Voices of Dartmoor

From conservation to cists; in conversation with Dartmoor Paul

In this episode I was delighted to meet up with the fantastic Paul Rendell, also known as 'Dartmoor Paul'. We found a sheltered spot nestled underneath Bell Tor to enjoy the view on a blustery day and to talk about Paul's life on Dartmoor. He shared his earliest experience of Dartmoor that ignited his love of this area of the world and his particular interest in Burrator Reservoir and the tragic story surrounding it. We talked about his involvement in the discovery of a Bronze Age burial cist on Cut Hill, the origins of letterboxing and his involvement in this traditional moorland activity. We also chatted about his work as a Dartmoor guide, his penchant for spooky stories and his passion for conservation. It was a fantastic chat that we really enjoyed having. You can find out more about Paul and his work at www.paulrendelldartmoor.co.uk.

Sacred Sites with Dartmoor's Daughter

In this episode, we were so delighted to walk from Cold East Cross with Emma Cunis, from Dartmoor's Daughter. With a wealth of knowledge and a deep love of the land, we could have spoken to Emma about a whole range of different subjects but for this episode we settled on delving into the sacred sites of Dartmoor. We chatted about the history of these sites, the various theories about them and why people are still drawn to them today. She introduced me to the concept of phenomenology and explained how she blends it with archaeology on her walks. We also talked about the art of dowsing, the significance of these sites and the role that they play in facilitating connection with the land and our place within it. It was such an interesting conversation and we're very grateful to Emma for sharing her time and thoughts with us. You can find out more about her work and see her upcoming walks at www.dartmoorsdaughter.com.

Grief, loss & the liminal nature of Dartmoor

In this episode of the podcast, I was delighted to be walking on the moor with Keith Lambeth. Keith is the man behind Out There on Dartmoor and has over 35 years of backpacking and mountaineering experience with over 25 years active service in Dartmoor Search and Rescue team. Most recently, he qualified as an outdoor therapist and will be incorporating this into the work he does on Dartmoor. Keith joined me to talk about grief and loss within the context of the landscape on Dartmoor. We talked about how the moors can be used as a metaphor for grief, the liminal nature of the space and how the outdoors can be used as a therapeutic tool. It was such an interesting conversation and we took some delicious tangents off to explore related areas surrounding access, how death is woven into many of the traditional Dartmoor tales and our attitude to death these days. You can find out more about Keith and the work he does over at www.outthereondartmoor.blogspot.com.

Rock Idols, The River Dart & The Dartmoor Tors Festival

In this episode, I was so delighted to take a stroll alongside the River Dart with the fabulous Sophie Pierce. Sophie is is a writer and broadcaster based on the edge of Dartmoor. She has a deep interest in our relationship with wild places and came to talk to me about her relationship with Dartmoor, how it deepened after the tragic death of her son Felix and the work she does relating to Dartmoor. It was a gentle and nourishing conversation as we discussed what being outdoors does to the soul, the role of Dartmoor as she navigated an unexpected loss, her love of swimming in wild spaces and talked about her books and the upcoming Dartmoor Tors festival that she's running. It was an absolute pleasure and we hope you enjoy listening.The paperback of Sophie’s memoir, The Green Hill: Letters to a son, is published on April 23rd 2026 with Wilton Square Books [https://wiltonsquarebooks.com/products/the-green-hill?variant=52330058678599].  Sophie is also co-author, with Alex Murdin of Rock Idols: A Guide to Dartmoor in 28 Tors [https://wildthingspublishing.com/product/rock-idols-dartmoor/]. Together they are co-founders of the Dartmoor Tors Festival [https://dartmoortorsfestival.co.uk/], which this year takes place 30th April – 4th May. You can find out more at www.sophiepierce.co.uk [http://www.sophiepierce.co.uk/], on Instagram: @mssophiepierce and on Bluesky @smpierce.bsky.social

A lifetime on Dartmoor; the extraordinary antics of Simon Dell

In this episode, I was so delighted to sit down with the affectionately nicknamed 'Mr Dartmoor', Simon Dell. Simon fell in love with the moors as a young boy and has never been far from them ever since. Over his extraordinary life, Simon has served as a pacifist police officer (he says he talks enough to subdue anyone into custody!), guided groups of all ages and from all walks of life across the moors and was an integral member of the Tavistock chapter of Dartmoor Search & Rescue, being involved in the development of an innovative new search system and a founding member of the Search & Rescue Dogs Association. As well as talking to me about all of the above, we discussed the Ten Tors, his recent award from The Dartmoor Society and he shared some of his favourite anecdotes from a lifetime spent on the moors. It was a captivating and entertaining conversation and one I felt privileged to be part of. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did speaking to him!