Dartmoor 4 day Wild Camp

PLEASE READ ALL SECTIONS, INCLUDING WHAT TO BRING AND FOOD+DRINK

You can find out more about Wild Camping in the booklet accessible from here... https://www.outdoorlads.com/my-first-wild-camping-event

You need to have mountain walking experience, good equipment and a high level of fitness to carry your food, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and bivvy bag or small tent for around 80km. Sometimes it will be easy walking, other times we’ll be crossing the remotest areas of Dartmoor, where there are no trails, rivers with no easy crossing points and the infamous Dartmoor bogs. Our route will be partially determined by the water levels when we are on the moor; we may need to walk late into the evenings if water levels increase. We may need to camp on exposed, wet, uneven ground. I expect that we’ll walk about 20km each day.

I will send a pre-event message 3 weeks before the event, asking participants to confirm that they will be attending. Ten days before the event I will remove people who have not confirmed, so that other people have the opportunity to participate, rather than having empty places as well as a waiting list.

We will meet in the car park opposite the Village Hall in Belstone at 9:15am on Friday 3rd July, so that we can depart by 9:30am, with the aim of getting to the Warren House pub in the early evening, so that those who want to, can have a pub meal. We'll then find somewhere discreet nearby to sleep for the night.

On Saturday, we’ll be up early and follow the road for a couple of miles to get to Postbridge, then over Bellever Tor, past Dunnabridge and Hexworthy, then across rugged Moorland (with no trails) to the summit of Ryder's Hill (the highest point on Southern Dartmoor). Then we'll head and South and West, then North West, finding somewhere remote to sleep before getting onto the Two Moors Way. Then following the Abbots  way for a while, before heading West to Lower Hartor, then North over Higher Hartor to Pricetown. We’ll then head North across very remote moorland, with lots of bogs and no trails or bridges and sleep there. Up early again on Monday, to continue over very remote and difficult terrain, then summit the two highest Tors and back to Belstone.

We will spend a lot of time in the firing ranges and will have to change our route if the firing range areas are closed. However it is rare for the ranges to be shut on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in mid-summer, but it is likely that we will have to change our plans for Sunday and Monday.

Thursday Night – Because it will be holiday season, if you plan to stay near Belstone on the night before the event, I suggest you book well in advance. Both YHA Okehanpton hostels often fill well in advance. There is also some accommodation in Belstone , people have also camped nearby. If you have difficulties with travel  or accommodation, please talk to me well before the event.

Please contact me with any questions.

Photo Credits: All photos taken by Paul Ridealgh and permission is granted to OutdoorLads for further use.

IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, here, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend. 

COVID-19 – IMPORTANT, Please read the following before you sign up to this event:

• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are extremely mild, or who lives or is in a support bubble with someone showing symptoms, is asked not to attend. This is in line with the government’s coronavirus advice.
• You must also immediately self-isolate and not attend the event if you or someone in your household or support bubble shows coronavirus symptoms or tests positive. You can find the NHS self-isolation guidance here.
• The main symptoms of COVID-19 are a high temperature, a new continuous cough, and a loss or change to your sense of taste and/or smell.
• You may be subject to local lockdown restrictions, which you must fully comply with. Details of the location of these restrictions can be found here for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.   
• We do not encourage car sharing to events during the pandemic. Please comply with the safety travel guidance for England, Wales, and Scotland. Face coverings should be worn on public transport.
• OutdoorLads will support the tracing systems in place across the UK  and attendance at an OutdoorLads event is considered permission to use contact details for this purpose if requested by the appropriate authority.  
• All are required to practice social distancing – staying 2m (not 1m) apart at all times, including the lunch stop. Remember: Face, Hands, Space.
• Unfortunately, there won’t be any planned pub / café stops en route or at the end, and please don’t share sweets or snacks with others – we’re sorry!
• Please bring your own hand sanitising gel for your own use throughout the day. Use of face coverings is at your own choice, but please bring one with you just in case it's needed. Please bring any other PPE items required. Bring a disposable bag for any used PPE.
• Members are advised to bring their own small first aid kit for personal use..
• Be aware that opportunities for toilet stops may be minimal if facilities are closed.
• Please, please cancel at your earliest opportunity if you are unable to attend or are unwell, so that we can allow others to take up these valuable event spaces.
• Much as it's difficult - no handshakes or hugs!

COVID-19: Events Participation Statement

OutdoorLads draws your attention to the fact that travelling and being away from home increases the risk of receiving and transmitting Coronavirus, whilst it is present in the UK. You are likely to choose not to participate in OutdoorLads events whilst there is a risk of Coronavirus transmission. However, should you choose to participate in OutdoorLads events whilst the risk is present, you must be aware of and follow the law and government guidelines, both when travelling to and from events as well as when participating in events.

Please note that every person participating should be aware of (and accept) that those members perceived as ‘in charge’ or leading the event are not experts,  do not need to be experts, and are not regarded by OutdoorLads, or themselves as experts, but are amateurs with some experience in the event type and who are happy to impart their knowledge.  Any advice given should be considered with this in mind by the recipient.

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