For my lazy poet Thursday I posted a photo of the Ten Commandments of Dartmoor and as Bulldog at http://visitstothepark.wordpress.com/ was intrigued I said I’d do a post about it. Each blue square on this map is just one kilometre but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a really easy walk, if your knees aren’t brilliant and you have asthma it is still exercise.
We couldn’t find anywhere to park in Buckland in the Moor, so we drove on to Cold East Cross, parked beside the road and walked up Beacon common.
This is the view as you approach the stones, looking towards the beacon plantation. Incidently the Beacon here was lit as part of a chain of fires to mark both the millenium and the Queen’s jubilee.
So to the Commandment stones. In 1928 a local landowner William Whitely commissioned WA Clement, a stonemason from Exmouth to carve the tablets with 1547 letters at a cost of £50. Mr Clement lived in a hut nearby while he carried out the work which took about 9 weeks. As well as the Commandments there is a favourite quote of Whitely’s,
But there’s a power, which man can wield
When mortal aid is vain,
That eye, that arm, that love to reach,
The listening ear to gain
That power is prayer.
The stones were re-carved in 1995 by the Dartmoor National Park Authority. These are some more views from the beacon.
Heading back down you follow the granite wall.
Enjoy the peace and clean air.
Perhaps a muddy cool down – I’ve shown you this one in an earlier post!
Smile if your knees aren’t completely wrecked!
Find a shady spot to dip your toes in the icy water.
and make sure the dogs are dunked clean!
I hope you enjoyed the walk and learning a little more about the Ten Commandments of Dartmoor.
Lucid Gypsy 
This is so interesting, Gilly, and I did enjoy the walk very much. That’s a lovely photo of you. I bet your doggies really enjoyed themselves. 🙂
The moors are their favourite place!
I loved the stones 🙂 so lovely!
FABULOUS Post Gilly! I tried to read the stones….very reflective and such blue skies!
Oh thanks, it was almost too hot for the walk!
Thank you for the details Gilly. Your previous post had me totally intrigued. Love your smile 😀
Oh bless you Madhu, I prefer the other side of the camera!
Yes, this was a lovely walk. Thanks for the pictures. I experienced chills when reading the stones. What an uplifting idea.
It is a special place, glad you liked it!
This is just such a lovely post, I love the photos the story and the wonderful shots of you and your dogs. It’s lovely seeing a little more of you and your life. I have asthma too……it’s a bugger!!
Thanks so much Seonaid 🙂 have you been to Dartmoor?
Not since I was a little girl, about 7 years old, and I only remember the ponies 🙂
Would love to visit again as it looks great for walking and for dogs.
Gilly you certainly know how to put together a post. Beautifully done and you chose a summers day.
Aww thanks my lovely 🙂
Such beautiful pictures and such interesting stories about the area! Thank you.
Thanks Sharon, its a lovely area.
I love seeing the map, and then realising it is quite a climb, with wonderful views and abundant fresh air!
It was a hot day and I was a touch wheezy but it would be easy for you!
It must have been such an enjoyable walk!
The moor is a great place to walk – unless the mist sets in!
That is very cool… and who new they were there! Well unless you a more local. Thanks for being a “tourist in your own town” 😉
It’s one of the known tourist sites, but I’ve never seen anyone else there when I’ve gone!
It must be more of a tourist place for locals…;) I have never heard of it. I have been to the UK a number of times and I don’t remember seeing that in any guide book or hearing about it either. Shame since it looks like a great hike too.
oops that should be “ARE” more local… not “a”
This is just brilliant… and what a great share… would never have known these stones existed.. and £50 seems so little to pay for such work, but then in those days it was probably quite a sum… I love the long stone wall, I assume this was probably a farm fence, but can you imagine the amount of work that went into it, moving and placing all those stones… but as for the ten commandments… I think it is brilliant….I love the saying as well….
I’m glad you liked it Rob, thanks for giving me the idea! The dry stone walls are all over the moor and most are very ancient, maintaining them is a skill that not many people have.
Well never knew about those stone slabs! Always good to learn something close to home!
The stone tablets are amazing. I’ll be showing this to my 6-yr-old tmrw, for a visual on the verse he’s memorizing: “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise…”
Thank you, maybe one day you’ll get to see them!
Thanks for the support and your time here. =)
An exciting adventure. The stone commandments had me reflect on its moving, precious words.
Oh Gilly I don’t know what to say. That is a beautiful prayer and I’m all teary-eyed! 🙂
Looks and sounds like quite the hike, Gilly. Interesting about the chain of fires, I hadn’t known that, and, of course, the commandments … something I missed, something to return for. 🙂
I love that wall!
Beautifully done! Again, thank you for the tour.
Love these pics!