The Autumnal Woods of South West Dartmoor

Living in Exeter I'm only a short drive away from large parts of Dartmoor National Park. However, there are some parts of Dartmoor that I haven't properly explored and photographed because they feel a bit too far to drive to. In reality, it's probably a physiological thing rather than a reality. Realistically I can get to most parts of Dartmoor in an hour, maybe 75 mins at most.

There is a wooded area near Shaugh Prior on the very south western edge of Dartmoor that I have rarely visited. It has always felt, well, too far away. In reality it's not. It takes about an hour to drive, and you can walk straight into the woods from the car park.

Late last autumn I finally decided to make some time and wander up the River Plym near Shaugh Prior. It wasn't the sole reason I drove to that corner of Dartmoor. I was meeting someone from the OWPG (Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild) for a chat and while I was in the area, and I had time, I would also head out with my camera.

The challenge was where to shoot. It would be the middle of the day and the weather was grey, flat and overcast. When I thought about it though, it was perfect conditions for woodland photography. As a bonus it was the autumn so the woodland colours would hopefully be beautiful.

I gave myself a couple of hours to explore the pathway along the River Plym. And while I did happily spend a couple of hours wandering up and down the river, it was the first place I stopped at that gave me the most pleasing photograph of the afternoon.

**River Play, Dartmoor National Park, Devon** - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, ¼ sec at ISO 500, Kase Filters CPL.

It's an area that needs further exploration by me and because in reality it's not that far from Exeter I'm sure to return there again soon.