Dartmoor
Added on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Not one of the fastest routes in our UK guide, but perhaps one of the most atmospheric, scenic and unspoilt. The national park of Dartmoor is a treat for anyone looking for some space and solitude and if you’re after a short holiday, the area has some mighty fine hostelries too!
The Route
Exeter - Longdown - Bridford - Moretonhampstead - Tavistock - Okehampton
Start at Exeter and find your way past the vast industrial estate on the West side of the city, to pick up the B3212, signed for Mortonhampstead - be warned, it is easy to get lost on the legendary Exeter ring road. The B road is a 40mph limit for much of the first few miles, then gets altogether more lively as it gets into the countryside proper.
About six miles out, watch for the village of Longdown, then get set for some seriously tricky corners, with a few steep hills along the way. Best plan is take things easy, this is a route to unwind your mind, not scrape your footpegs..
The little town of Moretonhampstead is well worth a stopover if you have time, but take a slow dawdle across the crossroads and stick with the B3212, signed for Two Bridges and Tavistock. Soon, you’re up on the moors proper and note, it is a 40mph limit all the way across, so click into a high gear, low revs mindset and relax. There are wandering sheep and Dartmoor ponies about, which is another good reason to back off the speed a touch, as well as the bleak, moody scenery.
Miles of moorland will slowly roll by, until you dip down into Two Bridges and hang a right turn for Tavistock. If you feel in the mood, a slight detour on the B3212 will take you around via Yelverton and the A386, but Tavistock is definitely worth a look. You can’t miss it, there’s a whopping great statue of Sir Francis Drake in the middle of it…
After some refreshment in Tavistock, take the A386 signed for Okehampton, which soon begins to entertain with a series of fast sweeping corners. Pretty busy with traffic, but some wide open moorland sections too, which have the national 60mph - rather than 40mph - speed limit.
Okehampton is another good choice for an overnight stay, or just a lazy lunch if you prefer. Then onwards along the dual carriageway A30, until you take a right turn onto the A382, signed for Mortonhampstead once again - yep, we’ve just done a big circle. Very bendy bit of road this, which lasts just a few miles before we’ve completed a long loop.
A left turn in Mortonhampstead will take you back to Exeter if that suits, or stay on the A382 if you want to head South for Torquay and the English Riveria, setting for the legendary Fawlty Towers hotel. Don’t mention the war.
Pitstops
The Dartmoor Inn - now there’s a proper old fashioned pub name, none of your Firkins, Ferrets, or the like. This 16th Century Inn has Old Speckled Hen and St Austell Hicks amongst its beers and can be found in Lydford, near Okehampton. Another beam-ceilinged restaurant is at the Barton Cross Hotel, which is about 5 miles North of Exeter. It also has 6 bedrooms and three AA stars - could be worth a look.
Police File
There are no Gatso cameras on Dartmoor as far as we know - hurray - and as it is a national park, it should stay that way in the future. However, the 40mph limit is enforced by the occasional patrol and you will find irate ramblers and angry wild flower collectors likely to grass you up should you decide to perform blatantly mad biker stunts, or speed excessively. Believe us, you will enjoy Dartmoor much better the slower you travel across it.
