Dartmoor May Bank Holiday Weekend
COVID-19: If you plan on coming to this meet, please make sure you sign up below, as this will aid track and trace if required. Please remember to adhere to government social distancing rules and do not attend if you have a shielding letter or if you have or live with anyone who has any of the symptoms of coronavirus.
For further information Club members are directed to:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
BMC document entitled ‘COVID-19 guidelines for groups of outdoor climbers and hill walkers’ found on: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/covid19-restarting-club-meets
About:
Dartmoor is sprinkled with impressive Tor’s amongst it’s beautiful scenery. There are so many to choose from including the famous Dewerstone which also offers a cheeky dip in the river if the weather is right!
There is a range of options for different grades, all trad. If you haven’t done much trad before, don’t worry as a lot of the crags are straightforward walk ins, and usually you can walk or easily scramble off the top so very suitable for everyone.
If you would like to have a look at the range of climbing available, please take a look at the UKC website: https://www.ukclimbing.com/
The Club library has a small selection of Guidebooks available for loan here: https://southamptonclimbingclub.org/club-gear/scc-equipment/
Accommodation:
As finding accommodation as a group has proved tricky with the relaxation of lockdown and the ability to stay away from home, this meet will be a ‘DIY’ booking with hope that in the future we can return to booking as a group. Even though everyone is likely to be staying at different places, we’ll keep in touch through the Facebook event page and still have a damn good time!
www.pitchup.com is a good website to look for camping sites. Here are some suggestions for campsites that may have availability…
www.dartmoorhalfwayinn.co.uk – Dartmoor Half Way Inn, Bickington near Newton Abbott
https://www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/South_West/Devon/Exeter/haldon-forest-holiday-park/ – Haldon Forest Holiday Park, Clapham south of Exeter
https://markstonefarm.co.uk/ – Markstone Farm, Modbury south-east of Ivybridge
Being Mindful
For those new to outdoor climbing – We are given access to many crags by land owners, and are expected to treat the land with respect. Please be mindful of any litter (you will see many of us picking up and taking litter home, to help keep the area clear). There are no toilets once we are at the crag so please be prepared for this.
Kit – where possible please bring your own equipment*
- Ab rope
- Climbing shoes
- Climbing harness
- Climbing rope
- Trad rack… including:
- Quickdraws
- Slings
- Carabiners
- Nuts
- Cams
- Hexes
- Helmet
- Your own chalk/tape (liquid chalk if possible)
- Guidebooks
- Pack lunch & water
- Layers – being quite exposed to the wind it might get chilly
- Waterproof – just in case it rains!
- Sun cream – just in case it’s sunny!
- Sturdy pair of walking/approach shoes
- Personal alcohol gel/hand sanitiser
- Personal first aid kit
*Club equipment is available on loan, please see https://southamptonclimbingclub.org/club-gear/scc-equipment/ for more information
Travel
Dartmoor is best accessed by car. Where possible, please travel in same households only. If car sharing from different households or travelling by public transport, please ensure a face covering is worn and there is appropriate social distancing in accordance with the government COVID guidelines. This guidance may change depending on any government updates closer to the time.