B3212 across Dartmoor

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Becs

Becs

Veteran
Location
Old Hatfield (it's nice honest!)
Hiya
Has anyone cycled the B3212 from Exeter to Tavistock across Dartmoor? I'm thinking about cycling it on Friday afternoon on a lightly loaded tourer to get to a friend's house for the weekend. Is it fairly safe?

Thanks!
 
Baggy

Baggy

Cake connoisseur
Location
Where the chevrons are
You should be fine, it might be fairly busy as there will inevitably be some sight-seers out and about, but most people seem to drive it fairly steadily. It's mostly open (i.e doesn't have banks at the side) so you can see people coming and they can see you. It's quite lumpy... Keep an eye out for sheep etc on the road!
 
gaz

gaz

Cycle Camera TV
Location
South Croydon
Baggy said:
You should be fine, it might be fairly busy as there will inevitably be some sight-seers out and about, but most people seem to drive it fairly steadily. It's mostly open (i.e doesn't have banks at the side) so you can see people coming and they can see you. It's quite lumpy... Keep an eye out for sheep etc on the road!
Click to expand...

apart from the bit between the moore and exeter.
 
briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
It's absolutely fine - generally not busy, and as it's not a commuter route, people on the whole are not in too much of a hurry and leave plenty of room, in my experience. I did exactly that run a week or so ago - it's certainly a splendid route ... if you like hills. The run down Pork Hill and into Tavistock is a well-earned reward.

Here's the profile of the route:

toptavprofile.jpg


BTW, I came back north of the moor, via Brentor-Lydford-Okehampton-Whiddon Down-Exeter (old A30 from Okehampton), and though about 8 miles longer, did it in about 10 minutes less. A very enjoyable run too, mostly on quiet roads
 
OP
OP
Becs

Becs

Veteran
Location
Old Hatfield (it's nice honest!)
Thanks guys. I generally hate hills but apparently I have to do some to get better at them! I have an hour and a half to kill before my mate finishes work so I'll see how far I get and maybe get a lift for the last bit if it's beyond me!
 
briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Becs said:
Thanks guys. I generally hate hills but apparently I have to do some to get better at them! I have an hour and a half to kill before my mate finishes work so I'll see how far I get and maybe get a lift for the last bit if it's beyond me!
Click to expand...
Good luck!! Took me 2h41 for the 42 miles (I started from Topsham), and I'm a pretty good climber. I reckon 90 minutes could get you to, hmm, somewhere between Moretonhampstead and the Warren House Inn if you make good progress. Most people will struggle to do even 15mph on this route, and the WHI is at 25 miles, past the first of the two highest point on the route.

But yes, if you want to get better at hills, ride them ... and there are few better places to find them than Dartmoor!
 
Rebel Ian

Rebel Ian

Well-Known Member
Location
Berkshire
That was day 2 on our recent LEJoG but we did it the other way to Exeter. It's a beautiful route and great roads but if Brian did it in 2:42 I'd say that's bloody good. It was hardest day of our LEJoG bar none. Have fun
wave.gif
 
briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Becs said:
It sounds like so much fun so I've booked an earlier train - I now have 3 hours. Is the Warren house Inn easy to spot/a nice place for a beer? If so I might get my mate to meet me there.
Click to expand...
Yes, cracking place, and yes, you can't miss it - coming from Exeter, right hand side of the road, after a lovely long very straight gentle descent from the first highest point (the one at about 23 miles on the profile, which is about 5 miles climbing out of Okehampton). The Warren House supposedly has a fire which has been burning no-stop since 1845, and they do decent pub grub.
 
briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Location
Devon & Die
Becs said:
Absolutely bloody marvellous! Never been so tired though!
Click to expand...
Glad you enjoyed it! I have to pinch myself sometimes to remind myself how lucky I am to have all this on the doorstep.

Now all you have to do is keep coming back, and you'll not only end up better at climbing hills, you'll love 'em!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom