Riding with Dartmoor Ponies | A 25km Adventure from Princetown

Join me for a cycling adventure deep in the heart of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, southwest England. This 25 km loop ride takes me from the high moorland town of Princetown down to Burrator Reservoir, passing granite tors, wild ponies, old tin mines, and a stretch of the historic Princetown Railway trail.

Dartmoor is one of the UK’s most iconic wild landscapes – a rugged highland of granite outcrops, open moorland, sweeping valleys, and deep history. It’s famous for its dramatic tors, roaming Dartmoor ponies, and unpredictable weather. If you love cycling, nature, and adventure, this loop combines them all.

🚴 The Route

I start the ride in Princetown, the highest town on Dartmoor (and one of the highest in England), known for its remote location and the historic Dartmoor Prison. From here, I head out on Ivybridge Lane, a rough moorland track dotted with grazing cows and the first of many gates. Not far in, I meet some of Dartmoor’s most famous residents – the wild Dartmoor ponies, including a curious foal who seemed just as interested in me as I was in it.

The first landmark is South Hessery Tor, a modest granite outcrop with wide views across the moor. Tors are Dartmoor’s signature feature – free-standing granite rock outcrops shaped over millions of years of erosion and weathering. From here I enjoy my first proper descent, jumping my bike around and swooping down the hillside.

Next up is Nun’s Cross, a historic stone cross dating back to at least the 13th century, once used by monks and travellers as a waymarker when crossing this often unforgiving landscape.

🐴 Wildlife & History

The trail is never dull – I ride past herds of cows, meet more ponies, and cross a few little streams (trying not to splash my white cycling outfit too much!). The route also passes Eylesbarrow Mine, once one of Dartmoor’s busiest tin mines in the 1800s. The ruins still remain today, scattered with granite foundations, while sheep now graze over what was once a hive of industry.

From the mine, I enjoy a wicked descent down towards Gutter Tor and then head toward Sheepstor, a steep-sided hill that rises to about 369 m. Sheepstor is one of Dartmoor’s most dramatic tors and was even used as a filming location for Spielberg’s War Horse. Climbing up through long grass and past lazy cows, I reach the summit to take in stunning views down to the Burrator Reservoir.

💧 Burrator Reservoir & Return

The descent from Sheepstor is steep (steep enough that I admit to walking parts of it!), before reaching the southern edge of Burrator Reservoir. Built in the late 19th century to supply water to Plymouth, this vast reservoir is framed by woodland and granite hills. I ride across the impressive Burrator Dam, a beautiful curved stone structure completed in 1898.

From here, I climb up to join the old Princetown Railway line, a disused track that once linked the moor to the outside world. Opened in 1883 and closed in 1956, the line transported granite, supplies, and passengers. Today, it’s a scenic walking and cycling route, mostly flat and easy to ride – although it does include about 20 gates to open and close! Riding this trail back to Princetown is the perfect way to finish the loop, with big views across the moor and another tor, Ingra Tor, along the way.

🌄 Why This Ride Was Special

This loop has a little bit of everything – history, wildlife, climbs, fun descents, and incredible scenery. I got to ride past granite tors, explore old mine ruins, meet Dartmoor ponies, and enjoy both rocky technical trails and smooth railway gravel. The mix of landscapes and landmarks makes this one of my favourite rides on Dartmoor so far.

If you’re planning a cycling trip to Dartmoor, I’d highly recommend this loop from Princetown to Burrator Reservoir. It’s challenging without being extreme, and the variety of terrain keeps it interesting from start to finish.

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📍 Highlights of this Dartmoor Cycling Vlog:
• Princetown – the highest town on Dartmoor
• South Hessery Tor – granite outcrop with sweeping views
• Nun’s Cross – 13th-century waymarker
• Eylesbarrow Mine – 19th-century tin mine ruins
• Sheepstor – dramatic tor and War Horse filming location
• Burrator Reservoir & Dam – Victorian engineering feat
• Old Princetown Railway – historic trail back to town

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🐴 About Dartmoor Ponies

Dartmoor ponies are a hardy native breed that has roamed these hills for centuries. Though they appear wild, most are semi-wild and owned by local farmers. They’re rounded up annually for health checks and pony sales, but the rest of the time they wander freely across the moor. Spotting them while out cycling or hiking is one of Dartmoor’s greatest joys.

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⚡ Watch more adventures

If you enjoyed this ride, check out my other cycling vlogs across the UK and beyond – from the Cotswolds and Brecon Beacons to Spain, France, and Morocco.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy cycling, travel, and outdoor adventures!

Dartmoor National Park is a wild and rugged landscape in Devon, southwest England. known for its dramatic granite tors, open moorland, and deep river valleys. It’s a heaven for walkers, cyclists and wildlife lovers with Dartmoor ponies roaming freely across the hills. Princetown is the highest town on Dartmoor and one of the highest in the UK. Famous for it’s remote location and the historic Dartmoor Prison. My ride today is a 25 km loop from Princetown to Burrator Reservoir passing South Hessery Tor, Sheepstor, reservoir and then joining the old Princetown Railway route back to Princetown. Hi guys, I’m in Princetown and today I’m going to explore Dartmoor on my mountain bike. Let’s go! First gate of the day. Setting off from Princetown, I head out onto the moors along the Ivybridge Lane, with cows dotted across the open landscape. After a few gates, I also come across some beautiful white ponies. The cows looking busy right now. I just left Princetown and I’m on the trail called Ivybridge Lane That’s so noisy! All right, let’s continue. In the distance, I can see my first landmark, South Hessery Tor. I can see from the distance is South Hessery Tor. How beautiful is this and especially the sun is out right now. Hopefully the sun will be out for quite a long time. Oh, I can see a little ponies just on the side of the trail. So cute! So cute! A bit shy. Now we are not far from South Hessery Tor. Let’s go check it out. South Hessery Tor is a large free-standing rock outcrop that rises from the surrounding landscape usually found on hilltops. They are formed over millions of years by by erosion and weathering, exposing hard granite that resists breaking down. Tors are a distinctive feature of Dartmoor often give the hills their names like Haytor or Hound Tor. South Hessery Tor is a modest granite outcrop It’s not the tallest or most dramatic tor on Dartmoor, but it offers wide sweeping views across the world. So this is the Tor. It’s so cool and this rock formation has happened naturally. I think we should continue before maybe rain. Let’s go. From here I enjoy a lovely descent, swooping down the hillside and having fun jumping my bike around. Shortly after I reach a large group of wild horses crossing on the trail. We got so many ponies here. This is so cool. The wild horses in Dartmoor are actually Dartmoor ponies, a hardy native breed that has lived here for centuries. I often see them in the zoo, but this is great. They are happy here, as happy as me right now. They roam freely across the moor, grazing on grass and heather, and are well-adapted to the harsh weather and rugged terrain Although they appear wild, most are owned by local farmers and are rounded up each year for health checks and pony sales. The majority are a bit timid around people, but I think I had a little moment of connection with one curious foal. Cute! This is so cool that he’s not scared of me anymore. All right then, let’s go. I want to bring it to my home with me. So cute. Bye my friend. So sad to leave the pony I made such a good connection. So next stop will be Sheepstor Back on Ivybridge Lane, I ride through more open moorland with beautiful views on both sides. From here, I can see the Reservoir on the right and also the ocean beyond it. Next, I pass Nun’s Cross Dating back to at least the 13th century, it was likely used as a waymarker by monks and travelers crossing the moor between Buckfast Abbey and Tavistock Abbey The trail becomes more undulating as it meanders over the hills Then I hit my first bit of traffic, a herd of cows with calves slowly lumbering along the path. So I’m about five kilometers in and I already see some ponies, sheep and cows and more cows in front of me right now. After the cows, the terrain gets rockier with small boulders and loose stones. It’s a lot of fun to ride over, having to pick my line carefully. There are few little streams crossings too. and I take care not to splash my lovely white outfit! I stop for a break at Eylesbarrow Mine once one of Dartmoor’s most productive tin mines. It operated from around 1815 to 1856. You can still see the remains today, engine house ruins stone buddles, and a long row of granite dressing floors. Today, a flock of sheep had taken over the site. Just passed the Eylesbarrow Mine and there are so many sheep here. They’re sheeping. After the mine, I enjoy a wicked descent down to the foot of Gutter Tor, where I turn off the track and ride through open field heading towards Sheepstor So from here, I can see two tors. On the left is Gutter Tor and on my right hand side is Sheepstor. Riding through the long grass is fun. You never quite know how solid the ground is underneath and I have to stay alert for boggy patches. Okay, time to cross the stream. I start climbing up to the top of Sheepstor, passing through some lazy cows snoozing in the grass. Even though the hill isn’t very steep, it’s a tough climb on a soft uneven grass. Cows and sheep everywhere. I’m coming up Sheepstor now. It’s not that bad but quite long. Hello cow. Just having a break for a drink and actually it’s quite steep. But I think I can make it to the top. Sheepstor rises to about 369 metres While it’s not the highest tor, its steep sides and distinctive shape make it one of the most dramatic. It was even used for a filming location for the 2010 movie War Horse. After the short climb, I reach the summit and enjoy stunning view. Down to the reservoir and the little village of Sheepstor below. Just made it to the top of the hills and behind me is the Sheepstor. And many sheeps around here. So, what I got here. Let’s try it. Jelly babies. I haven’t tried this before. Let’s try it. Naughty. Naughty stuff. A bit cold today. I can see the reservoir from up here. It’s beautiful. Let’s get down there. The descent from the far side is steep. So steep that I have to walk parts of it! I tell myself it was because my bike was a little scared. Steep on one side but not so steep on the other side. That was a bit of challenge on the foot. This is cool here. So, we almost arrived in the Reservoir soon Lets get in there before it’s getting darker. Through a few gates, and I’m back on the road. I circle around the southern edge of Burrator Reservoir crossing the impressive Burrator Dam a curved stone dam completed in 1898. Just came through Sheepstor. Now I’m right on the side of the Burrator Reservoir So many ducks down there but looks like they’re all sleeping right now. The Reservoir was originally built to supply drinking water to Plymouth and was expanded in 1929. Today it was offered 1 billion liters of water. On the western side of the reservoir, I leave the road and climb up to join the old Princetown railway route. Just left the road. Now I’ve started again on the track. Now I’m starting on the old Princetown railway line. And I still cant see the reservoir from here. Look at that, so pretty. Many sheeps, horses and ponies. All right, let’s go. This disused railway line once run from Yelverton to Princetown, opening in 1883. It was one of the highest railway lines in southern England. Used for transporting granite, goods and passengers to and from remote Dartmoor communities but closed in 1956. So many berries here like blackberries and blueberries. Need to measure these are really blackberries, I mean blueberries. Otherwise I’m dying with something else like poisonous. Not sure. Sour!! Today its a popular walking and cycling trail. Riding it is a real treat. It’s mostly flat and incredibly scenic all the way back to Princetown. Although there are about 20 gates to get through! The railway path takes me past another tour called Ingra Tor. So I’m still riding along the old railway and from here I can see the Ingra Tor. So great riding along this railway because it’s so so flat. So on my right hand side is the Ingra Tor. and right now I’m about 20 km in. I have around two kilometers more to go. I can’t see a radio tower up there. So that means I’m not very far from Princetown now. Rocky! I can see Princetown now. About half a kilometer away. Nearly home! This ride is definitely one of my favorites. The scenery was amazing. The animals were everywhere. The climbs, the descent were just the right level of challenge. If you enjoy cycling, nature and a bit of Dartmoor history, I highly recommend this route. That was a really great afternoon ride in Dartmoor. See you next time!