Dartmoor MTB routes

[Daveyraveygravey]

Hi folks

Will be in Bovey T at the weekend, never taken the MTB there before. Does anyone have any recommended routes, 2-3 hours? Haldon Forest looks like you pay for parking and then off you? Any trails over the moor?

Cheers, Dave

[lufbramatt]

Not sure if it's the right part of Dartmoor but I did a fun little loop from Burrator reservior that went up a disused railway line to Princetown then back down across the moors on some fun singletrack and bridleways.

[Daveyraveygravey]

lufbramatt said:

Not sure if it's the right part of Dartmoor but I did a fun little loop from Burrator reservior that went up a disused railway line to Princetown then back down across the moors on some fun singletrack and bridleways.

Sounds good, do you have a gpx file I can pinch?

Found this on Kommot - sounds similar?
https://www.komoot.com/smarttour/e963277219/burrat...

[lufbramatt]

Daveyraveygravey said:

Sounds good, do you have a gpx file I can pinch?

Found this on Kommot - sounds similar?
https://www.komoot.com/smarttour/e963277219/burrat...

Yes that looks pretty much what I was thinking.

Was a good while ago I did it, before Strava was a thing. We got the route from one of those old school little blue MTB route guide books! I think the book had you going up the singletrack and down the railway line which made no sense so we reversed it.

[SouthHamsGaz]

Daveyraveygravey said:

Sounds good, do you have a gpx file I can pinch?

Found this on Kommot - sounds similar?
https://www.komoot.com/smarttour/e963277219/burrat...

I did pretty much exactly that route 3 years ago. The bit back down to Burrator Res, Boneshaker, is just that, even on an Enduro, so hope you have a full sus.

[yellowjack]

Daveyraveygravey said:

Hi folks

Will be in Bovey T at the weekend, never taken the MTB there before. Does anyone have any recommended routes, 2-3 hours? Haldon Forest looks like you pay for parking and then off you? Any trails over the moor?

Cheers, Dave

I can't help with advice on off road riding on Dartmoor as I've not really done any. But, seeing as you mentioned Haldon Forest, take a look at my only trip there... https://www.strava.com/activities/3028731848 It was limited when I rode there as the black trail was closed for maintenance, but, as my ride notes say, I don't think it would have been "my thing" anyway.

As for being near Bovey Tracey? When I hit a bunch of the '100 Climbs' on a road ride from Bovey Tracey I parked my car at a National Trust car park on the hill out of Bovey T heading toward Haytor. I think it was called 'Parke Walled Garden'. I don't know what facilities they have there as I just scanned my membership card to park and didn't look for food or drink in the end, but it's worth considering as an out-of-town start point for a ride... https://www.strava.com/activities/1150631073

[Daveyraveygravey]

yellowjack said:

I can't help with advice on off road riding on Dartmoor as I've not really done any. But, seeing as you mentioned Haldon Forest, take a look at my only trip there... https://www.strava.com/activities/3028731848 It was limited when I rode there as the black trail was closed for maintenance, but, as my ride notes say, I don't think it would have been "my thing" anyway.

As for being near Bovey Tracey? When I hit a bunch of the '100 Climbs' on a road ride from Bovey Tracey I parked my car at a National Trust car park on the hill out of Bovey T heading toward Haytor. I think it was called 'Parke Walled Garden'. I don't know what facilities they have there as I just scanned my membership card to park and didn't look for food or drink in the end, but it's worth considering as an out-of-town start point for a ride... https://www.strava.com/activities/1150631073

Cheers YJ, my family are a dog walk from Parke, so know it well!