A Brisk but Beautiful Day on the Moors

27 March 2026

Thursday 26th March 2026

Our plans took an unexpected turn today when our intended stop, the Knightstone Café, turned out to be closed despite being listed as open online. Not to be discouraged, we decided to stay on the moors and try somewhere new - the charming Dartmoor Bakery.

We parked in one of the moorland bays so we could still soak in the scenery, then set off on foot along part of Drake’s Trail toward the bakery. The weather had a definite chill, with a fresh breeze that left us rosy-cheeked and feeling wonderfully invigorated.

Despite the cold, that didn’t stop us from treating ourselves to an ice cream - paired, of course, with a hot drink to keep us warm! The bakery itself was delightfully quaint, filled with an assortment of knick-knacks and featuring a beautiful mural on the wall. As we stepped inside, we were greeted by the comforting, wholesome aroma of freshly baked bread - an experience in itself.

On our way back to the bus, we took time to read a few of the local notice boards, learning about the history of the old airfield nearby. We also enjoyed watching sheep and horses grazing peacefully, alongside local dog walkers making the most of the great outdoors.

The views throughout the day were clear and truly beautiful - a perfect reminder of the simple pleasures nature offers.

To round off the trip, we enjoyed a lively sing-along during the journey, playing classics from The Beatles, Queen, and The Beautiful South - a joyful end to a lovely, if slightly unexpected, day.

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For seniors – especially those living with dementia – practicing mindfulness can offer gentler and more accessible ways to reduce stress. Supporting Emotional Wellbeing Care home environments can often be busy, and though there aren’t often too many changes, they still do occur. Smaller mindfulness techniques such as slow breathing, guided relaxation and meditation, or simply paying attention to the present moment can help our service users feel more grounded. Taking these brief pauses can aid in easing anxiety, as well as creating a sense of safety and stability. For those living with dementia, mindfulness doesn’t have to be about remembering steps or techniques. It can be as simple as connecting with the senses. Things like embracing the warmth of the sunlight, the melodies of a song, or the feeling and textures of a familiar object. These are just smaller examples of mindfulness practices that might help to reduce agitation and support emotional expression in our loved ones without putting too much pressure on cognition. Mindfulness also benefits the relationships between service users and care staff in a care home setting. When staff approach interactions attentively – listening carefully, speaking gently and slowly – it can offer a more nurturing and calmer response and helps to develop the prolonged companionship that thrives in care settings. Introducing mindfulness doesn’t require special equipment or lengthy planning. A few simple minutes of quiet breathing before meals, a short, guided relaxation in the afternoon, or a mindful walk in the garden is entirely enough to aid in developing a mindful and mental health friendly environment. Over time, these practices can contribute to a calmer, more supportive environment for everyone. We’ve also created a small ‘Mindfulness Bingo’ sheet below that you can download or save and use for yourself and your loved ones.