best areas of devon to live for a happy hacker?

What area of Devon are you in???

I'm in East Devon........ and IMO the very best place to ride is anywhere near Woodbury Common. Luvvit. Its too far to ride really, for me, though it IS possible (long hack!) and I don't have transport, so a pity. BUT finding a decent "hacking yard" in this area is like finding the proverbial gold nugget I'm afraid. There just isn't anywhere I could recommend in the area, but having said that I've got my own place so am not really genned up on local livery yards.

Where do you fancy hacking??

What sort of area were you thinking of?

Round here, its OK'ish. Not as good as it could be, but it could be a lot worse TBH. But we just don't seem to have many bridle-paths around here at all, but can hack to some and a little common is fairly near'ish if we want to have a blast.
 
Sorry to say that Devon is not a great happy hacker county as the narrow lanes are quite dangerous with the current traffic situation - i.e. it is getting busier all the time. Not a lot of bridlepaths and what there are get very poached in winter. Try and stay near the moors as there can be some great riding up there. I love Devon and did look elsewhere to live, especially as the riding was better, but in the end the climate, the coastline and good food etc. won over the hacking!
 
Dartmoor without a doubt! I live just outside the city so it's close enough to see lots of people if I want but the moor is amazing. There's so much hacking and it's mnot just fla boring open space. The views are stunning and there's plenty of little logs and things to pop over. There's water holes to go in in the winter and there are tonnes of gallop areas. Lots of hills for building up the bck end and lots of quiet lanes. It's beautiful. We moved here a year go having lived in the city which is only twenty five minutes away and coming here has restored my passion for riding and for the world that god created for us. I love just ambling about for hours and hours. Highly recommended!
 
Do yourself a favour and keep going down the A30 until you see that magical sign that says Cornwall/Kernow...Then you have reached a happy place..Instead of all those Devonians trying to steal our Pasty as there own!....***Runs and hides from the Grockle Bashers Hahahaha***
 
Dartmoor, roborough area is "gentler" & if you like built up area Plymouth is nearby.
Western Dartmoor (tavistock - okehampton area) is more rugged, can ride for days & barely see anyone + there are horse friendly pubs around (although less & less have got a tie up area)
 
I'm on the eastern side of Dartmoor in the Teign valley, hacking on quiet roads (as in I often don't meet a single vehicle in an hours hack), byways, bridleways, woods and forestry, and open moorland not far away. Plenty of small hacking DIY yards around here too.
 
I am an endurance rider, so decent off-road hacking is VITAL. Marjorie is on DIY livery on the edge of the Pebblebed commons and they are superb. Mile upon mile of good hacking and quiet lanes. Dartmoor is stunning but can be tough terrain. The Teign valley looks great. There's a lot of good riding too around Honiton, Sidbury and out towards Colyton. But the biggest problem is a dearth of good yards. I grit my teeth about the annoying aspects of my current yard, as my horse is chilled and the riding is so good.
 
Just been for a glorious 2 1/2 hack. Across Hawkerland common, forded the River Otter (got wet feet!), up Bulverton Hill with achingly stunning views over the commons, Exeter, the Jurassic coast and Dartmoor, round Bulverton Hill and its associated bridleways and tracks and home via the green lanes. How anyone can say Devon has poor hacking is beyond me!
 
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