When Dartmoor Turns Purple - Photographing the Magic of Heather Season
For a few short weeks each year, Dartmoor transforms into a purple landscape as the heather blooms across the tors. This video follows my journey across the moor, through sunrise, sunset, changing weather, and shifting conditions to photograph the heather at its absolute best.
The Changing Seasons of Dartmoor
The UK is a special place for landscape photographers, and I feel fortunate to live here. Every season dramatically changes the feel of the landscape and provides photographers with both opportunities and challenges. Those seasonal changes can also be seen at a local level where areas of the UK celebrate special natural events such as bluebells in Dorset, the autumn colours of the New Forest, or snowdrops in north Yorkshire.
But for me, the local seasonal event that I get most excited about occurs in late summer when the heather blooms across Dartmoor. I’m slightly biased as Dartmoor is my local area, but the purple heather adds a splash of colour to an already dramatic landscape. The other thing I like about the heather season on Dartmoor is that it lasts. Peak bluebells on Dartmoor, or thrift on the Cornish coast might only last a couple of weeks, but the heather will stay strong for 6 to 8 weeks. The longer something is about, the more opportunities there is to photograph it.
With this knowledge, I decided that I would focus my efforts this summer on capturing a series of strong heather themed photographs. Even if the weather was poor for a week, or I was away, I'd still have plenty of opportunities to get up onto Dartmoor and photograph locations I know are good for heather, or perhaps even discover some new ones.
So how did I get on? Well, I didn't get out as much as I wanted (no surprise there!), but I did get out enough times to create a collection of Dartmoor heather photos. It was a decent season, lasting nearly 8 weeks and I'm happy with the results. I do however appreciate that heather season finished a couple of months ago, but I'm finally ready to share it with you, and the photographs I captured. Enjoy!
Do you have a favourite seasonal event to photograph? Let me know in the comments below.
My Dartmoor Heather Collection for 2025
Haytor Heather, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 800
Bite-Size Blog Post #35 - Hookney Tor - Dartmoor National Park
Sometimes it's the small rocky outcrops rather than the tors that are the highlight of a location.
In Search of Heather - Part 5
If you've been reading my blog over the last few weeks, you'll know that I've been busy exploring Dartmoor looking to capture some compelling images of heather. After a slow start, I've had a good run of capturing photographs I am happy with. Not one to quit while I'm ahead and finish on a positive note, I decided to push for another photograph by heading to Hookney Tor.
In part 2 of this mini heather themed series of blog posts I mentioned that I struggled with finding a balanced composition at Hookney Tor, so I eventually changed location and photographed Grimspound instead. However, I was sure that with a bit more exploration I would find a composition featuring Hookney Tor. One observation I made during my previous visit was that I thought that Hookney Tor might be better at sunset rather than sunrise.
Despite some pleasant evening conditions up on Hookney Tor, I continued to struggle to find a composition with the tor and the heather. In a moment of frustration, I walked to the viewpoint of Grimspound to capture some photographs, but I was using the same composition as my previous visits, and arguably, the images weren't as good.
Grimspound Heather, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1/13 sec at ISO 64.
Over the years that I've been photographing Dartmoor National Park I've come to the conclusion that not all tors are worth photographing. Perhaps Hookney Tor was going to fall into this category? When it started to cloud over, I packed my bag and started walking back to the car.
It was at this point that I got inspired. On the path was a small rocky outcrop which was catching the light from the setting sun. There was even a small clump of heather to include in the composition. I frantically got my camera back out of the bag and grabbed a few shots. I was just in time as no sooner had I captured the image the light was gone.
Hookney Heather, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 23mm, f/13, 1/4 sec at ISO 64.
While the image isn't as good as my previous heather photographs this year, I am still pleased with the result. Especially as I thought I was going home with no photographs. But I also learnt an important lesson. During my visits to Hookney Tor I had been very focused on the large rock stacks and making them part of my composition. What I also need to keep an eye out for is the small things. The small rocky outcrops of Dartmoor, that despite their size, can still make for good photographs.
Will there be a part 6 to my Dartmoor National Park heather series of photographs? I don't think so, but you never know!
Bite-Size Blog Post #34 - Honeybag Tor - Dartmoor National Park
My run of good luck with photographing the heather on Dartmoor continues with a visit to Honeybag Tor.
In Search of Heather - Part 4
In my last blog post I shared with you some of the heather themed photographs I captured at Chinkwell Tor. With the heather looking good at that part of Dartmoor National Park, I decided to keep the momentum going and heading to Chinkwell's neighbouring tor, Honeybag Tor.
It was a further 10 days on since I'd been to Chinkwell Tor so I had high hopes this would be the peak of heather season, and I was not disappointed. There were some beautiful clumps of heather mixed in with the yellow of the gorse bushes. I just needed to find a composition and more importantly, wait for a break in the cloud. I still had a bit of time before sunrise, so I decided to have a wee wander about.
Though I'd never properly taken the time to photograph Honeybag Tor, as I explored the area I started to pick out compositions. But my big worry was that most of these would suit a sunset rather than a sunrise, and what I thought were they good compositions didn't actually include any heather!
Dartmoor can be a tricky place to photograph though, particularly in flat light. It's hard to previsualise compositions. Or at least I can struggle to previsualise. Not to worry though, mother nature to the rescue! Just as I was about to conclude that the area had nice heather but no suitable compositions, the cloud broke and divine light shone on my composition!
Heather at Honeybag Tor #1, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 1/3 sec at ISO 64.
Knowing that light like that is very fleeting on Dartmoor I immediately got to work and started taking pictures. No sooner has I grabbed a couple of frames and tweaked my composition, the light disappeared. It was a very exciting few minutes and very much a typical Dartmoor photography experience! That is, you wait ages and just when you are on the cusp of giving up and going home, you get 5 minutes of light to work with, and then you are done.
Five minutes is all you need some mornings though. I'd captured my photographs, and I was happy. With two successful shoots under my belt, should I push for a third one? Find out next time.
Heather at Honeybag Tor #2, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 1/3 sec at ISO 64.
Bite-Size Blog Post #33 - Chinkwell Tor - Dartmoor National Park
My journey to photograph the heather on Dartmoor takes a big step forward with a visit to Chinkwell Tor!
In Search of Heather - Part 3
Unlike my trials and tribulations with capturing photographs of thrift, photographing heather should be easier. It's not that the art of photographing heather is easier than thrift, it's just that Dartmoor National Park is considerably closer than Cornwall (where the thrift is). The closeness of Dartmoor means I can go there more often, greatly increasing my chances of capturing a heather themed photograph.
A week on from my visit to Grimspound in my last blog post, I decide this time to visit Chinkwell Tor. Chinkwell Tor has a special place in my photography heart as it's the only other place where I've captured good photographs of heather.
Chinkwell Tor Heather, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/22, 0.4 sec at ISO 64.
However, the saying "past performance does not guarantee future results" is true for a reason, but I arrived at Chinkwell Tor cautiously optimistic. I needn't have worried though. I soon discovered a few clumps of heather beautifully mixed in with the luscious yellow of the gorse bushes. But would I get the weather conditions? Would overcast or clear blue skies spoil the party?
Honeybag Heather #1, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1 sec at ISO 64.
As you can see from the photographs, the answer is no. It's not often everything comes together, but when it does, it's extremely satisfying. I'm not suggesting the photographs here are outstanding, but that's rarely the goal. The goal is always to spend some quality time on Dartmoor, experience the start of a new day, and if possible, capture some photographs that make me happy. And these photographs make me happy.
Saying that, I'll probably head out in a few days again. The heather was looking good, so no point in stopping now.
Honeybag Heather #2, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 29mm, f/13, 1 sec at ISO 64.
Bite-Size Blog Post #32 - Grimspound - Dartmoor National Park
In this blog post I continue my search for a compelling photograph of the heather on Dartmoor by visiting Grimspound.
In Search of Heather - Part 2
In my last blog post I talked about my search for a compelling photograph of the heather around the Haytor area of Dartmoor National Park. As I said in that blog post it was a little early in the heather season to get a good photograph.
Despite that I decided to head out the following morning, but this time to Hookney Tor. Even within the borders of Dartmoor, different areas reach their heather peak at various times so it was a reasonable assumption that a change of location could yield better results.
Arriving at Hookney Tor I found myself a little lost. Creatively speaking that is. Though I've visited Hookney Tor a few times, I'd never taken the time to properly photograph it. There were patches of heather, but I found it difficult to balance the clumps of heather with the tor. It didn't help that it was cloudy, and the landscape looked a bit flat.
I decided that Hookney Tor wasn't working for me, so I opted to photograph a location that I had shot before, Grimspound. I first discovered Grimspound when I visited it in Episode 2 of Discovering Dartmoor. The photograph that I captured during that episode also had heather in it, so there was a danger of capturing the same photograph, but it was my best option.
Grimspound Sunrise #2, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30 f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 1/200 sec at ISO 640.
Grimspound is one of Dartmoor National Parks most important bronze age sites, but it's best photographed from the path leading down from Hookney Tor. I was keen not to repeat the same composition, but despite hunting around for a better one, I kept returning to the same view. However, while the composition might be similar to my first visit during Discovering Dartmoor, the conditions were different, and dare I say better.
Grimspound Sunrise #1, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30 f/4 S at 14mm, f/13, 1/25 sec at ISO 64.
The heather isn't as prominent in the photograph as I might like, but the light coming in from the side is lovely thanks to some diffusion from the clearing cloud. I took two variations of the composition, just changing my position slightly. I'm not sure which one I prefer.
So, my search for a compelling photograph of the heather on Dartmoor continues, but my morning at Hookney Tor and Grimspound was time well spent.
Alone and Together
Landscape photography can be a solitary endeavour and while I truly do appreciate that alone time, it is in the sharing of those images that brings me the greatest satisfaction. Like many photographers, I share my images online, but after reading an article in Outdoor Photography magazine I was inspired to create a new image and print, then give it to someone in my audience. I wanted to create a moment of togetherness.
Landscape Photography on Dartmoor
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with photographing Dartmoor. The conditions up on the moor can be miserable, sometimes even a little cruel for the landscape photographer. If it’s not clear blue skies it’s grey, overcast, and wet. It’s rare for that perfect mix of weather conditions to be present at the right time. Well, it doesn’t happen very often when I’m there.
All that said, when the conditions are magical it is a proper treat to be photographing Dartmoor. It’s exciting, demanding and most of all enjoyable. I don’t always have the video camera along with me when things do go well on Dartmoor but in a rare moment of luck, I had it with me when I got some great conditions up on Chinkwell Tor recently.
In the video below, I share with you the experience of capturing the photographs in this blog post and I select one of those images to create a print. I also tell you that I want to do something special with that print. Want to know what that is? Well, it is all to do with the theme of Alone and Together, but you’ll have to watch the video to find out more.
Chinkwell Tor Photographs
Here are the photographs you saw in the video in a bit more detail. Enjoy!
A Chink in the Sky, Chinkwell Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 15mm, f/13, 1.3 seconds at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad.
Chinkwell Tor Sunrise #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 26mm, f/11, 0.8 seconds at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad and CPL.
Chinkwell and Honeybag Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 20mm, f/11, 0.6 seconds at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad and CPL.
Chinkwell and Honeybag Tor #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 16mm, f/13, 1/5th second at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad and CPL.
Widecombe Rainbow #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 14mm, f/13, 1/3rd second at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad and CPL.