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I have a few days off for my birthday at the start of October, so looking to spend a night on Dartmoor.
My initial plan has been to train it down to Ivybridge from Taunton, then make my way up to Yes Tor, which has been recommended as a great place to camp. The final day would be looping back round to around to North East Dartmoor and Dunsford way, to meet the OH for a birthday pub dinner and an ale or two.
Has anyone got any recommendations on places to look out for? trails, alternative places to camp etc? Not wanting to stay in a bunkhouse or pub, but certainly a cream tea or two along the way would be a nice little treat.
suitably vague route plan...
if you are planning on going direct from ivybridge to princetown, its vague and boggy at best in places. better off skirting round the side of the moors, ie lee moor, cadover, burrator and up to princetown from there.
princetown to the north moors is similarly vague, you can cross from postbridge to hangingstone hill but its a lot of tussocky, boggy yomping, and then land rover tracks to yes tor. check the firing range times.
cheers jam bo. Looks like Okehampton ranges are ok, the other two are firing day and night!
I'll check routes to avoid those, but if not decent plan can come together, I may think about Exmoor instead.
yes tor is also a very exposed spot for camping. I'd have some backup ideas if the weather is poor.
this might be an option. train to plymouth, ride back to minehead.
https://bikepacking.com/routes/westcountry-way/
I did see that route, only have two days and one night, so could just do the length of Dartmoor I suppose, veer off to Dunsford and the Bridford Inn for dinner.
I'll get out the OS map and see what routes there are.
Is the two moors way particularly boggy then? never ridden it before.
I've ridden the disused tramline from near Ivybridge north to Redlake & the Abbots way (which will get you to Princetown) both had a good surface but I've not the riden the path joining them.
strava heatmap will give you a good idea of how popular it is...
https://www.strava.com/heatmap#12.55/-3.95444/50.46095/bluered/ride
i've not done the foxtor mire section either but having done plenty other dartmoor exploring, a line on map means nothing....
Plymouth to Yelverton on NCN27.
Turn right to Burrator Reservoir.
Circle round the south of the reservoir to Crazy Well Pool and bivvy there for the night.
Up early and cycle into Princetown. Big breakfast in Fox Tor Cafe then a leisurely Dartmoor Loop 27k from Princetown on the old railway down to Burrator then Ditsworthy Nunscross back to Princetown for tea or into the Plume for beers.
go to exmoor more choice and better routes
i have biked here {dartmoor}for 30yrs
As mentioned above the area around Yes Tor is very exposed. Personally I would be looking for a considerably more sheltered bit of the moor.... You may be much hardier than me tho!
Yeoford to ivybridge with an evening few pints and meal at the Warren house is a goodun
There's good bivi loops around eastern Dartmoor that are more sheltered- drop me an im and I'll send you one
Joe
Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll check out strava heat maps etc. Still in two minds...Dartmoor or Exmoor. hmmmm.
I love Dartmoor, but as others have said you need to be a bit careful with route planning, and a bridleway line on a map can often translate into a vast expanse of unrideable bog a long way from anywhere. I have found myself a bit more exposed than I felt comfortable with a couple of times up there.
The Burrator Princetown Sheeptor loop is where I would start.
If you want to ride on Dartmoor & start from Ivybridge then:
Day 1 - as stated by jam bo you are better off skirting round the side of the moors, ie lee moor, cadover, burrator and up to princetown from there, this is the route I personally would take. However if you want to go direct from Ivybridge then go North up the Two Moors way towards Red Lake then take a left on to the Abbots Way to Nunns Cross (I haven't ridden this section to Nunns Cross so can't vouch whether it is rideable or not) & on to Princetown. At Princetown you can get food at the pubs or if you are cooking your own food then make your way to Foggintor Quarry (West of Princetown) to camp for the night, it's sheltered & the quarry is flooded so you have a water supply.
Day 2 - go back to Princetown & take the BW East - Crock of Gold/Tavistock - Ashburton Packhorse trail - at Hexworthy take the road North to Dunnabridge Pound Farm, BW to Bellever & Pizwell Farm, through Soussons Down, Grimspound, Hameldown, Jays Grave/Natsworthy, Manaton, Lustleigh etc to Dunsford.
If the first day above is a bit short to Princetown then make your way to Bellever Woods to camp there by the stream and you can also get food at the pub at Postbridge. On day 2 make your way to Dunsford.