Dartmoor Bike Park

Dartmoor Bike Park

Dartmoor Bike Park sits within River Dart Country Park in Ashburton, Devon, and centres on a compact Freeride Area designed and built by former professional BMX rider Kye Forte. Four graded runs take riders from a moderate blue line through red and black to the park's toughest "orange" grade, all set among jumps, drops and berms in Dartmoor woodland. It's part of the wider River Dart Country Park, which also offers camping, watersports on the River Dart and adventure play for the rest of the family.

The Trails

Dartmoor Bike Park is a single, purpose-built Freeride Area designed and built by former professional BMX rider Kye Forte. Riders progress through four graded runs:

• Blue (Moderate) - short, flowing purpose-built single track with small technical features, suitable for intermediate riders on mountain bikes or hybrids.
• Red (Difficult) - steeper and tougher, with berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs and cambers, for proficient off-road riders on better-quality bikes.
• Black (Severe) - large, committing technical features throughout, for expert riders used to physically demanding routes.
• Orange (Bike Park) - the park's toughest grade, with mandatory jumps and freeride sections aimed at riders working towards an elite level of technical ability.

Alongside the graded runs are jump lines with sizeable jumps, a "boner log" drop and a mulch trick jump. The park also offers gravity-style descents as well as pedal-up laps. Jump bikes and BMXs are available to hire on site, alongside standard mountain bikes for riding around the wider country park.

Getting Here

The main car park at River Dart Country Park is included in day admission and sits by the park entrance in Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7NP. From the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth, leave at Peartree Junction (the second Ashburton junction travelling from Exeter) and follow the brown tourist signs into the park. Avoid the Linhay junction, which routes through Ashburton's narrow streets and isn't ideal if you're towing.

By bus, service 88 (Totnes to Newton Abbot via Buckfastleigh and Ashburton) stops in Ashburton, around a mile from the park entrance. There's no direct bus service to the gate, so check current timetables before relying on it.

Beyond the Trails

Dartmoor Bike Park is just one attraction within the much larger River Dart Country Park, a 90-acre former Victorian estate on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. Day admission covers a huge range of play, including the Pirate Ship, Adventure Playground, Secret Valley, Space Net, Snake Slides, an Observation Tower and a lake-side Toddlers Beach. For an extra cost, the on-site Dare Devils activities add a High Ropes Course crossing the river, a Dare Devil Drop free-fall jump, a Mega Zip Wire over the lake, a Climb and Cave Zone, a Bouldering Room, and canoe or kayak hire on the park's own lake.

Refuel at The Old Sawmill cafe bar, which serves breakfast and a full menu with indoor and outdoor seating, or grab a quicker bite from the Oasis Beach Hut by the Pirate Ship and lake. The Park Shop stocks groceries, ice creams and camping essentials.

Stay longer at the award-winning campsite and holiday park, which takes tents, campervans and caravans, or book a room at Holne Park House or the adjoining Coach House, both offering en-suite bed and breakfast accommodation. Paddlers can also canoe or kayak the River Dart itself through the park between October and March, outside the summer closure.

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