Dartmoor, your advice...

[BushTucker]

Hi all

Have asked this before but did not get too much feedback, so, I thought I would ask again.
I am planning a trip to the moor sometime in the summer and wondered if anyone had advice on good places to go/visit, a lot to ask but preferably with lat/long or british National Grid references would be fantastic..

Will have wife and son with me so not looking for anywhere scary for them, will need to pitch a tent or even erect a tarp so "camping allowed" is a must.

We are hoping to spend a few days there checking out Tors and stuff.

Your suggestions would be greatly recieved

Many thanks

Don

 

[littlebiglane]

I have criss-crossed the Moor so many times I have lost count. So I won't give you a long list - just some rather nice spots. Some are easier to get to than others - with each I will provide 'entry points' so you know where to park. Check on the Dartmoor National Park Authority's Map about access/common land just to make sure that that patch is alright to pitch on - this especially goes for the last one mainly.

http://www.multimap.com/s/h0Zocl1A
entry point Postbridge

http://www.multimap.com/s/h4VmYnD6
entry point Postbridge or Wapsworthy

http://www.multimap.com/s/jyZkejoZ
entry point Meldon Reservoir

http://www.multimap.com/s/izYoflAC
entry point Lydford

http://www.multimap.com/s/h4VwYmnf
entry point Burrator Reservoir

 

[BushTucker]

Wow, many thanks for that. Having a look now.

Don

 

[Intertidal]

Littlebiglane’s given you some excellent tips there.

I’d just add a visit to Tavy Cleave on the NW side of the moor (has a good camping spot at the top where the river forks – Sorry no map here just now).

Another good walk is N from the car park at Postbridge, past the beehive hut and Grey Wethers stone circles and continue to Fernworthy Forest (stealth camp – but I didn’t tell you ). To the west you’ll see a big stone walled enclosure. This can be followed anticlockwise all the way round to Sittaford Tor and back to the Grey Wethers / Postbridge.

Wistman’s Wood, north of Two Bridges is also worth a look, but only really a half day or evening walk – see this post on BCL: http://www.bushcraftliving.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3189

On the northern moor, head south from the village of Belstone towards Hangingstone Hill or Cranmere Pool (latter can be difficult to find and is in the middle of a verry boggy area). Make up your own loop route on a mix of vague paths, military roads and open moor. The Harveys Superwalker map of Dartmoor is a good planning map.

Living barely an hour from the moor, we rarely camp there for more than 1 night at a time, usually backpacking with a small tent on the open moor, or occasional stealth camping in forests.
Dunno if it interests you, but the Plume of Feathers Pub in Princetown has its own campsite and bunkhouse at the back – can be a noisy site at times, but possibly one option to stay in the area cheaply.
Much will depend on the weather – Dartmoor is a wonderful place in all its moods, but multiple days of boghopping in the fog soon loses its appeal.
Have fun

Intertidal

 

[littlebiglane]

I would like to add to the above by saying that you are really spoilt for choice - and Intertidal has added even more options!

A rather nice place - if the weather turns bad for you and your family (iffy at this time of year!) is the camping and camping barns at Runnage Farm http://www.runnagecampingbarns.co.uk/ - when I have been there they have even allowed campfires - which of course is impossible on the open moor....

Nice pubs abound - family friendly ones are the Warren House Inn, the Belstone Inn, The Forest Inn, Hexworthy, The Rugglestone (Widdecome). An option is to camp near the Warren Inn and then eat there in the evening if you like (if the weather is poor) It is also easily walkable from Runnage Camping Barns. Don't camp immediately South or North of the Warren Inn as the terrain is not child-proof: lots of mine workings and the occasional large drop/hole.

LBL

p.s. careful of the 'quakers' as we call 'em down 'ere. More commonly known as feather-beds. You'll know if you have walked onto one - it'll be like walking on a waterbed that might give way at any moment! http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/grim_mire.htm

p.p.s this site has given a chuckle and some bedtime stories in the past for the little ones! http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/index.htm

 

[Jaysurfer]

Some excellent advice so far -
Dartmoor is free to roam and you can camp anywhere on dartmoor except two places really.
The part of Dartmoor own and run by the MOD that they use for bombing practice (probably not where you want to take your family for an overnight camp) and the wooded area surrounding Burrator Resivoir as it is owned by South West Water and you can't camp in the woods - however there is nothing to stop you camping just out side the woods, using the woods for cover and also to get wood! If you camp on the northern outskirts of the woods then that are should be suitable (i.e. not too boggy, wet and able to keep a fire)

Hope the weather is good for you when you go.
I'm up there next weekend and looks like it's going to be snow and low temperatures!!!

J

 

[BushTucker]

Wow guys.

More info then you can shake a stick at. Thankyou very much, this is appreciated.

Don

 

[littlebiglane]

Some excellent advice so far -
Dartmoor is free to roam and you can camp anywhere on dartmoor except two places really.
The part of Dartmoor own and run by the MOD that they use for bombing practice (probably not where you want to take your family for an overnight camp) and the wooded area surrounding Burrator Resivoir as it is owned by South West Water and you can't camp in the woods - however there is nothing to stop you camping just out side the woods, using the woods for cover and also to get wood! If you camp on the northern outskirts of the woods then that are should be suitable (i.e. not too boggy, wet and able to keep a fire)

Hope the weather is good for you when you go.
I'm up there next weekend and looks like it's going to be snow and low temperatures!!!

J

Hi Bushtucker,

Jaysurfer is right, in sentiment at least, about the ownership of the Moor. Most of the Moor is owned by someone. Some parts are common land, some parts are access land - not all parts can you legitimately camp on. You can camp on most of the MOD part - the various ranges - in fact this High Moor is considered by some to be the best part as it is high, desolate and lonely. Its just best to check the range times to see if they are firing. http://www.dartmoor-ranges.co.uk/firing_notice_1.html It tends not to be bombing but manouvres and live firing of small arms. I for one have never seen a bomb crater. Outside the red flag times you are free to camp on these areas. There are other parts of Dartmoor you cannot camp on including various woodlands and plantations and enclosed agricultural land.

Useful guidance is here:
http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/vi-crowmap.pdf
and here:
http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/camping_booklet.pdf

Happy yomping

 

[BushTucker]

Many thanks for your help. However one thing that does concerne me is, where the map shows out of bounds areas as used by the millitary, from that small map (http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/vi-crowmap.pdf ), I cannot see how I would be able to locate these areas on a normal O/S map. Are there frequent warning signs around them or even small fences?

Many thanks

Don

 

[littlebiglane]

Many thanks for your help. However one thing that does concerne me is, where the map shows out of bounds areas as used by the millitary, from that small map (http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/vi-crowmap.pdf ), I cannot see how I would be able to locate these areas on a normal O/S map. Are there frequent warning signs around them or even small fences?

Many thanks

Don

The OS Map has the range boundaries marked. In reality, on the ground there are tall white posts every 100 metres or so marking the boundary. On top of that there are red flags flying at visible points on tops of hills/tors. At night posts and 'flags' are lit if there is firing. You can't miss them day or night really (unless there is poor visibility). The only trouble us understanding which side of the markers you are on - the range side or the non-range side! Often their little warning notices attached are facing out from the ranges. I really would not worry yourself too much. Just plan your weekend in advance - check online, pick a time to walk on them when they are free and forget the boundaries even exist

Okehampton ranges are the biggest. I tend to use that part of the moor most - so if the other ranges are firing but not the Okie one I still use the Moor. If Okie is firing I tend to chose another time since it reduces the useable size of the Moor.

 

[SCOMAN]

Can I just make a comment ref Jaysurfer's comment, no fires are allowed on Dartmoor. The dry bit, and I'll give you this there aren't many, are peat which will burn and scar. Don't want to cause an issue but it's one of the rules about wild camping on D'moor. If you're going in the summer the ranges in the North moor probably won't be in use the military like leave too. There is a website http://www.dartmoor-ranges.co.uk/ that will give you further details. The North moor is nice, you need good navigation skills if it closes in but there should be lots of places to camp. Beware of the water irrespective of how clear it looks or how close to the spring you take it from, the amount of animal faeces on the moor and necessarily in the water table is shocking. I had a bad bout of liquid brown adrenalin and that was after using a good sound purifier,lways use puritabs or something similar in addition. I like a book 365 miles of Dartmoor which gives you an interesting fact on each square mile of Dartmoor. Good access by the 'Scout Hut' across the valley from Sheepstor, Princetown has great access and the benefit of the Legendary Plume of Feathers which has a great bunkhouse, adjacent campsite, good beer and food. Cadover bridge has good parking facilities but I've heard that at night some people like to go dog walking negat dog if you catch my unsubtle drift. Further north of Princetown is the Two Bridges a rather expensive hotel nowadays but adjacent to parking. Through the gate and up the path you will come to a small wood of stunted oaks, no way to camp in there but to the west of them at a bend in the river there is a great campsite it's really obvious and pretty much everything you need of a remote but family friendly campsite. There's loads of places and others have put in their favourites so enjoy.

 

[Steve M]

Can I just make a comment ref Jaysurfer's comment, no fires are allowed on Dartmoor. The dry bit, and I'll give you this there aren't many, are peat which will burn and scar.

It's actually really hard work finding somewhere with woods that you're allowed to light a fire in here in Devon. If it's not National Park, it's National Trust and if it's not that, it's some form of Estate land.

Driving me insane!