Wild Camping Dartmoor

Hi,

 I'm all a bit new to this and am about to give a first attempt at Wild Camping!

I do love camping but this is the first time we're going to try and see how the wild camping works out.

Our plan is to start at Fenworthy Reservoir then walk through the forest heading for the Grey Wethers, then onto Sittaford Tor and the up to Teignhead Farm to camp for the night.

Can anyone let me know if this is a good idea and sounds like an ok route? I'm hoping we will be close enough to Manga Brook for water and the farm is meant to be a good place to stop over i think?

Does this sounds like a days walking to you all and a good chosen route for a very keen first timer?

Thank you in advance for all your help and input - i really appriciate it.

Jen

Thanks for that - just checked the map and Watern Tor looks like a great idea. I didn't want to push too far ahead just in case i was being too ambitious!

 I'll aim for Teignhead Farm and see how i get on but otherwise hope to see Watern Tor as well.

Is it ok to leave my car at the car park at Fenworthy Reservoir?

smallwren wrote (see)

Our plan is to start at Fenworthy Reservoir then walk through the forest heading for the Grey Wethers, then onto Sittaford Tor and the up to Teignhead Farm to camp for the night.

Can anyone let me know if this is a good idea and sounds like an ok route? I'm hoping we will be close enough to Manga Brook for water and the farm is meant to be a good place to stop over i think?

Does this sounds like a days walking to you all and a good chosen route for a very keen first timer?

Hi, like EffBee says, it could be a fairly short route for you and not take long - 5-6km depending on where you park - 2 hours for an averagely fit person with adequate navigation) but you can always pitch up and then take a less heavily loaded wander....

NB Fernworthy has been used for parties ('Rave's) on a Friday or Saturday night irregularly on a monthly basis this last year or 2, but not sure which parking place - probably the furthest one I think.

As FB says, it's not a long route but it's as well not to overstretch yourself if it's your first time wildcamping on Dartmoor.

The walk through Fernworthy forest is pretty boring but once you get out of the trees, the view opens up and the valley is beautiful, with the North Teign running through it.  Teignhead is a great spot to camp - as you enter the farm from the North-east, there is a grassy, gently sloping spot on the left that is ideal for a tent.  Plenty of water nearby in Manga brook.

Car parking is a bit problematic.  Don't use the visitors' or fishermen's car parks as overnight parking is specifically prohibited in those.  If you head to the western end of the reservoir, you can park there (no charge) but you have to accept the small risk of leaving your vehicle overnight.

Let us know how you get on. 

Thats all really helpful - thank you so much.

 Am getting a little nervy of going now due to the vast downpour we've had in our area! Can anyone advise a goood website to give us an idea of the conditions on the moor?

I really don't mind a bit of rain or underfoot soggyness but i don't want to always remember my first time wild camping as 'that weekend i spent in a floating tent'

Thanks again for all your help

I can confirm Teignhead Farm is a good spot to camp. 

As for the weather - things will dry up over the next couple of days although still wet underfoot in places you should have no probs with floods or anything!  Indeed, Dartmoor looks one of the best spots this weekend

smallwren wrote (see)

Thats all really helpful - thank you so much.

 Am getting a little nervy of going now due to the vast downpour we've had in our area! Can anyone advise a goood website to give us an idea of the conditions on the moor?

I really don't mind a bit of rain or underfoot soggyness but i don't want to always remember my first time wild camping as 'that weekend i spent in a floating tent'

Thanks again for all your help

Teignhead Farm itself is pretty well-drained so you'll be fine.

As for the rest of Dartmoor - well, it wouldn't be Dartmoor if it wasn't soggy underfoot.

Thats really good thank you - we are meant to be leaving in the morning and just can't make the decision whether to go or not. I'm worried about how the weather has been and am on the verge of flipping a coin to see what we should do!

Anyway off to bed soon - i'll set the alarm and guess i'll see what its like tomorrow!

Any more thoughts much appriciated and if anyone has been out today and can give me an idea on what to expect that would be great.

Thanks again for all your help

 Jen

an yuata wrote (see)

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Bit late but found a pretty good guide-to for beginners on Dartmoor including what to take etc if you're interested.

http://www.postcardsfrommars.co.uk/2012/04/wild-camping-backpacking-in-dartmoor.html

Mr Liponen wrote (see)

Bit late but found a pretty good guide-to for beginners on Dartmoor including what to take etc if you're interested.

http://www.postcardsfrommars.co.uk/2012/04/wild-camping-backpacking-in-dartmoor.html