Dartmoor

Summary

Route Distance: 38 km	Estimated Time: 4:30
Total Ascent: 1278 m	Total Descent: 1278 m

Route Description

Ride Starts at SX 783 793 at the car park near Reddaford water.

Turning left out of the car park the road descends past access to Yarner Wood on the right. Take the next bridleway on the right through a gateway, climbing steeply over Lower Down to come out onto the B3387. Turn right at the main road and after 1 km as the road climbs more steeply and shortly after the cattle grid turn right up a track opposite the sign for the Dartmoor National Park 40 MPH limit.

Turn right at the top onto road and follow the road down hill, uphill and then take the first bridleway on the left towards Leighton. You will be met by a short but technical descent (very good). At the bottom (SX 756 791) keep left after a gateway to climb off road again through two gateways into Greater Rocks woodland coming to a signpost on a four way cross.

Turn right and you will be met by some winding single track and then a technical boulder section before coming to a large stone bridge over the river. A very steep (may require some walking) climb faces you ahead at the top, by a gateway, fantastic views of Hound Tor. Head down the track ahead towards the Tor bearing left half way up to follow a badly signed bridleway over and down to the cross roads and Hound Tor car park. Go straight ahead at the cross roads to Jays Grave.

Turn left onto the bridle path at Jays Grave heading after 1 km past the "Big Chair" made of wood and ending after a short piece of fast single track ending at a gateway. Turn left then immediately right through the gate signposted Firthbridge. Head towards Grimspond by keeping right up the steep climb (keeping right of the large standing stone over the moor (phew!).

After 1.4 km along the track of sand, grass and rocks you will reach Grimspond (prehistoric village), keep left of this through the wall and then start descending to the road in front, down the exciting stone steps out onto the road turning right. After about ¼ of a kilometre turn left down a steep winding and rutted piece of sandy and stoney single track and keep left of the house below, to go around the perimeter and through the gate at the end.

Carry along a grassy wide track signposted Challacombe Down bending right to go uphill keeping left of the Dutchy Estate sign. Descend then climb on a rough track to a gate on the left. Go through the gate and bear left along the fence line towards Soussons Farm. Keep right of the farm boundary to cross the stream on foot over and then follow line of the forest boundary by turning right to another gate. After the gate carry straight on straight over the fire track to come out the woodland and join the fire track the other side.  Carry straight on to a forkthe shortly after bear right off the fire track. At the next signpost bear right then immediately left.

Pass through the 5 bar gate and carry on until you reach Headland Warren and keep and eye out for the steady stone track climb out of the valley on the left which eventually come out on the B3212 nr the Warren House Inn. Carry on up the road after turning right to Bennet's Cross and turn right into the car park.

Head through the two stones and up into the heathland keeping way left of Birch Tor on the right. Over the peak sees a llong rutted single track to the minor road, cross it and carry on up the hill in front towards Shapley past West Coombe. The path then follows a wall on the left to a wall junction, turning left along the wall you will finds a gate before the wall bears left again (easy to go wrong here!). After passing through the gate there is great fast single track until you meet a concrete driveway and hedge. Turn right and descend to another gate entering the farm, continuing on to North Bovey on the road.

Turn right at the cross roads after about 3 km into North Bovey past the Ring of Bells pub on your left. Descend on a minor road to a 5 bar gate, through and along a dirt track climbing up over a false peak onto the road. Turn right and then after 0.5 km turn left after a house down a long descending concrete track down to Peck Farm. Pass through Peck Farm keeping right through a 5 bar gate and climb on a very loose rocky track turning right half way up onto Hunter's Tor (very difficult climb – may need some foot work!).

On looking at the stunning views of the Bovey River Valley head left through the gate and travel straight on along the ridge with some great winding rocky single track, over and descending down into Nutcrackers (not for the faint hearted). At the bottom you will come to a small gate then descending onto the road. Turn right and after 2 km on road turn right just after the first road turn on the left.

Granny gear up a rough track brings you to Hisley and follow the signposts around the property and through a 5 bar gate with an old boot sole on it. A great bit of single track descending through some spikey gorse down to the single small hump back bridge by turning left at the bottom of the descent. Go over the bridge to a 5 bar gate and turn left following the track through the wooded valley (usually very wet) and up a gravel and tarmac track with rain gullies onto the road where you bear right back to the car park. The End.