Classic Walks on Dartmoor.
Volume One. Cycle Route H.

Access Route. Plus Many sub- routes.
Plymouth Yelverton and Princetown.

This route can be chopped up into discrete sections, to give short rides for all the family. - The main access points are Princetown. The scout hut. Norsworthy Bridge. Burrator Dam. the upper end of the cycle track at Shaugh railway station and all points further south along the cycle track down to Chelston meadow.

A Cycle and Foot Route to Dartmoor from the Rail and Coach stations.
This access route is mainly for primary ingress on foot or cycle to Princetown. As can be seen on the map, it is possible to go along the main road, but so much excellent walking, cycling and superb scenery will be sorely missed. If you are going to walk or cycle up a hill, at least make it a pretty one.
The optional routes described here are fairly direct, but have vastly more scenic content without upsetting the optimum route. You will have enjoyed Dartmoor to her fullest possible. A good days walk or ride, or for those starting late and intending to make an overnight camp or bivouac on the moors.
Much of the route to Yelverton is on a disused rail track, for a faster pace, then along good, easily navigated Dartmoor tracks.
This route is also a really good, full days blast there and back on a cycle, with good pubs at both ends.

This is also ideal for those who wish to enjoy a gentle, long ride for a half day to get to or from Princetown, or just to enjoy small sections for an afternoons stroll or ride.

If you're in London, grab your mountain bike, get the train to Plymouth by 8 AM, - and be in the pub at Princetown in the middle of Dartmoor for a deserved pint of Jale Ale by lunchtime ! - This is far better than any fancy professional 'work out' malarkey. After lunch, a genteel ride back to enjoy the scenery more, in time to catch the 8 PM train back to London.

Walking and cycle guides available for all ages. Just email jhpart@btinternet.com.

Overview of the Routes.
The fastest route is by the main road, but very boring.

The nicest for cyclists with serious scenery is via the cycle track to Shaugh tunnel.
This is then followed by many options: -

My favourite by foot or cycle, being to Cadover and across the hard going to Dittsworhy Warren House. (See ferns) Then to follow the well defined track to the Scout hut then Eylesbarrow and Nuns Cross Farm then the cycle track to Princetown. Good navigation needed up to Legis Tor.

The fastest cycle route with real scenery is to Shaugh tunnel, then Goodameavy, Ringmoor Cottage, Eylesbarrow, then Princetown.

A cycle route via Yelverton if wanting supplies, or sticking mainly to roads, then Dousland, Burrator Dam, to Norsworthy Bridge then one section of reasonable track to Princetown.

If reasonably good at navigation, but not wanting any really rough ground, then the best overall route is from Shaugh Tunnel to Shaugh Bridge to Cadover Bridge, then across Lynch common to Ringmoor Cottage and then the scout hut to Nun Cross Farm then the cycle track to Princetown.

As will be seen on the map, the section between Shaugh Tunnel and Nuns Cross farm are the core variations. All are really nice, but some need good navigation.
Other direct routes to Princetown are also described.

All routes bring the cyclist direct to Princetown and a welcoming and very popular Inn which has a campsite in the back, a bunkhouse with showers, real ale on tap and good food.

Because of their length, these routes can be enjoyed in half a day, being about twenty miles or so. It assumed the riders will want to reach Princetown either for the ride itself or as a primary access route. If not reaching Princetown by dusk, the walker will be deep enough into Dartmoor to be able to camp by a gentle river at Cadover or Norsworthy for the night.

The routes from Burrator to Princetown and from Shaugh Bridge to Princetown and from the Scout Hut to Princetown the route are suitable for hikers or mountain bikes, although I have done this on a Moulton space frame bike with thin road tyres but there are some short sections needing pushing over rough ground and some minor navigation using a map and compass.

If arriving in Plymouth by train.

Continue easterly though the dual carriage way with central barrier, following the main traffic flow. Stay on the right hand side with the traffic leaving Plymouth. When the road splits either side of some houses, take the southern, right hand split, towards Plymstock. Continue past the traffic lights and across the bridge and your first glimpse of Dartmoor up the river Plym.
After the bridge, turn left, to the start point of the Plym Valley cycle track at Chelston Meadow recycling centre. Note the bottom blue sign. Then follow along the cycle track, up the side of the estuary.

If arriving in Plymouth by coach or bus.

Please note: The train and bus stations are close to the Barbican. If reaching Plymouth by evening, or if wanting to remain in Plymouth for the day, then a few hours stroll around the sea front and Hoe is recommended. See also my stroll around Plymouth and stroll around Jennycliffe also on this CD.

The first main section of the route.

The route follows the Plym estuary upstream along the cycle route starting at Chelston Meadow beside Laira Bridge on the Plym Estuary.
Pass thorough Saltram House grounds, where many period classics have been filmed. Aim to go under the large flyover of the motorway, close to the train tracks which also converge into this narrow area. This takes a special pedestrian and cycle bridge over the trains, but under the motorway.
Follow beside the river. Veer left.

This route goes beside, then under the motorway flyover. These quarter mile long side roads were replaced overnight by making a second set of slip roads beside the old side roads, then the old roads were demolished, while using the new slip roads for maintaining traffic flow. Then sliding the whole replacement quarter mile long sections of slip road into the original position overnight ! No one could believe moving a quarter mile of road in one piece could be done, and certainly not overnight. This was then repeated with the other slip road.

The cycle route continues north into the Plym valley and follows the old railway route north, from Coypool, in the path squeezed between the boatyard and rail station following the river Plym upstream using the old railway track route.

The cycle route winds its ways north towards Yelverton, though the Plym Valley , doing so across viaducts and through various cuttings.
At Bickleigh, the route is unfortunately owned privately, and so a short detour up a very steep hill is necessary for everyone, up to near the army barracks. At the top of the hill, turn right, and at the next turn, take the gate onto the rail track again. Then onwards and eventually through the curved tunnel at Shaugh.

Choose your route to Princetown from here.

To Yelverton from the tunnel.
From the end of the cycle track, for those with pure road bikes, then the more roadworthy route is into Yelverton which is also a very good place to stock up on food and supplies, as it has the only supermarket for many miles.
After leaving the tunnel, exit the track immediately off to the left and up the steep hill. This then opens out onto the open moorlands of Yelverton common. Continue on the road, to the junction with the small hump back bridge . The turn uphill over the old leat above Clearbrook to the hut. Follow the slight remains of the old tam track beside the large old hut across the golf course into Yelverton. - The track from the small bridge is just up a short way across the downs and follows beside the large old hut building. Note the small blue cycle track sign on its door.

Following such a track is easy; if you understand that they tend to keep level ! So if you see many paths, always follow the 'level one' if intending to follow an old tram, rail or leat route. This makes for very easy walking, for there are no hills.

Follow this level, easily curving track with the occasional granite sleepers north into a narrow lane which is accessed by a granite block style, which keeps the sheep out. (Rather than the official cycle track as shown on the post. )
This then continues to wind its way, following the track above the leat and eventually beside the main road into Yelverton beside the Church and public toilets beside the main roundabout.

If lost, just follow the main A386 road north into Yelverton.

Yelverton is a good place to check the time, if having an afternoons cycle ride, top up on drinks and refreshment. There are plenty of grass verges upon which to relax. This is also a central bus route point and has many good shops and a small supermarket.

If wishing to go from here, direct to Princetown by the shortest route, simply follow the main road from Yelverton to Princetown. This may save an hour, but includes a very long, slow hill and is not recommended if intending to enjoy the route and scenery to the fullest.

Variation 1. Gentle cycling to Princetown via Yelverton and Burrator Dam.

(Please note: If you are walking or mountain biking and do not need supplies at Yelverton, then use the other routes though Shaugh Bridge as these are more scenic and contain a much higher content of open moorland. )

If you choose to go via Yelverton, then a gentle route from Yelverton to Princetown is along the main road east-north-east which can be followed to the junction into Dousland. If not wishing to follow the main road which is a tad narrow for a quarter mile, then turn right, due east at the sharp corner at Woodmans corner just outside Yelverton at the bottom of the hill, taking the extreme right hand lane to Lane and then up into Dousland, although there is a bit of a hill. As the main road is a little narrow in places, this direct route can make a safer route, especially if the roads are busy or with kiddies.
Upon reaching the main road running through Dousland, turn south down through the village. At the end of the village, do not go down the hill, but turn left out onto the moors, onto the road towards Sheepstor and Burrator dam.

The road contours around and eventually reaches Burrator and it's Dam. Sheepstor in distance. Time for a well deserved ice cream. There are pubic toilets beside the Dam.

Variations from Burrator Dam.

From the Dam.
It is also possible to turn across the Dam, follow along through Burrator village, then out to the east to the Scout hut to Eylesbarrow and Nuns Cross Farm. (If walking, then the nicer, more scenic route to Eylesbarrow is via Shaugh Bridge and Cadover, then Dittsworthy Warren House to the Scout hut. See other routes below.)

A direct route from the Dam to Princetown.
Do not cross over the dam, but stay on the western reservoir road up around the reservoir to the top. At the top of the road is Norsworthy bridge. Take the rough road track straight ahead in the picture, north-east into the forest towards Princetown.
Follow this rough track up along the path on the south east side of the forest, but at the first forest clearing junction, veer to the right, to keep the forest wall on your left side as it gradually meanders and climbs up hill.
The track follows the south side of the forest, as seen here from Sheepstor. After a long, gentle climb, this eventually opens up onto the open moor at a gate which continues below Craziwell Pool, (as seen here from across the valley from Sheepstor to the south). The track makes its steady way easterly towards Older Bridge, which is merely a small, single slab clapper bridge over the leat. Then turn up the hill to meet the cycle track north and into Princetown.

From the Dam.
Slightly longer, more scenic and easy cycling from Burrator Dam to Princetown is via Scout hut and Eylesbarrow.
This is the most open moorland track for foot and cycles across Dartmoor and requires some minimal map reading, but good open moorland scenery and chances of a breeze on a warm day.
From Burrator Dam. Cross over the dam, eastwards along the winding road, through the very small Sheepstor hamlet and the church by the brook. Then continue along the road, up the small hill where the open moorland appears, and turn left at the road junction half way up the curving hill, to continue eastwards to the Scout hut in the woods at the end of the track at grid Ref SX 581 674. This is the Scout Hut, looking back towards Sheepstor village off to the left, while Ringmoor Down is over the centre hill. An army truck and a car are in the small car park by the ford.

From the Scout hut in the trees by the ford, shown here with the ponies, follow the track eastwards up to Eylesbarrow on the horizon. Welcome to Dartmoor.

From the Scout hut, follow the track leading up to Eylesbarrow. It is rather bleak and not a good place for newcomers to be in heavy rain or mist.

The picture on the left shows the track near the top of Eylesbarrow, where there is extensive disused tin workings. The right hand track goes down to Plym Ford, and the route straight ahead takes you direct to Nuns Cross Farm.
If walking, then you may wish to go to the top of Eylesbarrow and follow the peaty path, along the water boundary markers to Nuns Cross Farm. If visibility is poor, always stay on the track.

From Eylesbarrow, follow the track along to Nuns Cross Farm. At the cross, turn north up the dubiously pink cycle track into Princetown
Just south of Nuns Cross Farm, lies Fox Tor Mires, believed to have inspired A.C.Doyles 'The Hound Of The Baskervilles'.

Via Cadover from the tunnel.

From Shaugh Bridge is a mile of excellent woodland walk. - DO NOT follow the river upstream from Shaugh, unless wanting some rough going, as it gets almost impossible after a while.

On the southern side of Shaugh road bridge, on the right before the steep road hill is a car park with some granite block walls. There are some steps in the side of the hill shown here beside the road, leading up the slope under the trees. This path continues to climb up a rough track and eventually veers left near the top of the rise. If cycling, then use the small entrance into the woods a few yards up the road hill.
This is a bit of a climb, but worth the effort, meandering up a well defined and trodden path, up through a style, then continues up and veers to the left, to follow beside a road to cottages. Then it veers left onto the beginning of a pipeline to Cadover. From here, the walking is level and easy to Cadover. The Dewerstone Rocks on the other side of the valley can be seen. About half way is a gate and style into North woods.

The track follows the side of the hill along through the trees and follows a disused water pipe. Eventually this absolutely superb forest path opens out at Cadover Bridge.
A little further up the river are many quiet camping spots should time be getting late. If camping overnight at Cadover, you can be in Princetown in a couple of hours, in time for lunch tomorrow.

From Cadover Bridge
There are two maun variations to Princetown from Cadover bridge, one direct rough track across Legis Tor, or up beside the river,- and the other easier road route over Ringmoor Down. See later.
The variation up the river to Legis Tor needs good navigation. This is a direct route for walkers and mountain bikes, but not so suitable for road cycles with luggage and has a few short carry climbs for mountain bikes at Shaugh Bridge and a rough section between Cadover and Dittsworthy Warren House.
Lots of good rough camping areas beside the river just upstream from Cadover Bridge.

Via Ringmoor: If you have luggage or road bikes, or if visibility is poor, then take the Ringmoor road route. There is no point taking a scenic route if visibility or navigation skills are poor. The road route is to cross over the Cadover road bridge northwards, then turn right, northwards at the sharp bend in the road, through the lanes with the granite posts protecting the ditch, onto the open moorland. Then follow the road around, or cut right, across beside the forest on your right, across Lynch Common to Ringmoor Cottage and then keep high on the track, to contour around the road overlooking Brurrator dam and village seen here with Sheepstor above, to follow the road down towards the Scout Hut, just north of Gutter Tor.

A view of the landscape. A nice view southwards from Sheepstor with the easier route on upper left of picture, with Ringmoor Cottage trees in middle, just below the Cadover clay works on the horizon, with road running leftwards, towards the Scout Hut, as seen from Sheepstor.

Cadover Bridge to Dittsworthy Warren House via Legis Tor:
This interesting variation needs a some navigation skills to find the route, and pushing of mountain bikes for short distances but makes an interesting introduction to exploring further on Dartmoor.
(Nice view of the mid point, over the River Plym, Trowelsworthy Farm and Sheepstor on the horizon. Taken from a Lee Mill clay works boundary stone to the south, dated 1885, shows the river, Trowelsworthy Farm, and Legis Tor behind it across the river.

From Cadover Bridge To Legis Tor.
There is a small bridge before the farm and a good swimming hole beside it and often an ice cream van. Take the grassy left spur shin the centre of the picture, before the farm, to follow around the side of the river bank up the river. By following up the side of the river, there is a small rock dam, and a small fence beyond. Cross over here and follow the track in the direction of Legis Tor and up to the style over the fence just before the top.
Expect a few ferns in the summer.

From the top of Legis Tor is fairly easy cycling down to Dittsworthy Warren House. Both seen in this picture from across the river bank.

This Legis Tor route up to Legis Tor is not recommended for beginners in poor visibility. The easier navigation route from Cadover Bridge, is to simply follow the around the side of Trowelsworthy Farm, then across and drop down to the river,cross over, to follow the clear paths on the north side of the river upstream.
This picture shows the north bank path on the far left of the picture all the way up to Dittsworthy Warren House. The picture also shows the Spanish Lake area and its leat to the south, just under the camera, which is tortuous for foot and cycles. (Stay on the north bank.)

From Dittsworthy Warren House. The easiest route is to take the north-west track up to the Scout hut in the small copse of trees. The track from Dittsworthy Warren House to the Scout Hut is shown here as a squiggly white line as seen from Hen Tor from the south and seen from Sheepstor from the north.

From Dittsworthy Warren House. There is the option to follow up the river valley, along the track behind the house and along into Drizzlecombe where there is a fine set of Bronze Age stone rows with standing stones and cairns. A map for a walk in the Drizzlecombe area, with palimset.
From these 3,000 year old stone rows, take a very careful compass bearing and read the map carefully, then follow the small stream north away from the Plym, to lead up to the easily recognised track leading to Eylesbarrow and then to Nuns Cross Farm. From the Cross, turn north into Princetown along the cycle track into Princetown.

General views of the area.
The north flank of the River Plym, along the paths which offer easy walking most of the way, to Dittsworthy Warren House. Legis Tor is shown here from Trowelsworthy Tors, and the lower path alongside the river Plym can be clearly seen in the sunshine. Dittsworthy Warren house is shown here from Hen Tor, in sunshine, with Eylesbarrow on horizon with the track from Legis Tor and the Scout hut entering in the sun from the left, with Eylesbarrow on horizon right. The stone rows at Drizzlecombe.

From the Scout Hut.
The above are many routes leading to the Scout hut which resides in the wood. There is a good leat just behind to the east if needing drinking water.

The track from the Scout hut follows the earlier described, very clear track leading to Eylesbarrow, then along to Nuns Cross Farm and then the track into Princetown with its TV mast.

All routes bring you into the back of Princetown main pub, and you can pitch you tent there and pay the publican later for the camping. There are also showers in the pubs bunkhouse.

There are many more routes, including the very scenic road from Goodameavy almost direct to Cadover and Ringmoor Down, seen here with Trowelsworthy Tors on the horizon of this picture.

Whatever route you decide, I hope the pictures should be able to offer a good insight to some of the many excellent routes to enjoy.

Summary:

Walking or for speed: Shaugh, Cadover, Dittsworthy then Eylesbarrow, Nuns Cross Farm, Princetown.

Walking, or strong road bikes or mountain bikes: Shaugh, Goodameavy, Ringmoor Down, Scout hut Eylesbarrow, Nuns Cross Farm, Princetown.

Walking or biking with lots of luggage: Yelverton, Burrator Dam, Scout Hut, Eylesbarrow. Nuns Cross Farm Princetown.

Add the Yelverton loop if needing supplies.

Camping along the Route:

It is unlikely that anyone would be walking so slowly that they cannot reach Princetown by the evening. It can be done in four hours at a normal pace to eight hours if strolling and needing lots of map reading from central Plymouth. By the time you have reached Burrator and the Scout hut, then the track from the Scout Hut, or from Burrator Dam, past Norsworthy Bridge up to Princetown is clear to walk in all but the very dark. Even a bright moonlit night makes walking these tracks possible without a torch (flashlight).
Do not take the Eylesbarrow track in the dark unless very skilled.
Note: Bickleigh Vale from Coypool to Shaugh and up to Cadover in North wood is National Trust land and camping is not allowed. Only the small section from the steps up from Shaugh car park to the gate into the forest is not National Trust land, but it is a long way down to the river for water. Cadover bridge is twenty minutes away and much, much nicer.
Nevertheless, the better camp sites on the route are:
Cadover, but expect lots of people during the day, so camp a little way upstream, away from the obvious car parking area and after the crowds have gone.
Camping on the grassy areas just before Yelverton is possible but the leat is dry. Best to scout out any good places to camp, then enjoy the pub at Clearbrook in the evening, then walk up the hill and camp on any pre-chosen grassy area or if desperate, perhaps down by the river path which runs downstream beside the river. But Cadover is under an hour away.
Camping near Dittsworthy Warren House is good, while Drizzlecombe has been used for a good few thousand years.
Camping is possible just up the track from Norsworthy bridge where there are small grassy areas, not too far from the river, but do not select any damp, boggy ground. NEVER allow open fires near the forest.
Camping is possible beside the Scout hut, and the leat has clear drinking water.
Nuns Cross Farm has a nice, well grazed field beside it, ideal for camping, just a mile from Princetown, with good sunrises, while the leat just downhill of the farmhouse offers good drinking water.
There are many bleak places, especially Eylesbarrow, where camping is not recommended in all but the balmiest of weather.
The best guide is to follow in the superior knowledge of our forefathers and look at ancient settlements as reasonable guides, but take into account the fact that they used granite and wood structures, while modern man uses the flimsier fibreglass and nylon.

Return option.

As can be seen above, there are many very good ways there and back in good weather and all can use the fun parts of the above access routes.
The return ride really is a great blast ! - being downhill nearly all the way and can be done almost two thirds the time or even less, and with much less effort than the outwards trip.

The following is a typical back and is a fine walk or ride in the afternoon or evening.

From the Princetown main cross-roads / roundabout, go south to the left of the Plume Of Feathers Inn, up to the gate, leading up a slope to the moors. At the top is another gate. Always close all gates.
The path is well constructed for walkers and cyclists, leading gently up towards exposed moorland towards South Hessary Tor. There is a wall along the left.
From South Hessary Tor, the path veers slightly south-west to the right and the route opens out and will continue in a straight line slightly downwards to the horizon, will eventually slope down, then level off to eventually reach Nuns Cross Farm near the end of the track.
Just before Nuns Cross Farm itself, there is a track beside the Cross, leading westwards up to Eylesbarrow. Follow the track up the hill along and up to Eylesbarrow.
You will notice two paths in the picture; the gravel track to the left and the grassy ridge walk. As the grassy walk is very peaty near the top, so please DO NOT use mountain bikes along here, as it can seriously damage the surface, especially in winter when the ground is softest. Use the miners track.
From the top by Eylesbarrow, continue along the track to drop down to the Scout Hut to the road.

From The Scout Hut.
Either:
Follow the easier road along to the junction, to take the left, uphill over Ringmoor Cottage then across Lynch common, through a twisty lane, then turn left at the junction to Cadover Bridge.
OR:
On foot or a mountain bike, at the Scout Hut, turn left along the track under Gutter Tor to Dittsworthy Warren House, as seen here as a squiggly white line from Hen Tor from the south and from Sheeps Tor from the north.
From Dittsworthy Warren House, turn right up to Legis Tor, both seen in this picture from across the river bank. Cadover bridge can now be seen. Climb over the style and down amongst the ferns, to cross over the river to the bridge.

At Cadover - get an ice cream, - then:
Either :
With a mountain bike, go though the style to the forest by the river.
Or:
With a road bike, follow the road up the hill to have a rather good view over Plymouth. At the cross just downhill a little, turn right into the small lane and enjoy a wonderful, very long decent down the lane then turn right down through the village to Shaugh Bridge to meet the river Plym from Cadover.

From Shaugh Bridge.
Take the road around to the north west, and then keep left past the first junction, along the road, then the later junction right, up the slip road up the hill on the right to the rail track.
(If an extra half an hour cycling time is available, see the first half of Easy Walk K: From Shaugh Bridge, cross over the foot bridge, to follow the cobbled tram track up to the top, as it veers north, along and veer left here, through the gate, and cutting, gradually downhill to Goodameavy. Then over the road bridge, under the rail bridge, and up left then back through the rail tunnel to the disused Shaugh rail station.)

From the tunnel and Shaugh disused rail station, it's all downhill for miles to Coypool and the road junctions. Only the detour around Bickliegh halt has a hill.
At Coypool, I prefer to take the very small overgrown track to the right, but not the road to the right, while the official route is the small track beside the rails on the left. Look carefully for the cycle track markers.

From under the motorway, the track is easily seen. Then across the rail track beside the motorway and on to Chelston meadow keeping close to the estuary all the way.

At Chelston meadow, across the road bridge, to turn west into Plymouth.

Other pictures from this route.
Upper end of the cycle track.
Inside the tunnel.
Tunnel, south end.
Overlooking the Viaduct.
Valley from Cadover to Dittsworthy (from other side of the valley. Gutter Tor in centre top).
Nuns Cross Farm