Dartmoor advice…

About to head down to Chagford, Dartmoor for the weekend with the wife. Due to her love of sleeping, I will get a half day to myself Saturday morning, so am taking my bike down there. Never ridden in that neck of the woods, so wondering if anyone could recommend a not-too-long loop to take in a couple of highlights (I can drive to start/finish)?

A quick scan suggest Nutcrackers and/or Bowerman’s Nose are worth a go, and most of the best riding generally is in that area. I’m happy with some relatively challenging tech. Not too proud to hike a bike if needed, but would prefer not to have too much of that as I will be in an old pair of 5Tens with no grip.

Any suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.

From Chagford you can use the lanes to head south towards Mannaton/Water that area has more Bridleways. It’s sadly illegal to ride on the moor (on a bike not a horse) so a lot of Bridleways are effectively dead ends. Can connect a loop from Water via Bowermans Nose past Jays Grave, onto Grimms Pound back round to Houndtor. Guide book South West Mountain Biking by Nick. otton and Tom Fenton covers the options quite well

Can’t help you with a route, as I haven’t lived there for a long time, but I grew up in Chagford, and have very fond memories.

Try the Chagford Inn if you’re there for Sunday lunch – it used to be a locals pub and was called the Bullers Arms – that’s where I grew up!

in the chagford area, the hunters path above the teign valley is spectacular and some good riding in the woods around.

if the weather is nice, get there early before the NT walkers do or the tutting will be deafening. it is a bridleway though..

and that ride up there is perfect if you want to miss all the good bits in lustleigh…

and that ride up there is perfect if you want to miss all the good bits in lustleigh…

Yeah, but isn’t the problem that the good bits in Lustleigh go from NW (Hunter’s Tor?) to SE roughly, so don’t fit in with the rest of that ride as a loop? I’m assuming that the last time I rode there I sort of did a figure of 8 to fit Lustleigh Cleave in and avoid a horrible section near Water, but it’s a long time ago…

Subjective I know but there is no good aspect to that route.

There’s a decent loop running from Postbridge through Bellever to Dartmeet and back. There are some forest tracks, lots of mud and gloop, but a good laugh. It’s not too far to go, either.

https://www.komoot.com/discover/Bellever_Forest/@50.5758510,-3.8995030/tours?sport=mtb&map=true&toursThroughHighlight=588396&focusedTour=12781464

You can do a route from Two Bridges over to White Tor but it is across the Merrivale ranges so need to check if they are firing. Plus it’s a bit of a slog – it is part of an old funeral road across the moor to Brentor – sure there was an article in the past in the mag. Just don’t ask me which edition!

At a risk of sounding grumpy, taking a bike across that coffin route is a good way to ruin a good walk…I’ve done it, once.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8978810363

if this link works it captures most of the good techy, flowy bits around manaton and the cleave.

At a risk of sounding grumpy, taking a bike across that coffin route is a good way to ruin a good walk…I’ve done it, once.

Fairly typical of the mag – try to crowbar in plenty of walking even when ridable options are available.

(That’s the way to be grumpy! 😀 )

Jambo’s ride is as good as most. The only bit i’d suggest changing is after you have climbed up from Peck Farm, turn right down the trail marked on Jambo’s map (around Hunters Tor) round to Foxworthy Bridge then up the road to Manaton. This avoids a wet push up to Water at the end. It does miss out the Nutcracker, but IMO the Foxworthy decent is better.

Only other bit would be to ride up to the top of Easdon (the right-hand one as you ride up) to get the extra bit of decent most people are riding at the moment.

I would agree on the foxworthy descent and I normally do that when the bracken isn’t too high or its not too wet.

I’ve ridden the descent off to the NE from the top of easdon a couple of time but didnt realise there was anything worth riding south to link up with easdon DH.

Thanks all for the suggestions and the routes sent through – I’ve got plenty to be going on with now. Looking forward to it.