[Closed] Dartmoor

Very wet on Exmoor yesterday, you might be better at Haldon.

Must admit I don't know much about haldon. I'm a mostly xc/long day inclined type of rider. Would it be worth a visit for me?

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I personally not a big fan of Haldon - I don't think in this weather its up to much but I am sure a lot of people will disagree with me 😉 - Try the MBR Killer loop - I wrote a full detailed ride guide here:

[url= http://www.embc.uk.net/riding_dartmoor.php ]http://www.embc.uk.net/riding_dartmoor.php[/url]

Sorry the google map is not working at the mo as they changed something but you can download the route card and gps data.

Trailmonkey is it really that bad!

Thanks foxyrider.

If you like "all day" then maybe Haldon not too good for you. Its good for a quick blast after work for the evening or a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon though

In my opinion, you'll be much better off at Haldon right now, might even be there myself tomorrow. You certainly won't be getting round that killer loop in an afternoon and certain sections of it will be horrendous.
It's great riding mind, just come back and do it in the dry and give yourself a day to get around it.

Drew: On tuesday I came home over the knap of the hill at Longdown and can take a view of the northern moor. It was still predomanently white!
( the lump of snow that was Rangerover sized 2 mondays ago is *still* in the road but shrunken to waist/knee high and a disgusting black melting slug!!)
Combine it with unforecast quite heavy showers this morning then i suspect Trailmonkey's vision is extremely accurate!
sorry mate....
Q

Jammy - agree with you there pretty much 😉

Yeh sorry - the worst bit on the moor are up high and they can get pretty soggy - never been up there when its as bad as Christowkid reports though. errrr

Most of the snow on the high moors was gone about an hour ago when I drove home.

Foxy: I stress it only 'looked' white from a distance..... but I was still quite stunned to see that much 'whiteness' lying around!
Q

Thanks for the input everybody. I've probabley covered most of the ride at some time or other but in more benign conditions so I'll probabley head for Haldon. Or I may just take a peek...

Most of the snow on the high moors was gone about an hour ago when I drove home.

Which no doubt means that things have gone from wet, to seriously wet. I just can't bring myself to ride up there at the moment.

Neh Worries Christowkid - sounds pretty soggy up there 😉 Did haytor up then over to Lyon and to manaton Sunday and that was pretty firm under tyre.

jam bo:
Sorry must have been cross posting and didn't see your post. Well, my observations was on tuesday, and have had 2 mild and slightly wet ( today ) days since, so I bow to your up to date observations - take the Reporter from the North title!
As Trailmonkey says, whatever has happened to the snow, it must now be seriously wet!!!
take care all
Q

lammy, for the record, long day, was more a reference to the speed at which I cycle.

I was up there for a ride yesterday - did a 20ish km loop from Princetown round Sheepstor and Burrator- and it was pretty dry actually. Some small patches of snow, but in general nice riding conditions. It was even mild enough for shorts.......

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more images here... [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/toretz/ ]Clicky here[/url]

Haldon sucks when it's wet. I'd head to Woodbury Common instead. You'll need someone to show you around though. I'd be happy to do so but I have to work, I'm afraid.

ajantom
thats my favorite Dartmoor ride !

Second vote for Woodbury- really quick conditions there at the mo!

Mud really not too bad- I have some routes if you are interested- drop me a mail tigger_joe AT hotmail DOT com

@ Knottie8

It is a lovely route - lots of little extra bits you can add on if you're feeling like it.

Was really nice up there yesterday, hardly anyone around - I'm a teacher & half term riding is great!

great views too . That was my first Dartmoor route and still one of the best .
[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=yt0lai&outx=700&quality=70 [/img]
cant wait 'till summer

Knottie is that the trail that leads from the base of Sheeps tor? I've not seen it that dry!

yes , we know it as groundhog day. The trail leading to it is always wet/muddy ! bagpus showed me the route a few years ago !
[url= http://paul-knott.fotopic.net/c835480.html ][img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=yez2uf&outx=800&quality=70 [/img][/url]
click for more pics of this amazing day out ...... classic.

Right, now another exciting episode of masterchef has finished I can get back to the matter in hand. Thanks again for your input but I'm still in a quandry. Sheepstor looks good but I was aiming to keep more to the east as I'll be driving back to Bournemouth after. I don't know anything about Woodbury Common and unfortunately have all three surrounding OS maps but not the one in the middle. I might well mail you eviljoe though for those routes. I guess I could have a look at lustleigh and give my self a scare and then maybe visit Haldon or Woodbury on the way back to see what they're like.

that pic above - who's the joker on the rigid red inbred?

i'm probably heading to exmoor tomorrow, but am expecting to get mired up. i don't know the good stuff on haldon that trailmonkey knows, but the marked route isn't worth a big detour in my opinion.

it's all going to be pretty soggy but then anything is better than tarmac or not riding at all.

dry trails soon please.

OH YES

there is good stuff on Haldon- we're just keeping it under our straw hats..

I like the steps just after the prehistoric village (Grimspound)
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