Carless wild camping Dartmoor. Advice requested

[gjclayton]

Hello all.

Just a quick enquiry to see if anyone can give me some advice.

Looking to do a hike / wild camp session out on Dartmoor. Issue is we don't have a car.

We can get to Exeter and then our thoughts were to get a bus out to a town in the park. I know the bus services are pretty bad but figured out we could get to Moretonhampstead fairly easily. I don't however think you can wild camp around that area.

Any advice? Anyone know of a way to get to Wild camping areas by bus / public transport?

Can you hike from Moretonhampstead to a wild camping area easily?

We'd rather not be at an organised campsite so really trying to make the wild camp work.
We are willing to head to another area if we can get there by bus etc.

Any advice very gratefully received.

 

[nic a char]

Public transport is the way to go for wild camping! Discreet, through hikes, hitch-hikes - good luck!

 

[Pterodaktyl]

Start with the wild camping map (if you haven't already seen it!): http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/visiting/vi-planningyourvisit/camping/camping-map You're looking for the purple bits. Then cross reference with the interactive bus map: http://www.cartogold.co.uk/Devon_Transport/Devon.htm and finally check the firing range access times if you're going to be within the danger areas: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...oorfiringtimes_commencing16032015.csv/preview

Moretonhampsted, although within the National Park, is a little bit off the high moor and away from the wild camping areas. I'd go for Okehampton, which is a fairly short, if steep, walk away from the high moor and plenty of wild camping. The No. 6 bus from Exeter runs regularly to Okehampton: http://www.liftonpc.org.uk/Lifton-PC/UserFiles/Files/Stage Coach Bus Timetable.xls.pdf

 

[Kev T]

I've got the bus to Okehampton and walked in through Halstock wood a couple of times. Or you could get the train down to Ivybridge and walk in on the old tramway, or walk between the two!

 

[gjclayton]

Great advice so far. Thanks so much. Okehampton looks like the starting point!

 

[ADz-1983]

Great advice so far. Thanks so much. Okehampton looks like the starting point!

The directions/transport option on Google Maps is also a great tool to plan out trips if not using car. Just type in something like Bedfordshire to Okehampton or any other destination and then click the public transport icon and it will tell you all the trains or buses you need to get and how much walking distance is needed etc etc. Really handy.

 

[LoneWalker]

You could catch a train into Ivybridge as suggested by Kev T and camp somewhere like Piles Copse which is beautiful down in the valley next to an ancient oak woodland 1 of 5 left in the country, on the banks of the river erme. Plenty of decent walking with great views from both Sharp Tor and Stalldown Barrow. Although a SSSI site, signs say fires permitted but do not cut down trees.

You could check out Dartmoor Wanderer on YouTube if you fancy the North moor. He posts quite a bit about wild camping on Dartmoor.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do and wherever you decide to go.

 

[gjclayton]

Thanks for all the advice. The north is looking best at the moment.

Thanks again