Heart of Dartmoor Weekend
13 people attending
17 places left
You want atmosphere? Dartmoor at the end of Winter has all the atmosphere you can handle.
The rolling mists across the moor and gathering around a cosy fire, keeping the Beasts of the Wilderness at bay.
Come join OutdoorLads in exploring the wilds of Dartmoor National Park this February.
If you want to get away from it all, out hostel in Dartmoor is the perfect spot - high above the headwaters of the River Dart, surrounded by the Bellever forest, with wide open moorlands and high granite tors - ancient volcanic plugs - roamed by the famous wild Dartmoor ponies, who often pay a visit!
OutdoorLads hostels are a great way to quickly meet new friends and find out about what we do. This is a perfect chance to try an OutdoorLads hostel for the first time, it'll be fun, relaxed and a good chance to enjoy a weekend with fellow OutdoorLads and tick off that New Years Resolution to get out and about more in 2025!.
If you would like to know more about our hostel events, why not have a read of our 'My First Hostel Event' guide?
What will we be doing?
Friday:
Friday will be the traditional chilled welcome evening with a chance to catch up and see friends old and new. We'll have the usual welcome buffet (so please bring something for that) and then relax around the log fire in the lounge.
Saturday:
On the Saturday there will be an option to join me for a walk around the surrounding area towards picturesque Dartsmeet through Bellever Forest and over Bellever Tor where you can get a wide view over the Lonely Moorland of Dartmoor.
Saturday Evening there will be a hearty meal and then a chance to unwind and relax, chat and have a drink or two. Feel free to bring your own entertainment, such as board games, if you want.
Sunday:
We'll be basing a short 2 hour walk on Sunday morning around nearby Widecombe on the Moor with an optional lunch at either the Old Inn or Cafe on the Green in Widecombe itself before the weekend ends and everyone starts the journey home again.
Accessibility
Click here to check The YHA's published accessibility statement for this venue.
Dogs: Sorry - This event is not suitable for dogs.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
Photo Credits: All photos taken by Stephen Clifford and permission is granted to OutdoorLads for further use.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Friday Night: Welcome buffet. Please bring at least one or two items for the buffet. No need to go over the top. Enough to feed 2-3 people.
Saturday Breakfast: Included in the event cost
Saturday Lunch: Please bring a packed lunch.
Saturday Dinner: An evening meal is provided in the event cost. Please update your allergy information if you have not done so already, this is so the event leader can plan accordingly.
Sunday Breakfast: Included in the event cost
Sunday Lunch: We will need to be packed up and out of the hostel for 10am so we'll find a local pub for lunch before we all head home.
Tea & coffee: Included throughout the weekend
Other drinks: Please bring your own