Oct 8th, 11am, Dartmoor Tour / Drive

[devonutopia]

Right. Got this sussed. (as well as I can. ) Basically this will be a nice meet up and drive out around Dartmoor. Hopefully the weather will be kind but Dartmoor being Dartmoor, inclement conditions can soon set in. The idea of the day shall be thus:

11am. Meet at Exeter Services at the end of the M5. Went for a slightly later start as I'm trying to build an evening meal into the equation. I suggest people bring sarnies for lunch and we'll stop somewhere on the moor.

11.30 leave Exeter Services and head straight into the moor. The first route will take us along the B3212 toward Dunsford where there is a car park / nature reserve and some other stuff. may just be a camera opportunity as there's a decent carpark there. LINK

12.30 (ish) leave the reserve and head to Moretonhampstead and down the A382 back toward civilisation. Trouble is, we're turning back off that road before civilisation is reached. We hike a right on to the B3367 toward Widecombe in the Moor. Quite a pretty place, and thanks to Rob for pointing it out. We'll stop there, have a wander. I'm not sure what's about in detail, but it will be another parking space photo opportunity.

1.30. This is where we might get lost. There's numerous small lanes around Widecombe, but the idea is to get on the road toward Hexworthy, so what I'll be doing is heading south from Widecombe, until the road runs out, then head west hoping to cut across the lovely open rural road that leads to the village of Hexworthy, then on the main road to Two bridges, which will be the rest point. It might be a case of hoping everyone brings a map and eventually all of us will make it to Two Bridges. There, we shall take a look at a really old bridge built by men wearing animal skins, flint tools and sporting big beards. (Yep, the Cornish )

2.30. All being well we leave Two bridges and take the lovely B3212 back to Moretonhampstead. This road cuts right through the middle of the moor and care must be taken to avoid dartmoor ponies, cattle and sheep. 40mph speed limit applies. At various places with enough parking we shall all stop to take photos, especially if gaggles of dartmoor ponies are roadisde (they're cute but bite ) From M.H we take the A382 back up the right side of the moor to Okehampton. There we shall climb up the road to the Army Camp, and beyond to the open moorland. Safe place with lots of room to park. Great photo opportunity, and if the weather is nice, some walks. The braver members can risk a drive of the loop road, but last time I did it in a Nissan Navara, and THAT nearly didn't make it through some fords...rough roads, VERY rough! So really we should all hang around the first bit. "some" of the loop road is OK by car, but eventually you need to turn round - the loop itself is impassable.

5.00. Leave Okehampton and head for the A30 and back toward Exeter. Head straight to Exmouth seafront for hopefully some more photo opportunities, and maybe some ch4vs to laugh at, as they like the seafront for blazing up and down in their 1.0 corsas.

6.00 arrive at Exmouth and hopefully if enough people put their name down I shall book a big table / outside area weather permitting, for us all to eat. I plan to use "The Grove" in Exmouth to eat/drink/socialise as its a nice big place and I know it quite well now with it being about 200 yards walk from my office. All in all, it will be an estimated drive of around 150 miles from Exeter, and back to Exmouth - could be more, unlikely to be less.

Everyone can depart as they see fit after the food. I'll probably hang on until after dark to laugh at more ch4vs....

Can anyone who wants to come please put their names down like I have please, then I know how many places to book at the hotel. Would like to have a deadline of Wednesday October 4th for places to eat. I'll book on the 5th. People are welcome to attend in general last minute. I would suggest bringing maps, but I'll provide a basic route guide. Sat nav might be essential.


1) Jason/devonutopia. 1 Eating

[Octygone]

Would have loved to come but we have to go in the opposte direction to pick up Kevin from Heathrow

should be a good day and attract quite few .....uncle Tom Cobley and all

[devonutopia]

The actual date need not be set in stone. If people find the 8th is awkward I'll change it to the 1st or 15th. Both are fine with me.

[Octygone]

15th is OK for us at the moment......but go with the date that has the most on it

[bmjb99]

Originally Posted by devonutopia

1.30. This is where we might get lost. There's numerous small lanes around Widecombe, but the idea is to get on the road toward Hexworthy, so what I'll be doing is heading south from Widecombe, until the road runs out, then head west hoping to cut across the lovely open rural road that leads to the village of Hexworthy, then on the main road to Two bridges, which will be the rest point. It might be a case of hoping everyone brings a map and eventually all of us will make it to Two Bridges. There, we shall take a look at a really old bridge built by men wearing animal skins, flint tools and sporting big beards. (Yep, the Cornish )

Is there a really old bridge there, or are you thinking of the clapper bridge at Postbridge? I can see that Two Bridges is a natural rendezvous point, being at the intersection of the two main roads crossing the moor and having that large hotel carpark, but I don't remember it as being particularly picturesque.

Originally Posted by devonutopia

6.00 arrive at Exmouth and hopefully if enough people put their name down I shall book a big table / outside area weather permitting, for us all to eat.

Even in "Sunny Devon" I would plan to be eating inside in October

[TeflonTom]

1) Jason/devonutopia. 1 Eating
2) Tom/teflontom. 1 Eating (maybe 2)

[devonutopia]

There is a poll going on in another thread to see if the 15th or the 1st is more suitable. Please go there if you can't do the 8th, although I would sooner stick to the original date.

[Emily-Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by devonutopia

Everyone can depart as they see fit after the food. I'll probably hang on until after dark to laugh at more ch4vs....

I may well stay also, as this is a favourite past time of mine (and I am only a few miles up the road)

Add me to the list, and I will be eating.

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by Emily-Elizabeth

I may well stay also, as this is a favourite past time of mine (and I am only a few miles up the road)

Add me to the list, and I will be eating.

Not found the copy/paste buttons on your keyboard?

1) Jason/devonutopia. 1 Eating
2) Tom/teflontom. 1 Eating (maybe 2)
3) Emily/Emily-Eliz. 1 eating

[Tigger_1979]

Yup I will be along and doing all of it

1) Jason/devonutopia. 1 Eating
2) Tom/teflontom. 1 Eating (maybe 2)
3) Emily/Emily-Eliz. 1 eating
4) Tigger Eating Bex

[TeflonTom]

Originally Posted by Tigger_1979

4) Tigger Eating Bex

surely your not going to try and eat her again will??

[devonutopia]

So thats 5, maybe 6 for eating.

[MisterGT]

I will try and make it but probably only for the Dartmoor bit. I will probably join up at Two Bridges. (Still think you should take in the Highwayman though )

[vRS19TD]

1) Jason/devonutopia. 1 Eating
2) Tom/teflontom. 1 Eating (maybe 2)
3) Emily/Emily-Eliz. 1 eating
4) Tigger Eating Bex Hairy Pie
5) John/vRS19TD - Not going to Exmouth to eat as i'm hoping the fit waitress in the restaurant in Dawlish is still there, so going to end up there and free parking after 6pm as well!!

Also going to stay the Friday night and Saturday night, hopefully in a hotel in Torquay, so i could do with knowing dates please.

[devonutopia]

Definitely the 8th now, no matter what.

[nathan1984]

ill go love dartmoor tho the roads can be bad if it rains all adds 2 the fun

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by nathan1984

ill go love dartmoor tho the roads can be bad if it rains all adds 2 the fun

Add yourself to the list then. And say whether you're eating, and anyone else accompanying as well.

[drm_jones]

Count me in

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by drm_jones

Count me in

So add yourself to the list then mate. Need to know about eating arrangements hence the list thing going on.


As it stands now

1) Jason/devonutopia. 1 Eating
2) Tom/teflontom. 1 Eating (maybe 2)
3) Emily/Emily-Eliz. 1 eating
4) Tigger Eating Bex Hairy Pie
5) John/vRS19TD - Not going to Exmouth to eat as i'm hoping the fit waitress in the restaurant in Dawlish is still there, so going to end up there and free parking after 6pm as well!! [Jason] WUSS! Exmouth barmaids are nice. Dawlish ones are minging. I live there.
6)Nathan1984 - EATING? NUMBERS?
7)DRMJones - EATING? NUMBERS?

[drm_jones]

1) Jason/devonutopia. 1 Eating
2) Tom/teflontom. 1 Eating (maybe 2)
3) Emily/Emily-Eliz. 1 eating
4) Tigger Eating Bex Hairy Pie
5) John/vRS19TD - Not going to Exmouth to eat as i'm hoping the fit waitress in the restaurant in Dawlish is still there, so going to end up there and free parking after 6pm as well!!
6) David/drm_jones. 1 eating