This is a Member-Led Event, with a maximum of 8 participants, led by Bridget Davies FRPS.

On the edge of Dartmoor, this a spectacularly beautiful wooded valley, with the River Teign tumbling through the gorge.  The trees are predominantly beeches and oaks and may be showing some autumn colour by October. Many of the trees are full of character and are impressive in any season.

We will start and finish at Castle Drogo, a National Trust property.  The walk will follow the northern rim of the winding valley and then descend to the gorge at Fingle Bridge.  The riverside walk provides plenty of different viewpoints, with much photographic interest.  The ascent back up to Castle Drogo is gradual, with a few steps near the top, and involves a climb of about 660 feet or 200 metres.  The overall length of the walk is about 4.2 miles or 6.8 kilometres. The terrain can be uneven and muddy or rocky underfoot.

After completing the walk, a visit to Castle Drogo itself is an option.  It was designed and built by Edward Lutyens in the early 20th century, and has formal gardens, as well as parkland overlooking the valley.

Meet: at Castle Drogo Car Park, near Drewsteignton, for a prompt start at 9am.  

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Parking: is free for National Trust members. Non-members have to pay £4 for 4 hours or £7.50 for all day.

Toilets: are unlikely to be open at Castle Drogo before our departure but will be so on our return.  There is a toilet block near Fingle Bridge, although this is not always open.

Terrain: the walk is almost entirely along more or less uneven paths. In places, this is rocky and/or muddy.  It will be about 4.2 miles in length, involving an ascent of 660 feet.  Care needs to be taken near the river, especially on wet, slippery rocks.  The descent is fairly steep, but the return ascent is more gradual.  Unfortunately, the walk is unsuitable for those with mobility difficulties. 

What to wear: adequately warm clothing for autumn, including waterproof jacket, over-trousers are advisable.  Walking boots with a good tread are advised.

Food & drink: the café at Castle Drogo will not be open before our departure but will be open when we return.  The Fingle Bridge Inn might be open from 11 am.  It is advisable to bring a drink and a snack.

What to bring: camera with lenses offering a choice of focal lengths; neutral density filters, especially if bright sunshine is forecast; a tripod advisable for slower shutter speed images.

Bad weather plan: some rain is manageable, but if the forecast is for very heavy rain and/or very strong winds, the walk will be cancelled or postponed for safety reasons.

Advice: This is a member-lead event, simply to introduce you to a location, with no professional guidance. If you have a technical query, the leader or fellow participants might be able to help.

Terms for RPS Landscape Group Events:

Carbon offsets

Tickets for events that involve travelling include a £2 carbon offset charge that will be paid to a carefully researched and selected offsetting partner.

Cancellation by You:

If you wish to cancel your booking PLEASE tell us with as much notice as possible: a) directly to the event leader / organiser once they have issued the joining email (typically 10-14 days pre-event); or b) if before that email, use the Contact Organiser button. If early enough, we may be able to open up sales on a sold-out event or help the leader decide if numbers are low; if nothing else, it can avoid delaying the start of the event while they wait for you.

If you have paid for an event, please note that this fee/ticket price is non-refundable unless we are able to sell your place to somebody else. You are welcome to sell your place yourself but, again, PLEASE notify us in advance of any change.

Cancellation by us:

Event leaders are asked to make plans for alternative activities or locations in the case of poor weather and, in most cases, events will proceed despite poor weather unless, in the view of the event leader, the weather will lead to unacceptable safety risks or very little chance of successful photography. It is inevitable, however, that occasionally an event will be cancelled for this or another reason beyond the RPS’s control.

Occasionally an event may also be cancelled owing to lack of bookings. So if you wish to attend an event, don’t leave it till the last minute to book as it may be too late.

If an event is cancelled we will give you as much notice as we are able and any payment by you to the RPS in respect of the event offered as a full refund. In the case of events cancelled because of lack of interest we will aim to give at least three weeks’ notice wherever possible.

Please note we are NOT able to refund any associated or consequential costs including but not limited to travel, accommodation, insurance premium or other costs incurred by you in order to attend the event.

Responsibility:

You are responsible for your own health and safety and must appraise your own strength, fitness and mobility; and be prepared for the terrain, changing weather conditions etc. The event leader is NOT responsible for your safety, welfare or attendant medical conditions. Strictly the event leader is there to introduce you to a location.

You are responsible for your equipment etc at all times; use suitable bags for carrying it.  Keep camera bags close/secured in public. Please also take care if using a tripod in public areas to avoid any trips.

Car-sharing lifts with fellow participants, or the event leader, is at your own risk. Those offering car-sharing lifts may only do so provided that they have suitable insurance cover. 

Liability for any accident, injury, medical condition, loss or damage to property, inappropriate behaviour, dress, equipment and third party liability is accepted by you when signing up for the event. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Royal Photographic Society from all claims of whatsoever nature.

Insurance:

You are advised to consider having insurance to cover: event cancellation by you or by us, accident, medical, personal equipment and public liability.

In particular you should also consider, in the case of high cost events, the likelihood and consequences of you having to cancel or not attend at the last minute because of accident, medical or other unforeseeable circumstances.

Using your data:

Your personal details (name, telephone number and email address) will be provided to the leader of the event or workshop you have booked in order to enable them to:

• send you joining instructions for the event
• contact you at short notice in case of any emergency or last-minute change to the event.

If you do not want your details to be shared with the event leader please cancel your booking immediately. You will not be eligible for a refund as this information was provided on the web page where you made your booking.

Thank you

RPS Landscape Group Committee

© RPS Landscape Group / Images are used with the owner’s permission