hawkhill97
Retro Guru
That sounds like a great way to make the most of travelling around the country with work! Glad the pics and ride reports bring back happy memories.
East Dartmoor adventures on the Marin - Edited Extra Exmoor Epilogue
- Thread starter hawkhill97
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hawkhill97
Retro Guru
I was planning on doing another big day out on Exmoor this week, but the poor weather at the beginning of the week, and then just life in general, sort of got in the way.
However, I did manage to fit in a lovely afternoon ride yesterday with an overnight camp in one of my favourite spots on Exmoor.
However, I did manage to fit in a lovely afternoon ride yesterday with an overnight camp in one of my favourite spots on Exmoor.
hawkhill97
Retro Guru
Starting out from near Malmsmead by Lorna Doone valley, I took some scenic back roads to climb up onto the top of the moor, coming out near the start of the excellent descent from Hawkcombe head to Porlock.
From here I picked up part of the bridleway network heading South back towards Badgworthy Valley. This route is waymarked as a Dark Skies discovery loop, and I can confirm that the stars are truly incredible on Exmoor if you get a clear night.
After a fairly punishing stint of climbing on the roads, which brought me out more or less on top of the moor, the bridleways contoured gently along the rides, with some lovely views down the valleys. A nice easy ride in contrast to the one earlier in the week on Dartmoor!
From here I picked up part of the bridleway network heading South back towards Badgworthy Valley. This route is waymarked as a Dark Skies discovery loop, and I can confirm that the stars are truly incredible on Exmoor if you get a clear night.
After a fairly punishing stint of climbing on the roads, which brought me out more or less on top of the moor, the bridleways contoured gently along the rides, with some lovely views down the valleys. A nice easy ride in contrast to the one earlier in the week on Dartmoor!
hawkhill97
Retro Guru
Dropping back down into Badgworthy valley is an excellent little descent, short but pleasingly techy. Great fun to bomb down on a bigger bike, also great fun to pick your way down on a cross country retrobike 
Once you get to the bottom, it's a gorgeous three or four mile cruise down the valley along the river back to Malmsmead. A real gem of a bridleway, this one.
And that was about that for the ride! Wish I'd had time for a proper all day excursion, but for an afternoon's blast it definitely hit the spot.
Once you get to the bottom, it's a gorgeous three or four mile cruise down the valley along the river back to Malmsmead. A real gem of a bridleway, this one.
And that was about that for the ride! Wish I'd had time for a proper all day excursion, but for an afternoon's blast it definitely hit the spot.
hawkhill97
Retro Guru
Picked up the camping stuff from the car and headed back up the valley (definitely a route that bears re-riding well!).
The weather forecast was better overnight than earlier in the week on Dartmoor, so I'd taken a tarp & bivvy bag instead of a tent - a much nicer way to sleep outdoors in my opinion.
It wasn't a particularly chilly night, probably down to 7C or so, but without a tent to keep the wind off, you definitely need a good few layers on to stay warm. I was in thermals and a couple of fleeces, with a wooly hat on, and stayed toasty the whole night
Got up at while it was dark and the sky was unfortunately a bit too hazy to really see the stars at their best - on a good night you can clearly see the milky way from here - but still a real treat.
The weather forecast was better overnight than earlier in the week on Dartmoor, so I'd taken a tarp & bivvy bag instead of a tent - a much nicer way to sleep outdoors in my opinion.
It wasn't a particularly chilly night, probably down to 7C or so, but without a tent to keep the wind off, you definitely need a good few layers on to stay warm. I was in thermals and a couple of fleeces, with a wooly hat on, and stayed toasty the whole night
Got up at while it was dark and the sky was unfortunately a bit too hazy to really see the stars at their best - on a good night you can clearly see the milky way from here - but still a real treat.
Captain Stupido
Senior Retro Guru
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Inspiring stuff - I moved to South Devon (from London) a few years ago and am ashamed to admit that I've not managed to get my bike up to the moors yet. There are so many green lanes etc. locally that I've yet to explore and it's so rare that I get a full day's riding in - a quick blast around Haldon forest (Kiddens trail) has become my "comfort zone" when I fancy a ride, it's easy to fit in around normal life and work commitments. But Dartmoor is beautiful!
The area you picked looks a good one in terms of being pretty well served for bridalways, it's really not far from me either. Must spend a bit more time studying the map and get something planned for my next day off.
The area you picked looks a good one in terms of being pretty well served for bridalways, it's really not far from me either. Must spend a bit more time studying the map and get something planned for my next day off.
hawkhill97
Retro Guru
Do it! Haldon is a good option for a quick spin, but it's always the days out on the moors that stick in the memory for me.
Drop me a line if you need any inspiration for routes
Drop me a line if you need any inspiration for routes
Frankenorange
Orange 🍊 Fan
Might have mentioned this before. Cant remember for sure. Years ago i walked a good bit of Dartmoor. A northen loop from Postbridge round towards Okehampton and back. About 20 miles each day with an overnight on a Tor.
In those 2 days i only saw the lady at the Postbridge visitor place, where i described my route and ETA back at the center, a handful of soldiers at a distance, and another walker closer to Postbridge. Gorgeous weather apart from the overnight storm, some climbing around stuff, fording water and very enjoyable. Just me and the ponies in the middle of one of the most amazing places you will find, in this country. Bliss.
Thank you for sharing the pics
In those 2 days i only saw the lady at the Postbridge visitor place, where i described my route and ETA back at the center, a handful of soldiers at a distance, and another walker closer to Postbridge. Gorgeous weather apart from the overnight storm, some climbing around stuff, fording water and very enjoyable. Just me and the ponies in the middle of one of the most amazing places you will find, in this country. Bliss.
Thank you for sharing the pics
hawkhill97
Retro Guru
Yep, that sounds amazing! I've done a very similar walk with friends years ago, we went via Fur Tor right in the middle of one of the most remote... But also rather boggy... Bits of the moor. I remember jumping from island to island of peat, and sinking up to the knee wherever you placed a foot wrong. Still a great day out. We stayed at a pub in Okehampton and the dinner didn't half taste good!Might have mentioned this before. Cant remember for sure. Years ago i walked a good bit of Dartmoor. A northen loop from Postbridge round towards Okehampton and back. About 20 miles each day with an overnight on a Tor.
In those 2 days i only saw the lady at the Postbridge visitor place, where i described my route and ETA back at the center, a handful of soldiers at a distance, and another walker closer to Postbridge. Gorgeous weather apart from the overnight storm, some climbing around stuff, fording water and very enjoyable. Just me and the ponies in the middle of one of the most amazing places you will find, in this country. Bliss.
Thank you for sharing the pics
