Combining Landscape Photography with Wild Camping on Dartmoor

Better Options, More Locations

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been exploring new areas on Dartmoor so that I have a wide range of locations to photograph. As I discover these locations for myself, I am finding that I need to go deeper into Dartmoor and even further away from the roads. It’s been an eye-opening experience and I have walked areas of Dartmoor which have taken my breath away.

However, accessing some of these locations now requires me to walk at least an hour, and sometimes an hour and a half or more. The distance and time to walk to these locations isn’t an issue, but to photograph them at sunrise or sunset is a little trickier. Often the best light can be found from around 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. Add that to the time taken to walk in or out of these locations and it all becomes a little more challenging. I love Dartmoor, but not even I’m that keen to spend 90 minutes walking over the moor in the dark.

A new approach would therefore be needed if I’m going to access these locations during the golden hours. For me, wild camping is a natural choice. I’m not what you would call a “tent person,” but needs must, and I’ve finally taken the plunge and bought a tent.

Before I headed out into the wilds with my tent and sleeping bag, I thought it was a good idea to try a solo wild camp at a location I know very well.

I hope you enjoyed watching my first solo wild camp. It was an enjoyable experience and a horrible reminder of how badly I sleep in a tent, but to me, the benefits outweigh and negatives. Expect to see a few more wild camping videos from me in the future!

As I said in the video, if you’ve got any wild camping tips, equipment suggestions or good locations on Dartmoor, do let me know in the comments below.  

Landscape Photographs from Belstone Tor on Dartmoor

Belstone Sunset #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/25 at ISO 100.

Belstone Sunset #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/8 at ISO 100.

Belstone Sunset #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f16, 1/10 at ISO 100.

Irishman’s Wall #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/8 at ISO 100, 16:9 crop.

Irishman’s Wall #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/8 at ISO 100, 16:9 crop.

Belstone Sunrise #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/3 at ISO 100.

Belstone Sunrise #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/3 at ISO 100.

Belstone Sunrise #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 at f11, 1/4 at ISO 100.