Devon TRF Group Forum

BEAUTIFUL DARTMOOR 31-05-2014

Finished work on Saturday a little early and the rest of the family had already gone to see friends near East Prawle, so it seemed rude not to make the most of some spare time on my own and get the bike out

It wasnt really all about lanes, just riding in some beautiful countryside, Dartmoor.

Started off from Ivybridge just before 3.00pm and went towards Lee Mill and 202-158 where the water splash has got slightly deeper since last week, then out to 202-157 which has recently been chopped in half by the new housing estate and the sticky patch near the North end was very sticky today.

Then some road work and down to some I rarely do, 202-416 and 201-097, both a little muddy,then 201-094.

Then some more road work taking me up past Newnham to 202-400 where at last the misleading signage has been altered due to the bridleways being diverted because of the Hemerdon Mine being reopened.

Diverted bridleway.

End of 202-400 and a further diverted Bridleway

Keep out valuable metals in here

New road to Hemerdon Mine

New signs, notice the TO bridleway

Old Hemerdon mine workings now being cleared

New mine entrance

Then on to Bickleigh Bridge and the short 201-052, then 201-047 where I surprised a group of four girls sunbathing halfway along.  Next the white 201-084 and some funny looks from some motorists passing.

Up to Yelverton and a petrol stop as I hadnt filled up before I left, also a sandwich and some chocolate for a picnic at a beauty spot somewhere along my route.

Decided, as time was against me, not to try to go all around the moor but stay more local so headed off towards Burrator Reservoir, which when I got there was rammed, parked on the dam and grabbed an ice cream.

View from the dam.

Then around the reservoir and up 202-040 and 202-039, full of walkers and cyclists and yes I got lots of helmet piercing stares of what are you doing here, so decided to enjoy the views and have my picnic there

The leat around the top side of Burrator

One day dream dream dream

Next up to the main road and across it down to 201-039 which was a little overgrown at the bottom, then 201-057, then some more road work through Moortown  and onto the B3357 and headed towards Merrivale, a lot of road work I know but the views and weather were fantastic, through Ruddlestone and onto Two Bridges, turned off for Postbridge and just after it turned off and made my way to 191-082, a dead end lane at the ford.

Next 191-084 with brilliant views and down into Widecombe, next 191-083, again great views and lots of walkers.

Rode right through the heart of Widecombe and on to 191-086 were there was a friendly collie and I got a cheerful wave from the old man doing his gardening there  as I was unfastening the gate on the bridge next to the pond and weir, next 191-085, then the short 191-093, then another short and well used 191-094, then through the beautiful Buckland  in the Moor and onto Buckland Bridge and the very, very short 202-001, then up the hill to another beautiful lane, 191-096 and these woods just like everywhere else this year are so full of bluebells, must be a bumper year, back down to Spitchwick and New Bridge.

Old bridge just down from Spitchwick

Spitchwick

Turned off for Holne and to the open field lane of202-042, I still always try to keep to the route of the lane here as the hedges are still sort of there in places, mainly gorse bushes but are getting overgrown and in places look just like a clump of gorse in the middle of the field;  out of this one and turned left and down to one of my all-time favourites, another white 202-350, one of our longest and most beautiful lanes in my opinion, no great views but different terrains and beautiful woods, leading down to Buckfastleigh and going to Dean, I was running short on time now as I had spoken to Sue, the wife and the Chinese had been ordered so decided to do just 202-085, which has got a lot more challenging over the last few years, I got up past the tricky stuff for me and met two vehicles, one a Pajero and the other a Landover 90 with an external cage on, going in the same direction as me and had to wait whilst the rear vehicle used its jack to force itself off a tree to get past and followed them to the end of the lane. Next I did the short 202-336 where they went straight on, but by the time I got to 202-095 they were opening the gate, they waved me through and I left them to it, there has been trouble here before where there is no hedge, just a fence and it used to be very tight for a 4X4 and people have cut the post s to push the fence out  then 202-338 and 202-120, then the ride home before I ran out of fuel.

It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon and evening for a fantastic ride and so many great lanes across Dartmoor, in total 136km and no badgers and all done at a leisurely pace so as to enjoy  Gonna do it again soon forgot how great the lanes are on Dartmoor, its been a while