4 April 2007
The Dartmoor Freewheeler rides again
Dartmoor National Park Authority is pleased to announce that the popular Dartmoor Freewheeler bike bus service is set to ride again. Cyclists are invited to bus out onto Dartmoor, with their bicycle secured on a trailer, and cycle home, predominantly downhill whilst enjoying stunning Dartmoor scenery.
This free service will start on Sunday 8 April 2007 and run every Sunday until 30 September. It will follow the same four popular routes as last year:
•1st Sunday of each month -Saltram (on the edge of Plymouth) to Princetown
•2nd Sunday of each month-Newton Abbot to Mardon Down (near Moretonhampstead)
•3rd Sunday of each month-Plymouth to Okehampton
•4th Sunday of each month-Buckfastleigh to Postbridge
On months where there is a 5th Sunday, an extra Saltram to Princetown route will run.
The Freewheeler service is open to anyone – from a leisure cyclist to a more experienced club rider. The only restriction is that the wheel rim size must be a minimum of 20 inches – so it may not be suitable for very young children. Unfortunately there is no provision for tag-a-longs, tandems, trikes or recumbents.
Alison Kohler, Head of Recreation, Tourism and Ranger Service, Dartmoor National Park Authority, said:
‘We have received very positive feedback from cyclists who used the service last year and have therefore decided to keep the routes the same for this year. The bus and trailer can only take 12 passengers and bicycles, so please book early with the High Moorland Visitor Centre (telephone 01822 890414) to avoid disappointment.’
For further details, pick up a free Dartmoor Freewheeler pack, which includes a timetable booklet and detailed directions, with full colour Ordnance Survey mapping, for each of the four routes. Copies are available from Dartmoor National Park Authority’s High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown (telephone 01822 890414) or they can be downloaded from Dartmoor National Park Authority’s web site, www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk, click on Visiting/ Enjoying Dartmoor/Cycling.
For Further Information
Alison Kohler, Head of Recreation,Tourism and Ranger Service
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093
Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are now available on the Authority's web site. The Agendas are placed on the Authority's web site 7 days in advance of the meetings.
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Notes for Editors
Priority for using the Freewheeler service will be given to those booking in advance by telephoning the High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown, on (01822) 890414. The service is for cyclists only.
The minibus is operated by Wood Brothers of Buckfastleigh.
Where you can cycle
Routes where cyclists have a legal or permitted right to ride on Dartmoor include: public roads/highways; public bridleways, byways open to all traffic; cycle tracks and most Forestry Commission tracks.
Where you can’t cycle
Cyclists do not have a legal or permitted right to cycle on footpaths and open moorland – the only exception is where bridleways, byways and other permitted routes cross open moorland.
Off-road cycling
Dartmoor National Park Authority has produced Dartmoor for off-road Cyclists, a detailed weatherproof map, showing all legal and permitted cycle tracks, to help cyclists of all ages and abilities plan off-road cycling with confidence. Copies of the map are available from Dartmoor National Park Authority Information Centres, priced at £9.95, or visit the National Park Authority’s online shop at www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk.
National Parks cover 10% of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,500 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
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This page last updated 4 April 2007
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Page updated 3 April 2007
