Beating the Bounds in Belstone.

Beating the Bounds is a traditional event that comes round once every seven years. It really does bring our title to mind...Active Dartmoor, and this time on a grand scale! This morning Belstone was blessed with warm sunshine as the parishioners and commoners old and very young gathered to listen to a short service from the Vicar before setting off for the twelve mile walk around the Belstone Parish Boundary.

There is a tradition in Belstone that the oldest parishioner gets to turn the youngest upside down and bounce his or her head on the Boundstone! There were several tiny babies in carriers present, so look out for the photos of that happening, I'll post them as soon as I can! My fairly recent knee surgery and two crutches have prevented me joining in on the walk itself this year, hopefully next time, even if it is seven years away.

Once the photocall and short service were over, a hunting horn blew and off everyone went, streaming out onto the Great Green and down to the Taw River.The Dartmoor ponies took one look at the approaching crowd and fled for the hills, they must have thought it was the drift all over again.

More images and stories from the day as soon as possible.