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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => South West England => Topic started by: phookaphooks on 17:54:48, 26/07/16

Title: Dartmoor weekend - wild camping near Belstone?
Post by: phookaphooks on 17:54:48, 26/07/16

Hello, I am planning on a run weekend at Dartmoor, starting from Belstone, then sleeping @ Princetown and back to Belstone.

Since I will sleep in a bunkhouse in Princetown, I will travel light and without tent/sleeping bag; however, on Friday I will arrive to Belstone and park in the main carpark there, and then I would like to wild camp nearby Belstone so that in the morning, I can take the tent and sleeping bag to the car and start my adventure.

Any recommendations of an area to sleep well within 2-3 miles of Belstone? I am completely new to wild camping so I want to start easy and without jumps...

thanks :)
David

Title: Re: Dartmoor weekend - wild camping near Belstone?
Post by: DevonDave on 08:38:53, 27/07/16

Hi phookaphooks and welcome to the forum from another Devon member, in south-west Devon.  I am not too familiar with the area around Belstone, but looking at the map I would think if you head south on the moor, following the River Taw, there should be ample opportunity for camping by the river.

Title: Re: Dartmoor weekend - wild camping near Belstone?
Post by: fernman on 10:11:13, 27/07/16

As you're completely new to wild camping, not too close to the river if the weather's unsettled, in case it rises in the night!

Please come back on here afterwards and let us know how you got on.

Title: Re: Dartmoor weekend - wild camping near Belstone?
Post by: phookaphooks on 17:03:03, 27/07/16

Thanks a lot to the two of you, I will let you know about my findings... ;)

I am provisionally calling this weekend "Tor Overdose"... I will let you guys know (if I survive) how this went :)

Best regards,
David

Title: Re: Dartmoor weekend - wild camping near Belstone?
Post by: Mel on 19:03:18, 25/09/17

Quote from: Henrydef on 18:28:33, 25/09/17

I am a weekend only person. But I think I will have to pass on it Jim.

The roses scream when my daddy prunes them.


















..... oh, sorry.  This isn't the "Random Statement For No Reason" topic  :-[

Title: Re: Dartmoor weekend - wild camping near Belstone?
Post by: Annejacko on 19:54:37, 25/09/17

It does get weird on here sometimes!

Title: Re: Dartmoor weekend - wild camping near Belstone?
Post by: dartmoorrambler on 22:24:22, 27/04/18

Hope you had a good trip.
For anyone else planning one, there is a good car park on the edge of Belstone at Brenamoor Common, although the ground there is a bit damp, but at the far eastern end it is flat. Down by the River Taw the problem is finding somewhere flat that isn't very wet!
Head south from Belstone and there is drier ground and some flat areas out towards the Sheepfold.
Up onto Watchet Hill and there are areas of flat and dry ground, but it is more exposed