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Was riding on a short section of the Templar way yesterday near Haytor, which is an old disused tramway.
Bumped into a ranger and apparently cyclists aren't allowed on that particular route. Horses and walkers are fine.
I have ridden along that section many times and never had any idea that was the case.
So we ended up going back and around.
That bit isn't a bridleway though is it? Basically unless it's a bridleway, RUPP or BOAT then Dartmoor says "no". Apparently it was originally the commoners council who decided this would be a good thing even through the NPA always get the blame.
It's not, but looking at the map, it's just road with a national trail through it, so didn't realise.
Aha, makes sense. I've always steered clear but have seen groups cycling it in the past.
mate used to guide on dartmoor. as it was related to me, he said he was told by the NPA bikes could have carte blanche for any 'established path', so long as the lease holders were happy.
i wonder if there's just a new ranger who's being a bit enthusiastic? i heard of someone else a few weeks ago who had been accosted by one.
ah. [url= http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/visiting/vi-enjoyingdartmoor/cycling ]'New Cycling Code of Conduct'[/url]
that's a nuisance. 🙁
We got stopped in exactly the same place a couple of weeks ago by a large group of rangers. Looked like some sort of training course / exercise, which might explain why they were being so (over??) zealous.
Not a big problem - we went round the next hill/ ridge to get where we were going. Probably not allowed there either though. Apparently bikes not allowed on any common land on Dartmoor.
I did make my point by politely asking him to confirm that I was allowed to ride a one tonne, metal footed horse on the tramway, but not a sub 100kg bike with soft rubber tyres. He confirmed with almost a straight face before we rode off.
"yes I know, silly isn't it?"
Something like that.....but he was with his boss so on best behavior
We got stopped in exactly the same place a couple of weeks ago by a large group of rangers.
Not the Lone Ranger, then.
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I always thought it was treated as footpath. Hasn't stopped me riding it though.
Seems to be an anti bike stance has reared its head again locally, dartmoor npa
always has had a rather sniffy attitude to road and mountain biking.
It seems at times as if dartmoor is for the landed gentry and horsey types, change
and actively encouraging tourism, including cycling, well a lot of talk.
Travel up the road to exmoor and shock horror they actually hold off road events
there, and the rangers are proactive and the horse riding locals friendly 😀
nice picture yunki! i remember that guy!
i doubt the park's personnel come in to contact with anyone who actually rides on a regular basis. most of their tenants will be horsey types, and they probably deal with them a lot more than any of 'us', so their views will of course come to the fore. i expect it's our fault for 'not engaging'.
wonder if anyone at cycling uk ( that's what the ctc are called now, isn't it? ) would be interested?
So you can ride a horse, but not a bike? Explain to me why bikes are more damaging to the environment than a horse?
Then laugh and ride off where you wanted to in the first place.
I don't know if there's much of an issue.. That pic above was taken whilst we were well 'off piste'...
The ranger couldn't have been more disinterested
Get off bike and walk ? Quicker than riding round another way ?