Crossing Dartmoor in a day. Have you done it?

harok11a

Ultralighter
I’m considering a north to south Dartmoor trip soon. I’m currently looking at route options and waiting for a good weather day.

Has anyone here done this before? It’s ~50km, but not much vert. Route choice is likely important given terrain though.

This isn’t overnight so probably the wrong forum for this question!
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
Did it years ago , and have friends who do it now and then still as guides for challenge group.

What do you want to know?
 

harok11a

Ultralighter
Route suggestions would be good. There are a few options online but limited consensus on a standard route.
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
Route suggestions would be good. There are a few options online but limited consensus on a standard route.
Exactly! All depends on your objectives/capabilities.

The standard start/finish would be Okehampton to Ivybridge.

If I was advising anyone who just wanted the distance, then , follow the East Okement/Tarka Trail up to Scarry Tor, then track to Hangingstone Hill then Quintins Man-Sittaford Tor, Postbridge.
Then south past Hexworthy, rough section to Red Lake tip, then follow the track all the way to Ivybridge.
 

harok11a

Ultralighter
Exactly! All depends on your objectives/capabilities.

The standard start/finish would be Okehampton to Ivybridge.

If I was advising anyone who just wanted the distance, then , follow the East Okement/Tarka Trail up to Scarry Tor, then track to Hangingstone Hill then Quintins Man-Sittaford Tor, Postbridge.
Then south past Hexworthy, rough section to Red Lake tip, then follow the track all the way to Ivybridge.

Thanks for the info, that ties up well with what I've been looking at so far, so that's promising at least!

I'll work on some detail and hope for some vaguely acceptable weather whilst the days are still long.

Are there any specific sections of that route that are routinely extremely boggy? I haven't been to Dartmoor for years, but do a lot of miles in Wales so am very used to the joys of boggy ground.
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
Nothing extreme.
The section to Redlake can be wet in places ( Fishlake area and approaching Red Lake , though not too bad in summer).

Also, it's usually easier underfoot to follow the track dogleg up Whitehorse hill rather than straight line from Hangingstone.
 
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