Alone on Dartmoor

[buzyg]

Mrs G was working today. So up a 06:30 to make her some coffee and bowl of shreddies. A quick look outside revealed a beautiful Blue sky. No surf so, rucksack packed the night before and maps prepared for a proper Trek across Dartmoor. The drive up is always a joy. No real rush so of course I took the long way around, through Tavistock Twp bridges and on passed the Warren Inn to Fernworthy Resovior.





After Parking the Zed in such way as to prevent any one else parking next to it, I set off on a 12 mile trek.



The occasional delightful detail like this cute clapper bridge close to the ruin Teigley Head farm, punctuate the other wise bleak peat bogs that dominate this part of the moor.



After 2 1/2 hours I made it to my target for the day. The original and most remote Letter box on Dartmoor, at Cranmere Pool. With the highest point on the moor, High Willhays in the background.



Another 2 1/2 hours via Sitaford Tor and I returned to the safety and warms of the Zed still safe and sound.



A few final pics next to Fernworthy and it was time to head back across the moor towards home.



And Finally to top of a fantastic and invigorating day, I got to follow a gorgeous looking I8 through the twist and turns of the Tamar valley, before he turned off just a few miles from home.



Life really can be this good.

 

[Number5]

Nice Buzy,
Sounds like you were far too organised to plan all that the night before.
Also brave leaving the Zed parked up remotely for 5 hours !

 

[mr wilks]

Liking that mr G

 

[Marlon]

Looks like a great day buzyg - its always good to see what other owners are up to

 

[Cymru]

Good skills mate! Best day of the weekend for a blast in the Z. MrsC and myself had a lovely drive out around Cornwall yesterday roof down all the way despite the occasional can we have the roof up lol.

 

[jimmybell]

Awesome, i'm a big fan of dartmoor - used to do Ten Tors whilst a student so spent countless weekends out and about yomping around and wild camping Sadly a little too familiar with how harsh an environment it can be too - I was marshalling one of the checkpoints one evening that then became the search and rescue base for a girl who died

On the positive side - brilliant roads for driving, i've only ever managed one or two runs through, but i intend to do some more this coming easter weekend.

 

[buzyg]

Awesome, i'm a big fan of dartmoor - used to do Ten Tors whilst a student so spent countless weekends out and about yomping around and wild camping Sadly a little too familiar with how harsh an environment it can be too - I was marshalling one of the checkpoints one evening that then became the search and rescue base for a girl who died

On the positive side - brilliant roads for driving, i've only ever managed one or two runs through, but i intend to do some more this coming easter weekend.

I've been a big fan for a few years. Still Have my Ten tors medal from 1981. It can be harsh up there in the winter, but I'm odd I love harsh. Yesterday it looked stunning and inviting up there, but my first stop at Hanging Stone Hill, after a solid 3 mile uphill I took my inner fleece off and hung it up to dry out the sweat and put on my big woolly one whilst I sat and ate a butty, out of the wind. Very quickly realized it was bitter cold. My fleece dried in about 7-8 mins in that wind and I had all my layers on for the rest of the day. I had my full fowl weather gear in the sack, for emergency. but in all honestly if I had broken a leg or similar up there yesterday. I doubt I'd have lasted the night. I'm going to invest in one of these. http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/practical/VE104.html.. In fact I think I'll order it now.

 

[jimmybell]

Yep - i've been involved in a few rescues in dartmoor - probably the only place in the UK like it outside of the highlands.

I always carry a survival bag in some form (big plastic one if i have sleeping bag, or bivvi if not), though if you're out solo i'd definitely recommend using some of the national park visitor centres (postbridge, princetown or at haytor) as a parking place and letting them know you're out and when you expect to be back (they have paper sheets to fill in for this purpose). I personally like postbridge, has some fond memories and good facilities (with maps and local knowledge for sale, and a tiny cafe+shop nearby). My Zed has been parked there a few times

Something you get drilled into you as part of the military's MLT/JSMEL/etc is do anything you can in advance to avoid being in a situation where you need to call for help, and if you do need to call for help - dont hesitate, but make it easy for them (leave a route plan / ETA with mountain rescue or the visitor centres).

Oh and avoid river crossings solo, especially in winter.

 

[buzyg]

Yep - i've been involved in a few rescues in dartmoor - probably the only place in the UK like it outside of the highlands.

I always carry a survival bag in some form (big plastic one if i have sleeping bag, or bivvi if not), though if you're out solo i'd definitely recommend using some of the national park visitor centres (postbridge, princetown or at haytor) as a parking place and letting them know you're out and when you expect to be back (they have paper sheets to fill in for this purpose). I personally like postbridge, has some fond memories and good facilities (with maps and local knowledge for sale, and a tiny cafe+shop nearby). My Zed has been parked there a few times

Something you get drilled into you as part of the military's MLT/JSMEL/etc is do anything you can in advance to avoid being in a situation where you need to call for help, and if you do need to call for help - dont hesitate, but make it easy for them (leave a route plan / ETA with mountain rescue or the visitor centres).

Oh and avoid river crossings solo, especially in winter.

I do most of my walking on Bodmin and it's easy to think they are much the same. Sunday was a reminder that they are not. Your never more than an hour from civilization on Bodmin, were as on foot, on Dartmoor, it can be three hours. I only saw one other group of walkers all day and they were well over a mile away. That's actually the first time in all my years of walking that I have walked into the centre of the moor alone, in mid winter and I forgotten just how isolated in is. Enjoyed it immensely though, especially when I hit the tiny Cranmere Pool, bang on bearing, in the middle of nothing but featureless peat bog. I didn't stop for longer that 10mins at any point due, to the cold, fine when exerting energy, bighting as soon as I stopped. In my youth when I used to walk Dartmoor regularly with the Navy and mates, we always took a tent with us and walking alone was taboo. The equipment is so much better now. But only if you carry it. So I ordered that modern survival bag yesterday, to replace my current bin liner job. Expect the sun will come out now. :lol:

PS always tell the wife where I'm headed and leave a map with her. Whether she would tell any one else is another matter. :wink:

 

[sars]

That looks like a fantastic day out

 

[Bumpy]

Wow !
Such a beautiful ride.
All the better cause you did it topless !
Roadsters Rule !
Coupes Drool :fuelfire:

 

[RJBaz 3.4]

I loved walking around Dartmoor alone especially in the winter, but I realised how dangerous it is when you are only 8 or 9 years old !!

Nice photos by the way

 

[biggeoff]

Hi im in North Devon are there any z4 meets in our area cheers Geoff

 

[biggeoff]

I guess that's a no than

 

[Wackydo]

Why not start a new thread and try and organise one Geoff ?? Its easier for people to see when you've got a suitable thread title