Feeler Thread for a Drive across Dartmoor Meet

[Emily-Elizabeth]

Idea has been suggested a couple of times in other meet threads for a drive across Dartmoor later on this year. A great chance to spoil people’s views of the moors with a large quantity of Skodas and their drivers.

As this is a feeler thread, I will make a skeleton itinerary that can be changed as we go:

As most people will be coming down the M5 we could get together at Exeter Services and head to RACE WORLD!which is just down the road. If we get enough people we could get rent the place out and have a good blast around the circuit (fabia drivers vs octy drivers?)

After this we will have a bit of a boring stretch down the A38 to Asburton were we hit moors. There is a road straight across that ultimately leads us to Tavistock. If anyone knows of anything better

After the success of the overnighter we had the other day I did think I could investigate staying here overnight. All depends on numbers and what people want. We could also do it in reverse if people do want to disappear up the M5 and home.

Suggestions?

EDIT - my mother may well make an apperance

[Tigger_1979]

You Jason and a few other Locals will need to sort a treasure Hunt out
find some nice roads to have a look at

[Octygone]

I walked across Dartmoor once ........got as far as Widecombe ...might be a place to visit

[devonutopia]

Ooooh, I know more roads on dartmoor than just the road from Moretonhampstead, through Princetown and down to Tavistock. There's some lovely scenery but many of the roads I like wouldn't be suitable for a huge convoy. We shall see. Count me in. Oh, the route from Tavistock should definitely go up the A386 to Okehampton and then into Oke and up the road to the camp and we drive onto the moorland by the army camp. Even my lowered car makes it up there.

[Emily-Elizabeth]

In which case Jason, can you come up with the route because I do not know that much about the area.

Glad people are getting excited!

[TeflonTom]

i'd be up for a frive accross dartmoor.


edit: drive not frive

[devonutopia]

Sure, I'll do a little research on the web. Much of the routes will not be on the Moor itself, infact sod all will really be on the moor itself in the true Cat & Fiddle style. But there should be a mix of different roads and terrain and I'll find some good points to stop.

How does October 8th grab everyone? I think thats a Sunday? Would be good on that day I think, at least would be for me. Oh, and say around 150 miles OK for everyone? It would start from Exeter Services, and end up at a pub I decide somewhere in / around Exeter area. I'm already brimming with ideas for some nice roads to travel on.

[devonutopia]

OK,I've done a little research and the plan would be roughly like this:

From Exeter drive out on the B3212 toward Moretonhampstead. Lovely road, and a quick stop at Dunsford Bridge for photos. I heard it was nice but never stopped (big car park) - Then on to Moretonhampstead - nothing to see so drive out to the sticks and the moor, to where I know there's a big neolithic stone circle. Trouble is there's not "much" room to park so I'll have to see how that will work. Optional extra to dance naked around the stones. From there we drive back to MH and down the rest of the B3212 through the heart of Dartmoor. Should take some stops where there's plenty of parking. Two Bridges is a good place with what I think is the oldest "bridge" in Britain. Trouble is its a 40mph speed limit on the moor and the roads are sooooo tempting. Just not so tempting if you hit a dartmoor pony at 80..... Would be nasty! for the car! The pony would probably survive.

From there we drive through Princetown unless anyone fancies looking at the Museum of Dartmoor Life? I've never been. Maybe a lunch stop somewhere around here. Will have to see about that as I don't know if we're gonna be big in numbers and need me to book somewhere up?

From Princetown we belt up the A386. nothing special about this road. Got some nice views of the moor to the right as you drive into Sourton village. This is where MisterGT resides. Hopefully he'll be up for coming along. Then we do a quick stretch of the A30 dual carriageway before pulling off into Okehampton, and heading up on the moor. There's parking right up on the moor there so is good to get a feel of how rough and bleak it is, but from the sanctity of your own car. If the weather is OK I'd be happy to walk a few people up to one of the highest tors up there.

This route is not full and final and may due to other routes being better, be altered. I reckon it will be roughly 150 miles from end to end. Any ideas / desires for people to visit, please let me know so I can incorporate them into a viable route.

[Emily-Elizabeth]

Sounds like a great route. You knowledge of Dartmoor is much better than mine.

We could have a late night Exmouth stop?

[devonutopia]

If the weather is good and people are OK with it, then there's nothing stopping an evening at Exmouth. In fact, it could end down there as I know good places to eat (and drink) from working down there. I'll finalise a route and start a new thread, but say it was all "Emily's idea!"

[Emily-Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by devonutopia

If the weather is good and people are OK with it, then there's nothing stopping an evening at Exmouth. In fact, it could end down there as I know good places to eat (and drink) from working down there. I'll finalise a route and start a new thread, but say it was all "Emily's idea!"

Over to you Jason.

So long as I am credited with all the glorious praise, am crowned queen, and everyone bows down in admiration.