Black Daren Camp

If you’ve ever imagined what a big landslip might look like, then a visit to the Darens is well worthwhile. There is of course now no danger, as the slips happened at least 10,000 years ago, yet the resulting cliffs, ridges, and humps and bumps are still clearly visible. There is evidence of at least two landslips at the Darens. One is at Red Daren, and immediately adjacent, another much bigger one at Black Daren. After a long windy set of country lanes with minimal passing points, I arrived at the car park absolutely surrounded by sheep, thinking I was bringing them food. They totally surrounded the car with the din of their bleeting. After a short steep boggy climb up the landslip, I found a camping spot beneath a spiny tree, in the hope that horses wouldn't want to walk over my tent (huge piles of dung everywhere). But I realised the tent was too visible from the lane, and the prying eyes of the nearby farmer. So after some deliberation I moved the tent back away from the edge, and into the path of potential horses. Sunset and sunrise were lame, but waves of fog made for a great morning atmos. Didn't see any horses, or people.