February update

Apologies for the long silence... let's just say I've had a busy few weeks (and have just come back to Dartmoor refreshed after a week walking along levadas and in the mountains of Madeira)!

The spring issue is being laid out as we speak, and I will be checking proofs this week before it goes to print on 17 February. Once again it's packed to the gunnels with a hugely varied selection of features, including a couple of new series for the new year, and an additional (shorter) walking feature which should appeal to those who prefer not to strike off across pathless moorland but are looking for less testing routes. These will include details on a recommended cafe or pub for that post-walk cuppa or pint.

Our first outing with the Dartmoor Magazine trailer will be at the Moretonhampstead Food and Arts Festival on Saturday 10 March. Over 5000 people turned up on  a bitterly cold day last year, so this year's event has been put back one week in the hope that it will be a slightly warmer day! It will be good to be 'out on the road' again, so please come and say hello if you are planning to visit the festival. On Thursday this week I will be attending the official launch of the festival, which is being held at Bovey Castle.

The newly created Moorland Guides team has been busy over the winter months creating a programme of varied walks for all levels of ability, including many that will visit sites that appear in Steven Spielberg's film 'War Horse'. You can check what's on offer by visiting www.moorlandguides.co.uk, where you can also sign up to the newsletter.