Dartmoor 2016

I love Dartmoor. I grew up in the area and get back there whenever I can. It's the only place in the UK that still allows wild camping (in designated areas) by virtue of a "no camping" rule never being added to local byelaws.

So for this trip, I will be taking my new to me and freshly run-in after the top end rebuild Honda XR125L from North Hampshire boarders down to Dartmoor for some wild camping.

I went down the A303 and then the A30. I chose a Sunday as I didn't want to get stuck in commuter traffic. I didn't want to have the little displacement bike at full throttle all the way there since I'd only just finished the run-in period, so planned to take it easy.

I stopped for a quick break on the A30 just outside Exeter. It was pretty quiet as you can see from the photo.

I have my full A bike license, so decided to go one stop down the M5. It was the first time taking a motorbike on a motorway and wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Once off the motorway I headed for the national park.

I knew where I wanted to camp, but it was still early in the evening, so did some sight seeing first. I stopped by Bennett Cross and had a little wander.

Once I'd wandered around the moor for a bit, I got back on the bike and headed over to my camp location to check it out and make sure it was going to be suitable.

I didn't want to setup camp too early in the day, so just waited around for a bit. This photo was taken at about 20:00 at night, but was still daylight. I think it was another hour or so before the sun started to set. Someone else turned up on a bicycle whilst I was waiting and I could see they had the same idea as me.

 The night was uneventful (worried about the bike being stolen) and thankfully it didn't rain overnight as I hate putting away a wet tent. I got up pretty early as I was eager to do some more sightseeing. This was the view I had when I got up at 05:30. I only realised the time after I got up and dressed.

Camp before I packed it all away. I didn't want to ride my bike on the common as I thought it would draw unwanted attention to myself, so had left it in the parking area, but out of sight from the road. To load the kit on the bike I pushed the bike to were I had setup camp and loaded it there.

View before I left. Not bad campsite, especially for free.

Bike all loaded up. I had a chain of the rear wheel, the bike has an alarm, and I also had an alarmed disc lock on the front wheel. Security is difficult when you don't have anything you can lock your bike in or to. But it survived the night without issue.

 I went into Princetown to find some breakfast, then went to a nearby Tor to eat it. I think I was the first customer in the shop when it opened.

After breakfast I went to to Two Bridges. This is the first time I've been there without a tourist in sight. It was weird.

Sightseeing done, and the morning rush hour traffic well and truly missed, I headed back up the A30 and A303.