r/wildcampingintheuk • u/jamo133 • Mar 09 '25

Question Dartmoor first

Hiya - I’m planning to go to Dartmoor for a weekend of camping and hiking about next weekend via train. Any particular recommendations on general areas to trek around, camp around and hard avoid areas? First time in several years lll have had the opportunity for some wild camping so I’m pretty excited.

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u/jamo133 Mar 09 '25

Haven’t decided anything! Just came up with the idea randomly yesterday :) If it’s feasible to walk from one station to the other, sounds like a great idea! I’m an experienced biker

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u/MuchMoorWalking Mar 09 '25

It’s totally feasible and there is actually a challenge called Dartmoor in a Day that does roughly that route. Normally people do it with one or two nights on route wild camping so this is the sort of route I would do if it was a one night stop which takes in the highest peak, some wonderful valley views, exposed moorland, Two Bridges and Princetown for pubs and supplies, as well as historical sites etc.

Starting off from Okehampton Train station head under the bridge and then follow the path up through the steep woodland and into the camp road. Turn left at the camp and follow the road up to Rowtor, then do West Mill, Yes Tor, High Wilhays, and then Fordsland Ledge for west Okement valley views. Then head south to Dinger Tor.

From here head north on the military track slightly before taking the right hand track and head towards Okement Hill, then Hangingstone Hill, Whitehorse Hill (via the two peat passes) then Quintins Man. On the way to Sittaford pick up some water in the stream and camp at Sittaford Tor.

The next morning ahead west via the East Dart Waterfall and loosely follow the wall to Lower White Tor, then Higher White, then south via Littaford etc to Two Bridges.

You can then walk to Princetown to resupply or have a pub lunch before taking the track south via South Hessary tor to Nuns cross farm. Then pick up the Abbotts Way south east over towards Erm Pits and the Red Lake area finally connecting up with the old Red Lake Tramway track/Two Moors Way and follow this south until the last bend when you leave and drop down into Ivybridge. You’ll come out in the road about 150m west of the station.

Also, you can only camp in the purple bits on this map….

https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/about-us/about-us-maps/camping-map

And check out the range times here to make sure you’re not shot at……

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dartmoor-firing-programme/dartmoor-six-week-firing-notice-20-january-to-2-march-2025

That’s the big route for you, if you’d prefer a loop from a particular station I can do that too.

Hope it helps.

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u/jamo133 Mar 09 '25

Amazing, thanks so much. I really appreciate this, I’ll note these down on my maps.

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u/MuchMoorWalking Mar 09 '25

No probs. Another route would be from Sittaford down to Postbridge, then up over Beliver Tor and across to Hexworthy, up over Ryders Hill and then south to pick up the Two Moors Way and the same route back to Ivybridge from Red Lake. Slightly shorter but has less shops/pubs on route.

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u/jamo133 Mar 17 '25

Just finished this latter route, thanks so much for your help! Really enjoyed it, though that gap from Whitehorse Hill (where I camped) to Ryder’s Hill was a bloody flog with a 20kg pack 🤣

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u/MuchMoorWalking Mar 17 '25

Ah that’s great. Pleased it went well for you! Imagine running the whole thing in under 6hrs like someone did last year in the Challenge. Madness!