The Westcountry Way (Across The Moors)

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Planning to do this tomorrow
In a day
Ride to start and home too.................
See you when I surface....

Oh..........on the old Raleigh tourer...220 miles
Edited - 4 am start, day = 24 hrs.

http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/westcountry-way/

[sbcoombs]

That looks a serious challenge in 1 day, although possibly 2 lovely days out.130 loaded miles is enough but with 4200mtrs of climbing you will need a good pair of legs.
I hope you enjoy the ride. Let us know how you get on.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I am not that well organised at the moment, the map reading will be very tedious between the moors, been food shopping tonight, will be carrying all my food and will get water on the moors.

So...I am postponing for 24 hrs and travelling down on sat morn, give me time to get better organised.

I know the whole route over Dartmoor done the tracks there several times (don't need a map for that) with camping gear, so that's easy and the track are all passible.
Done some of the Exmoor too, don't want to do Exmoor in the dark hence early start.
No sat nav either
I need to buy one for this sort of thing, will have to bodge some maps for the ride.
Coming home overnight is a breeze as I have done that route Minehead to Torbay several times in the past in the dark.
If I get to Minehead before it gets dark, job done.

Watch this space

Edited- Rain stops as I am off, fingers crossed not too much rain as my tyres 35 mm hybrid type will not give any grip in wet mud.
Have some evil xcross tyres I have used before greenlining on ice in winter, these will slow me down too much overall.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Stats are evil

Stats

Last time on the trail, carrying two pannier and tent , bag, cooker, bed roll, sink etc
Will only have the one pannier to carry all the tuck , but gained an extra bottle rack, will also need spare foldable bottles.

Plymouth Sound From Eylesbarrow Dartmoor Faint Trail Mid Right From Trees

Camping On The Trail At Elylesbarrow Mine

Selworthy On Route Exemoor, Have Camped There.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Plan to leave Plymouth up the drakes trail AT 6 - 7 AM 21 07 18, If anyone fancies a ride up on to the moors.
Or just a breath of fresh air, route up and over Dartmoor is relatively straight forward at least to Princetown.
You will need 32 mm tyres on a road wheel bike.
Mine head by 22.00 21 07 18.

[Tilley]

I looked at this route some 7 years ago when planning to undertake a solo charity ride. I ended up doing the Wessex Way instead as the start point was more convenient. Now I ride a recumbent trike so I would be really interested to know what the overall surface is like throughout the ride and whether there are any width restrictions.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

I looked at this route some 7 years ago when planning to undertake a solo charity ride. I ended up doing the Wessex Way instead as the start point was more convenient. Now I ride a recumbent trike so I would be really interested to know what the overall surface is like throughout the ride and whether there are any width restrictions.

Will take many photos, I don't normally but plan to do so, so every one can see whats really on the ground especially over Dartmoor.
I will keep an eye out on width etc.

I am not sure what I will meet between the moors, and whether those paths are bridle or not?
Not that I will see many people anyway.
I don't think that paths on Dartmoor although restricted to walkers are a problem anyway, the wardens are not interested where you go in small numbers and you rarely see them far from their cars.

Well looking at the Wessex Way, it appears all tracks etc, I think Dartmoor has some stuff which is undefined, well I know it has as I have been most places on Dartmoor that you can ride and push and climb over rocks and through streams etc, not what you are looking for for sure.

I know that parts of way on Dartmoor has kissing gates and worn out washed out narrow paths.
Anyway will check back later.

[Tilley]

Thanks for that I will look forward to seeing the pics.

[fossala]

Can you share the GPX for this, I wouldn't mind doing it over 2 days. How much off road is it?
Thanks.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

Can you share the GPX for this, I wouldn't mind doing it over 2 days. How much off road is it?
Thanks.

The only file I know of is in my opening post,
Not much good for me as I don't have sat nav

Oh if I load up the "Bike Hike" file I made that can be saved as ? look on the bikehike site? Just off for tea at mo.

[fossala]

It was the bikehike file I was after. I would join you tomorrow if I didn't have work.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

It was the bikehike file I was after. I would join you tomorrow if I didn't have work.

You know you can download the GPX from the link I posted?
http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/westcountry-way/

Ok so I have the file edited "Bikehike" and saved as gpx........just the ride start of drakes at Plymouth to minehead.
Its a manual made file by me copied from the bikepacker site.
So it may well have errors.
You can load up the file at bikehike and modify reverse save as a different file..........................

[fossala]

Hi,

It was the bikehike file I was after. I would join you tomorrow if I didn't have work.

You know you can download the GPX from the link I posted?
http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/westcountry-way/

Ok so I have the file edited "Bikehike" and saved as gpx........just the ride start of drakes at Plymouth to minehead.
Its a manual made file by me copied from the bikepacker site.
So it may well have errors.
You can load up the file at bikehike and modify reverse save as a different file..........................

Thank you. Downloaded it and I'll check it out tomorrow.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

Hi,

It was the bikehike file I was after. I would join you tomorrow if I didn't have work.

You know you can download the GPX from the link I posted?
http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/westcountry-way/

Ok so I have the file edited "Bikehike" and saved as gpx........just the ride start of drakes at Plymouth to minehead.
Its a manual made file by me copied from the bikepacker site.
So it may well have errors.
You can load up the file at bikehike and modify reverse save as a different file..........................

Thank you. Downloaded it and I'll check it out tomorrow.

I removed the bit to and from my house...........................if you want that as a whole file contact me.....

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
mmmmm....going to bed in ten minutes........alarm set for 03.30 am.................
I'm ready