Where in Devon has the best bridlepaths if you were to move there?

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HeidiPie1525

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Sorry, I know the title is badly worded, but I’d like to move to Devon and keep my horse at home. Ideally where I’d move to would have a fairly good bridle network, where has the best hacking in Devon?
 
having ridden in most of Devon (where there is poor riding and lack of bridlepaths) then to me the ultimate is S E Dartmoor and most especially anywhere centered around Manaton.
 
Interesting Paddy says Manaton area, I used to keep my horse just outside Bovey Tracey and out of the many yards I was at that was the best hacking, lanes, bridleways, green lanes and open moorland.

I’d also recommend around Christow in the Teign valley, you have access to the reservoirs and the woodland to the west, and again quiet lanes.

You should also consider access to Fingle Woods (look on the Woodland Trust website). This huge area has miles of riding, the flat areas down by the river will have walkers but the woods are pretty steep and you can ride for hours. I was instrumental in setting up the way marked tracks for riders a few years back, they’re marked with a horseshoe. The woodland links from various areas, Dunsford and Moretonhampstead for instance.
 
Another vote for Dartmoor - I'm on the northern edge, where the hacking isn't quite as good but there is nothing to beat the vast, wild landscapes! One thing to bear in mind if you are looking at buying property is that getting planning permission for anything within the National Park boundary is an absolute nightmare so a property that already has stables would be the safest option (but more expensive!). A planning consultant recently told me that you won't get planning for an arena unless there are already stables on the property and even then, it will be difficult.

Away from the moors, the area around Woodbury Common has quite good hacking although it can be quite stoney in places. There are also pockets of good riding country around Newton Poppleford and Ottery St Mary. Property is very expensive in this whole area as it's so close to Exeter.

There used to be a livery yard in Ideford, near Newton Abbot (not sure if it still exists as it was up for sale a few years ago), and they had very good hacking, so that might be another area to look at.

Finally, the Blackdown Hills on the Devon/Somerset border is another area to consider.

Hope you find somewhere you like!
 
It’s very hit and miss. You can be in a good area in one place and a couple of miles up the road is rubbish.
Near Dartmoor is good but you need to be close enough to ride almost straight on plus need decent alternatives for when it’s foggy/wet/windy etc.
The ones mentioned above all sound good.
I have friends near the reservoir and it looks great there.

I’ve just got planning permission in the Park for stables this year. It wasn’t too bad but there’s a lot of hoops to jump through and I also heard installing an arena is nigh on impossible now.

Good luck in your search.
 
Hollocombe. I walk the dogs there a lot and it is riddled with bridle ways. It is a bit off the beaten track though. 😄
 
The area around Beaworthy is quite good too, as there's Cookworthy Forest and the Pegasus Trail, which is a bridleway along a disused railway track and runs for miles.

I completely agree with Dixie's comment about needing alternatives for Dartmoor when the weather is bad - it has a climate all of its own!!
 
@SlinkyMinxy i was talking a friend about the Pegasus trail recently (she’s near Beaworthy) and she was saying it’s not that great in her area, possibly some landowners don’t make using the trail very easy. However it does lead in the end to the open moor, with a couple of busy roads to cross.
 
Spotherisk said:
@SlinkyMinxy i was talking a friend about the Pegasus trail recently (she’s near Beaworthy) and she was saying it’s not that great in her area, possibly some landowners don’t make using the trail very easy. However it does lead in the end to the open moor, with a couple of busy roads to cross.
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That's interesting, thanks for the heads up. I looked at a property a couple of years ago that had direct access on to the Pegasus trail and I did wonder what it was like to ride. Just because something's marked on a map as a bridleway, doesn't mean it's rideable in reality!
 
SlinkyMinxy said:
That's interesting, thanks for the heads up. I looked at a property a couple of years ago that had direct access on to the Pegasus trail and I did wonder what it was like to ride. Just because something's marked on a map as a bridleway, doesn't mean it's rideable in reality!
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We did exactly the same and decided to stay in the Teign Valley!
 
Spotherisk said:
Interesting Paddy says Manaton area, I used to keep my horse just outside Bovey Tracey and out of the many yards I was at that was the best hacking, lanes, bridleways, green lanes and open moorland.
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My pony was on loan round there many years ago, good to hear it's as good as I remember. Also used to ride at Haytor.

Where I was before, there were many paths and fields and woods but not there anymore so probably weren't official rights of way and no one got them established

Spotherisk said:
There were two in Ideford, I liveried at both many years ago, the riding was pretty good but I wonder if the lanes are a lot busier than they were in the 1990’
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Was that near Ashcombe xc? I think we had a pony club camp round there, would have been 80s.
 
criso said:
Also used to ride at Haytor.

Was that near Ashcombe xc? I think we had a pony club camp round there, would have been 80s.
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Haytor became very busy during Covid, and even mid week now all the car parks are rammed full. I only live a mile away but don’t walk there now.

Ashcombe, yes you’re right about that, there are still remnants of fences in the woods!
 
criso said:
My pony was on loan round there many years ago, good to hear it's as good as I remember. Also used to ride at Haytor.

Where I was before, there were many paths and fields and woods but not there anymore so probably weren't official rights of way and no one got them established


Was that near Ashcombe xc? I think we had a pony club camp round there, would have been 80s.
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all are still there. I have ridden that area for 50 years and still the same. Curious where you used to ride at Haytor, Capt. Woofs?"

the ones they have really tightened up on are around Hennock reservoirs. All the walls we used to scramble over (as did all other riders) have been fenced so the riding has reduced dramatically except for the roads of course. There are still bridlepaths but the best tracks were "off piste" so to speak. :D
 
paddy555 said:
Curious where you used to ride at Haytor, Capt. Woofs?"
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Yes I had lessons with captain woof as a child.

Then had my own pony on the edge of Torquay and we used to ride up to Marldon, Berry Pomeroy in one direction or Ipplepen Dainton or Whilborough in other direction.. When I looked on the definitive maps, I couldn't see the routes I used to take so suspect they're not there anymore

Then in Lustleigh and used to ride out to Manaton, North Bovey, Haytor, Becka Falls.
 
Spotherisk said:
Haytor became very busy during Covid, and even mid week now all the car parks are rammed full. I only live a mile away but don’t walk there now.

Ashcombe, yes you’re right about that, there are still remnants of fences in the woods!
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Someone fell off the top of Haytor one time when I visited by car with my mum and sister. Still remember the screams as they stretchered him down.

Loved Ashcombe, did the hunter trials every year.

1000016441.jpg
 
I worked as a groom for a short period and used to go up to Woof's with my employer as he had jumping lessons. That would have been 1974.
Many years later we were given some of the stables at Minehayes, dismantled and removed them. Some went on my stable doors. Amazing quality and lovely fittings from the days when things were made to last.

Lovely pic. and lovely pony. :)
 
Spotherisk said:
Which Council? And why do you think they are anti-horse?
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Devon County. State and lack of bridleways, poor information for riders on where they can go - that's for visitors and residents. Mostly it's the awful, and in some cases dangerous state of the tracks and bridleways. The council do nothing about it. Any issues on footpaths, or tracks that green laners use are dealt with, and the cyclists seem to get whatever they want. Horse riders can forget it. There is one bridleway near me, that isn't hazardous in some way. One has some really exciting gates - springs so tight, it snaps back on you horse's hindquarters if you're not quick enough, and the others have appalling surfaces, with gulleys, holes, and slippery or loose rock. It is safer to ride on the roads. The council do nothing. One bridleway near me has been reported regularly for over fifteen years, and still nothing is done.

I just find it super depressing. Riding is becoming a chore, I don't enjoy playing with the ignorant masses on the highway, and I'm risking injury to my horses by going off-road. If we could afford it, we'd move out of Devon.

Bet you wish you'd never asked now! 🤣
 
Beausmate said:
Devon County. State and lack of bridleways, poor information for riders on where they can go - that's for visitors and residents. Mostly it's the awful, and in some cases dangerous state of the tracks and bridleways. The council do nothing about it. Any issues on footpaths, or tracks that green laners use are dealt with, and the cyclists seem to get whatever they want. Horse riders can forget it. There is one bridleway near me, that isn't hazardous in some way. One has some really exciting gates - springs so tight, it snaps back on you horse's hindquarters if you're not quick enough, and the others have appalling surfaces, with gulleys, holes, and slippery or loose rock. It is safer to ride on the roads. The council do nothing. One bridleway near me has been reported regularly for over fifteen years, and still nothing is done.

I just find it super depressing. Riding is becoming a chore, I don't enjoy playing with the ignorant masses on the highway, and I'm risking injury to my horses by going off-road. If we could afford it, we'd move out of Devon.

Bet you wish you'd never asked now! 🤣
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No not at all, I was wondering if you meant County, district or parish and what the problems were. Perhaps it’s worth bringing to the attention of the BHS? Tbh I report anything online on the DCC report a problem website although I don’t have horses now so bridleways from the pov of riding aren’t an on the ground issue for me. I did always hate gates though, and when we moved to where we are now I walked a bridleway and decided I would never ride it, four awful gates then a rat run 2 mile lane home.
 
Beausmate said:
Devon County. State and lack of bridleways, poor information for riders on where they can go - that's for visitors and residents. Mostly it's the awful, and in some cases dangerous state of the tracks and bridleways. The council do nothing about it. Any issues on footpaths, or tracks that green laners use are dealt with, and the cyclists seem to get whatever they want. Horse riders can forget it. There is one bridleway near me, that isn't hazardous in some way. One has some really exciting gates - springs so tight, it snaps back on you horse's hindquarters if you're not quick enough, and the others have appalling surfaces, with gulleys, holes, and slippery or loose rock. It is safer to ride on the roads. The council do nothing. One bridleway near me has been reported regularly for over fifteen years, and still nothing is done.

I just find it super depressing. Riding is becoming a chore, I don't enjoy playing with the ignorant masses on the highway, and I'm risking injury to my horses by going off-road. If we could afford it, we'd move out of Devon.

Bet you wish you'd never asked now! 🤣
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totally agree with you. The area south of the A38 has always (to my mind) been poor hacking country. I wouldn't want to ride down there.

As for cyclists (I do cycle and I am grateful for the perfect surfaces on cycle tracks) however there are so many which are just barely used if at all.

It's an event to see a cyclist, just the one even, on the expensive cycle track from Mile End into Newton and I have never seen any on the new road out of Newton to Bovey.

Have you considered keeping your horse at livery further up? around BT, edge of the moor perhaps. There seem to be several that do. Bit more driving but straight out onto good riding.
 
Spotherisk said:
No not at all, I was wondering if you meant County, district or parish and what the problems were. Perhaps it’s worth bringing to the attention of the BHS? Tbh I report anything online on the DCC report a problem website although I don’t have horses now so bridleways from the pov of riding aren’t an on the ground issue for me. I did always hate gates though, and when we moved to where we are now I walked a bridleway and decided I would never ride it, four awful gates then a rat run 2 mile lane home.
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The track nearest to me, has been reported many, many times. The ROW bloke has been emailed many, many times. A couple of years ago, they had a look, agreed it needed fixing, arranged to fix it and...... pulled out. It has deteriorated significantly since then, but they are just nor interested. Local parish councilor is very anti-horse, so that's a no-go.
 
paddy555 said:
totally agree with you. The area south of the A38 has always (to my mind) been poor hacking country. I wouldn't want to ride down there.

As for cyclists (I do cycle and I am grateful for the perfect surfaces on cycle tracks) however there are so many which are just barely used if at all.

It's an event to see a cyclist, just the one even, on the expensive cycle track from Mile End into Newton and I have never seen any on the new road out of Newton to Bovey.

Have you considered keeping your horse at livery further up? around BT, edge of the moor perhaps. There seem to be several that do. Bit more driving but straight out onto good riding.
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I used to have my previous bunch in the Teign Valley, but it is far too far from where I am to be practical. No point in having good hacking, if you can only ride at weekends. They are currently less than ten minutes from my house, and about five minutes from work. I didn't know what it was like when we moved to this part of Devon. You look on the OS map and see lots of bridleways, and hear that Devon is such a horsey county, you don't expect those bridleways to be dangerous to use and that nobody in charge of them can be arsed to fix them. I'm sure DCC are just waiting for an accident, so they can close them and forget about them. Lots of fly-tipping round here too, so that's another fun thing to come across on hacks.

I encountered a foreign couple, out on a cycling trip around here. They had just come up one track, and were very concerned that the one they wanted to head down was going to be just as awful.

I'm tempted to arrange to get the really rough bits filled in, but I'll probably get nicked for fly-tipping 🤣
 
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