Brompton Bikepacking in Dartmoor: can it be done?

In this Brompton bikepacking adventure, I cycle to the wild and rugged Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. My goal? To go as off-grid as possible and experience true wild camping on the rocky outcrops.

I had tried wild camping once before in Northumberland, with a landowner’s permission, but strong winds made it a chaotic and stressful experience. After some hesitation, I decided to give it another shot, despite my unease about England’s land access rules. Dartmoor, however, is one of the few places in the country where wild camping is still legal.

Dartmoor’s dramatic weather and rugged terrain meant this trip would involve not just camping, but also hiking with my Brompton folding bike and gear. Can it be done?

I aim to camp on Sheeps Tor, a rocky hill near a reservoir just outside Plymouth.

Then I hunt for a stone circle at Down Tor, a place I felt particularly drawn to, having never seen one before.

While this adventure was one of my most off-grid experiences yet, it didn’t come without its challenges. Navigating Dartmoor was tricky, and the weather was ever-changing, making this a test of bikepacking resilience.

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Chapters
00:00 Setting off from Plymouth to Dartmoor National Park on the Drake’s Trail cycle path
03:50 Arriving at Sheeps Tor to wild camp
08:00 Tent is pitched on Sheeps Tor, making dinner and wild water
10:20 Waking up on Sheeps Tor after a wildcamp and making my way down the hill
14:00 Bronze Age Village settlements in Dartmoor
16:00 Getting a bit lost on the moors
18:04 Finding Down Tor stone circle and stone row

Music by @epidemicsound