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.