build a closer connection with this unique landscape and maybe find their own campaigning voices in the future. 

To explore more of the moor, contact a Dartmoor Guide via Dartmoor Walking Tours and Moorland Guides Dartmoor Walks.