Basin of Audhn

A mossy ancient rock basin on the granite walls of the Aune gorge, upstream of Shipley Bridge on Dartmoor

Rock basins are a product of localised weathering and are formed when weak feldspar crystals are split by the frost along their cleavages. This loosens small fragments which are later blown away by the wind thus leaving a small hollow. The process continues and gradually the hollow expands outwards and downwards. Water fills the hollow and then freezes, upon thawing more fragments are eroded which once again are blown away by the wind.


The name Aune is derived from Old Norse word au(dh)n - meaning ‘wasteland’, or a ‘desolate place’ - which fits the description of the source of this river - in a bleak and boggy mire to the west of Ryder’s Hill, high on the southern side of the moors, rather well.



Pentax K-X
Pentax 18-55mm SMC/ DAL lens
Manfrotto 190XProB tripod
Manfrotto 498RC2 panoramic ball-head
Cromatek circular polarizer

Aperture = f/8
Exposure durations = 1 second
Focal length = 18mm
ISO = 200
Manual mode

Made on 10th November 2013