https://www.facebook.com/104427609183100/

Jonathan Albacott, Newton Abbot (2026)

25/06/2025

Do you like a Dartmoor tor? Have you seen them all?
If you haven’t, well go to their beck and call!

~~~~~~”Ode to the Tors”~~~~~~

Big tors, little tors
Hanging on the side tors
Up the top of hill tors
Sacred to the ancients Tors

Bagging tors, marching tors
Hiking all the ten tors
North to Okey Hampton tors
Then down to the Peat Cot tors

South tor, north tor
In all directions are the tors
In the east is Easdon tor
Deep down west is West Down tor

Grey tors, green tors,
Lots of different coloured tors
Blackator, White Tor,
And the little Red Trail Tor

Cracking tors, Broken tors
Covering the tree tors
Birch Tor, Okey Tor
Then there is Blackaller Tor

Tower tors, lower tors
Covering the bird tors
Hart Tor, Harter Tor
Eagle rock and Ravens Tor

River tors and summit tors
Reaching to the sky tors
Leather Tor and Yes Tor
Higher Tor and Sharpitor

Bracken tors and snacking tors
Covering the foody tors
Corn hole and Corndon Tor
Buttern tor to Honeybag Tor

Lovers Tor and maidens Tor
All of the romantic tors
Looking up luckey tor
Or you’re met with laughter Tor

It’s boggy down at Fox Tor
Especially at water tors
Watern tor, Lakey tor,
Lakehead Cleave, Lizwell tors

We all met at Crockern’s Tor
Damn close to the evil tors
Devils tor, Pixies’ Tor,
Grimpen mire’s Fox Tor

Cathanger and Kitty Tor
Covering the Catty tors
Cattiscombe and small Cator
Chasing all the Hound Tors

Hidden tors, scattered tors
All over the East tors
Bearacleave, Hisley tors
Trenchford and Wray cleave tors

One two and three tors,
There are oh so many tors
Hike them all on Dartmoor
Find them all, learn their lore!

27/11/2024

A long delay- apologies!

But here is a poem about a murderous monk, who took in travellers, poisoned them and threw them down a well. However, he has not left, and him and his victims still moan and groan at the Ladywell at Lidwell.

Travel carefully on moonlit nights at Haldon!

~~~~~ “The Murderous Monk of Haldon” ~~~~~

In the mist of Haldon Hill
Lived a lonely monk
But in the woods, blood would spill
From those who came to bunk

For here on great Haldon Hill
He killed all who came
At Lidwell he’d hide until -
This devil was to blame

At gods house on Haldon hill
Trav’llers stopped on by
Poisoned them, their drinks would spill
And down the well they’d lie

But one day at Haldon Hill
A diff’rent man stopped by
He ‘ready knew the drill
Wouldn’t be led awry

For this day at Haldon Hill
This man was a sailor
Called by great Barney’s shrill
A naval wassailer

Led on down to Haldon Hill
Through forest and valley
To Lidwell where Rob’s skill
Would add to his tally

At gods house on Haldon Hill
He showed this man his wares
The gold he would fulfil
Once he’d drunk his shares

But here on great Haldon Hill
He did not take the bait
He stood and took a swill
Then charged him like a freight

And so here on Haldon Hill
Rob fell down the great well
Whilst his victims haunt still
This man now lives in hell

So when you’re on Haldon hill
Especially at night
Take care, this tale holds still
Lidwell will give a fright

(C) Laura Whitehead on Flickr

21/08/2024

About a pivotal ancient battle on the shores of Devon.

~~~~~~ “At Wicganburg” ~~~~~~

At Wicganburg the Vikings came
To set the town and church aflame
But upon the rugged shores
Devon's life was reassured

At Wicganburg the Vikings came
To fight a war in all but name
Raiding west from Isc to Treen
But what does this place name mean?

At Wicganburg a fortress stood
Above the church of wood
Whilst Woden did come to shore
Here St Werburgh's rain did pour

At Wicganburg was a slaughter
Down by Plympton's daughter
A clash of steel and fire
The Vikings needed a pyre

At Wicganburg amongst the rain
Were screams of woe and pain
When the fog and smoke cleared
They had nothing to fear

At Wicganburg Devon did win
Against the Viking's din
Fought and died, against evil
They rest on Wembury hill.

01/08/2024

About a small, quiet area of a small town, where nature abounds!

~~~~~~”Bond's Meadow"~~~~~~

At Bond’s Meadow the grasses blow
In the wind, the rain and snow
In the sun the flowers rise
And make this place a hidden prize

Down the lane and through great green trees
Past wildflowers, buzzing bees
The colours swirl, whilst we laugh
play and sing, walking down the path

Under oak, nettles and bindweed
critters crawl, for food they need
Worms, wood lice, grass snakes and more
All live here beneath hill and tor

A small Eden down a small lane
Hidden from suburban pain
Blues, pinks, purples all abound
A rainbow paradise we’ve found

Keep it this way for birds and bees
So we don’t fall to our knees
Under these green canopies
And into the colourful spring we breeze

This small ode to great bonds meadow
Preserves to all the grey pain
Don’t take a chance, greenly endow
The Eden off Southbrook Lane

(C) The Restore Trust
(C)

16/07/2024

A poem about one of, if not the, most famous tor on Dartmoor.

~~~~~ “The Giant’s Foot” ~~~~~

The Giants Foot

The giant’s foot points to the sky
Whilst tourist flocks wander by
Under clouds of wispy white
The giant’s foot’s a wondrous sight

An extra pinky wiggles left
By the still, great granite heft
People jump from stack to stack
And then climbing between each crack

But do they know what’s underneath?
Under the tor’s great grass sheath
A giant snores and sleeps for now
Beneath the sheep and the cows

His head is down at Manaton
His thumb is at Ripin Dun
His big toe’s at Tunhill Rocks
The heather is his socks

So climb up high the giant’s toes
And listen to his great big woes
For now he sleeps beneath the ground
Beneath Hay Tor’s green gorsy mound

10/07/2024

About a “lesser-known” outcrop, and difficult to get to! (I also understand that it is debatable whether it is a tor, but let’s keep our discussions civil! 😉)

~~~~~~“Kneeset Tor”~~~~~~

Kneeset tor on kneeset moor
Bends up to the sky
A little tor which asks for more
Beckons into nigh

Kneeset Tor on Kneeset moor
A granite seat for a view
The king of all below crows’ caw
Come and take a pew

Kneeset Tor on Kneeset moor
A quiet place to rest
Sitting pretty in the northern core
To get here is a test

Kneeset Tor on Kneeset moor
One of the ten to hike
Many come from miles before
Crossing bog and d**e

Kneeset Tor on Kneeset moor
It’s sister sits below
The little knee, which comes afore
If you come from Ockertons’ bow

Kneeset Tor on Kneeset Moor
The princess on the shoulder
Above the valley of death’s lore
Watching the night grow colder

Kneeset Tor on Kneeset moor
What a beauty, a place to be
Come here now, and take a tour
Ride from Post 15 with me!

(Credits to the great Max Piper for his photo from his amazing website TorBagger https://www.torbagger.co.uk/2020/01/dartmoor-broad-amicombe-hole-rocks.html?m=1)

05/07/2024

A poem about one of the most infamous legends of Dartmoor: the Hairy Hands.

~~~~~”The Hairy Hands”~~~~~

Doctor Helby hit the road
With the governors daughters
From the Prison and on they rode
Crossing the great Dart’s waters

They sped on o’er windblown moor
Passed by great Crockern’s castle
Went onwards in his sleek sidecar
Away from hustle and bustle

Up and down past streams and marsh
The motor hummed along
Past powder mills the night got harsh
No moon to guide their own throng

The clouds came down, like the road
Bent down to cherry brook
What they’d meet, they did not know
It would leave Devon so shook

As the bridge came into sight
Helbey suddenly screamed
What would give him such a fright?
Some Hairy Hands it seemed

They grabbed his own, forced him off
His way down to the bridge
Above his head, the black choughs
Gave Helby no courage

He shouted to the girls, get off
Unhinged them from his car
They swerved into some heather soft
In shock, the scene bizarre

They could only watch the man
Fight and swerve down the road
But in the end, they kicked his can
Helby shot from his mode

He landed still, his crown spilt blood
The girls could only look on
As the motor went to the mud
And the hands, were now gone

Helby died that fateful day
By the great Cherry Brook
But his story is here to stay
Along with the lives they took

So when you ever travel down
The great B3212
Keep an eye out on the ground
Or they will get you too

18/06/2024

A small poem about the infamous Fox Tor mires, the inspiration for Conan Doyle’s “Grimpen Mire” in the Sherlock Holmes novel “The Hound of the Baskervilles”.

~~~~~~~~”Fox Tor Mire”~~~~~~~~

In Fox Tor mires the winds do blow
From Misery Cross to down below
Into the bogs which stretch so far
You cannot enter, by foot or car

But once you do, take care and heed
The advice of those who know what you need
To not go here, in day or at night
For when sun’s gone, it’ll be a fright

Whether old Harold will get you then
Or wisht hounds and phantom men
Don’t be here when darkness falls
Or hell’ll be here, when the bell calls

So at the rock you may sit and think
About what’s the mires missing link
It is a mystery, let those thoughts stay
Get up and walk on, just get away

Image source: (c) Dartmoorwalker

09/12/2023

About the beginning of the Spanish Armada invasion, and it’s legacy today - especially in Devon.

~~~~”When The Spanish Came to Sea”~~~~

The sails flapped, the waters lapped
When the Spanish came to sea.
sailors cacked, when they attacked
But invaders they would not be!

While drake played bowls, the horses brayed
A storm brewed in the channel.
Sent the Spaniards on their way
It Corralled them all like cattle!

While Spaniards blew away from shore
And round St George’s isle.
All the rest slogged on for sure
And Battled for England’s pile!

Off Plym’, Devon secured their fate
At Eddystone’s mighty rocks.
They chased them all past strete gate
Away from the great Plymouth’s docks!

Around Britain the ships were lost
To storms, command and battle.
England won, victorious
Confined Spaniards to the saddle!

And now what’s left, of the remains
Of the great disastrous fight.
Its all over and explains
Why wrecks littered in morning light!

So go down to the beach today
And find those old artefacts.
Find them in the golden bay
Remains of their heroic acts!

If you find a buckle or two
Remember where you should go.
Record them all, take it through
To all those who are in the know!

For all these finds from nail to coin
Tell stories of those who served.
What they did and why they’d join
A fierce battle so unreserved!

While sails flap and water laps
Go and Look out to the sea.
Where Spain fought, and won no scraps
Think of Jacks who kept us free!

02/12/2023

What poetry would you want to see more of from this page?

Any stories you would like me to tell? Myths to recount? Or places to take you to?

Comment below! 👇

19/11/2023

About a story that heeds politicians to the dangers of embezzlement and more. Don’t end up like Cranmere Benjie and regret the life you lead.

~~~~~~~~ “Cranmere Benjie”~~~~~~~~

Benjie, Benjie, Benjie Gear
Mayor of Okehampton town
The Convict king of lake Cranmere
With a sieve as his only crown

Benjie rides up every day
In penance for sheepish crimes
This convict king now has to pay
By straining Cranmere, for lifetimes

Benjie was a crooked mayor
The sheep led to his demise
Nicking ransoms, people’s betrayer
Using them for his own supplies

Whilst pirates siezed Protestants
Benjie kept them from freedom
Used ransoms for his opulence
And now this curse is upon him

To sieve cranmere for all time
Condemned forever, we’re told
But benjie had a plan, a crime
To solve his toil, in wind and cold

He found a skin of a sheep
And covered his sieve with it
Emptied cranmere’s endless deep
In the face of justice he’d spit

But with the emptied waters
Came a mighty dreadful flood
He’d risen the Ockment’s daughters
And it flowed down through the wood

Okey town was maraudered
From benjie’s horrible plan
All the townspeople all wandered
How they all could catch such a man

Caught him out one day they did
Hiding, they caught him in nets
Dragged up the hills to put a lid
On the demon that’d hedged his bets

Thrown in the great Cranmere’s pool
Benjie was back with his sieve
Ridding the place of crim’nal tool
All The townspeople now could live

If you ever make your way
Up to the great Cranmere bog
Think of Benjie, who took your pay
And throw in a big weighty log

To keep him down, for all time
In the great Okement’s Cranmere
He took away the people’s dime
And now for eternity’s here

01/11/2023

About a haunted series of ruins near Blackslade mire of an 18th century pub named Newhouse Inn, which allegedly burnt down- by fed up wives or farmers!

~~~~~~~ “The Rider of Newhouse” ~~~~~~~

The blustery winds of Dartmoor
Blow into the east
Whilst a hiker sits at the Tor
And eats his luncheon feast

After the scragged hiker’s done
Off he goes below
Beneath the great burial dun
Above the foggy glow

For here the great kings are buried
In cairns twice as tall
Above a patchwork quilt we heed
The ancient mem’ry call

Into the mist the hiker went
With a spring in step
But as the wind came, to blow and vent
The man’d forgot his prep

The mist was thick, the man was lost
Only howls he heard
Of hounds? Of wind, footsteps on frost?
Oh how he felt disturbed

Upon a road, a ru’nous place
What he came across
He wondered to, through the space
A former house, now moss

He sat on a wall, wondered where
He’d got himself to
He shivered as his mind did stare
Whilst trees around him blew

Suddenly, a clippity clop
Shadows in the fog
Enough to make you scared and drop
Dead into the great bog

Out of the mist a shadow came
Riding something large
The haze began to curl and flame
Rider began to charge

The man he screamed and he slipped and fell
Saw the riders’ eyes
Blood red globes, a demon from hell
Who galloped to his prize

The hiker shut his eyes and wept
As demon rode near
But nothing came, no demon leapt
And snatched away his fear

His eyes did open, and he was safe
The fire’d wisped away
He rubbed his eyes, and to his chafe
The world was clear as day

And so he stood and walked away
Continued his walk
Off he went through Blackslade’s fray
About this he would not talk

So ever if you go and walk
Down through Blackslade’s grouse
Be wary, let wind warn and talk
Of the rider of Newhouse

Jonathan Albacott

25/06/2025

27/11/2024

21/08/2024

01/08/2024

16/07/2024

10/07/2024

05/07/2024

18/06/2024

09/12/2023

02/12/2023

19/11/2023

01/11/2023

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category