Looking for some info and thoughts from the STW Hive.
Planning a move from the South East (Kent) to the South West and have a few questions from locals.
Looking to be about an hour at most away from Plymouth, maybe between Plymout and Exeter.
I assume there is a fair amount of work for an Electronics Engineer in Plymouth?
What's the riding like on Dartmoor, flat an long epic rides, much twisty stuff?
General thoughts any other info.
Cheers.
It isn’t flat.
More rain.
Dartmoor has everything from a riding point of view bar big mountains. To experience all of it without spending all day in the saddle you'll have to drive, though. You also can't ride (legally - ahem) on as much of the moor as you'd like. Budget cuts at DNP have led to many bridle-paths becoming overgrown with brambles and bracken so expect to do some maintenance on local routes.
Haldon Forest has plenty of fast twisty stuff. Dartmoor itself is more technical and rocky, though the eastern side towards Two Bridges etc is more open with faster tracks all the way over to Princetown.
Speaking of Princetown, you might be tempted because of the location but it's seriously remote. If it snows in Devon, it snows there first.
If you can't reverse 1/3 mile down a narrow lane you should probably practice before moving to Devon.
There's still a bit of "you weren't born here" attitude in smaller towns and villages, but it's getting better. Culturally it's very white and a bit Brexity in places.
Both Plymouth and Exeter are utter bastards to drive into at rush hour. I'd be inclined to find somewhere closer to one or the other that's commutable by bike (or e-bike if you've picked somewhere on Dartmoor).
More rain (because if you live in Kent now you'll be surprised just how much more).
I wouldn’t live in Princetown for many reasons but not the snow. I’ve commuted across the moors for about 12 yrs now and I reckon the road has been impassable for less than ten days in that time.
but it does rain a bit...
Dartmoor, flat
Er...
If you want flat, then the Lizard Peninsula is your best bet! Devon is good for climbing. And more climbing. Short sections are flat, such as The Granite Way. The longest would be an old railway line, ie The Tarka Trail. There are some estuarine trails but I haven’t tried any of those and likewise they tend to be short. Better get your climbing legs on if you want ‘epic’. My one commute in N Devon/Cornwall spanned 10 river valleys in about 15 miles, with 9000ft of climbing. It wasn’t really doable in a commutable sense. South Hams is a bit more rolling, yet can still catch you out IIRC.
It isn’t flat.
This...
Refering to Dartmoor as one place makes it misleading, its huge and is easily broken down into several loops which can then be merged with other loops to create all day leg killers!
For somewhere to live between the two, Heathfield near Newton Abbot is relatively cheap, really close to Dartmoor and super to close to the A38 so Exeter and Plymouth aren't far. Dont think there is much going on in Heathfield though, how much do you need form where you live? amentitiess? shops? pubs?
Okehampton sounds like the spot area if needing to be between Plym & Exe
Thanks for the info, riding seems good then.
Not too fussed about having shops, pubs nearby etc.
Any suggestions for work for an electronics engineer?