Dartmoor is one of those places that has a bit of everything, tight and technical sections, epic views and plenty of decent photo opportunities for post-ride bragging. It’s got enough to keep you occupied for a good few days should you wish to really explore it properly, and we’re lucky enough to have it right on the doorstep.
Café 53 makes a great start/finish for this ride, and is a great meeting point. From here head towards the A30, but instead of taking the slip road to the dual carriageway, head straight over the roundabout towards Moretonhampstead.
Continue following the signs to Moretonhampstead, picking up the B3212. This stretch of the route is fantastic, quite technical and very enjoyable.
At Moretonhampstead, continue on the B3212, heading towards Two Bridges. This will take you right over Dartmoor. You’ll be rewarded with incredible views, with plenty of photo opportunities. Be mindful of the 40mph speed limit after you cross over the cattle grids though, it isn’t uncommon to be riding through a bend to be met with sheep, ponies or even cows right in the middle of the road – not something you want to be ploughing into, but spectacular all the same.
At Two Bridges, you’ll want to be picking up the B3357 and continue towards Poundsgate. As you approach, the road can become quite narrow, a sign of things to come. You’ll approach a moderately steep hill, continue down until you see the signposted single track road that leads to Ponsworthy, pick up this road and carry along the single track road until you pick up Widcombe in the Moor where you can stop for a good cuppa. After this is where the road opens up again with the B3387, which is a brilliant expansive bit of tarmac that sees you riding past Haytor Rocks.
Continuing on from here, you head towards Bovey Tracy where, if you’re pushed for time, you can pick up the A38 and head back towards Exeter.
For those wanting to explore a little more, head straight over the roundabout at Bovey Tracy, following the road until you find yourself in the town. Continue on and, once over the humpback bridge, take the first right and follow the road until just before the A38 junction, where you’ll see a junction that turns onto the B3193.
This stretch of road is our favourite of the ride, it’s pretty technical, but not too slow either. You’ll also get the waft of wild garlic in your helmet as you travel through the wooded sections too! Just be mindful that this is also a fairly popular route with cyclists, but on the whole though, it’s generally pretty quiet.
Bridge Motorcycles Dartmoor route
