Thanks for signing up to the first of many events against the outrageous decision to ban wild camping on Dartmoor!
The response has been overwhelming. But it does pose some logistical challenges in a remote part of Dartmoor. We’ve been working hard to make this happen at very short notice. So please read the information below carefully.
We’re looking forward to gathering at Cornwood War Memorial for the main event to start promptly at 1.30pm. See below for the different options to arrive at this time.
**PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN CORNWOOD ITSELF UNLESS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL** See below for further details.
If you have signed up to the event but can no longer attend, please could you cancel your Eventbrite booking. The clearer the understanding we have of numbers, the easier it is for us to plan! If you’re unsure whether to attend, fear not – there will be plenty more ways to contest this decision coming up…
To support the Right to Roam campaign with costs associated with events like this please visit: righttoroam.org.uk/donate
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GETTING THERE
Help us minimise the impact of cars on the local area by using one of the following options:
1) PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO IVYBRIDGE, then either JOIN THE WALKING PARTY or take one of our shuttle buses / coaches (see below)
The Stagecoach GOLD bus runs every half an hour from Plymouth and Paignton/Totnes – see timetables here: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/plan-a-journey
Trains to Ivybridge station run from Totnes (e.g. 12.03 arriving 12.17) and Plymouth (e.g. 11.27 arriving 12.17).
2) PARK IN ONE OF THE LARGE CAR PARKS IN IVYBRIDGE, and then either JOIN THE WALKING PARTY or get one of our SHUTTLE BUSES (see below)
Erme Court Car Park and Leonards Road Car Park in town, and the Ivybridge Park & Ride Car Park at the train station, all have good parking capacity. (The Park & Ride is prioritised for rail customers).
The shuttle buses will depart from the Ivybridge Park and Ride Car Park to take you to Cornwood (see below). Please make sure you fill your car if possible. If you have space in your vehicle, or are looking for a lift, you can make use of our car pool spreadsheet (see below)
3) TAKE THE SHUTTLE BUS from Ivybridge Station Park & Ride Car Park
If you have travelled to Ivybridge by train, bus or car, you can then get on one of our shuttle buses or coaches leaving from Ivybridge Park & Ride for Cornwood.
Minibuses and coaches will be doing constant shuttling between Ivybridge Park & Ride and Cornwood Village Hall between 10:30am and 13:30.
The earlier you arrive the better(you’ll be doing the organisers a huge favour!). The shuttles will be overwhelmed if everyone turns up at once! Tea and coffee will be served at Cornwood village hall from 11 – come early for a brew and make some friends.
Return shuttles will run from Cornwood to Ivybridge between 4pm and 9pm.
4) JOIN THE GUIDED WALK FROM IVYBRIDGE TO CORNWOOD
A longer, guided walk will set off from the Watermark Cinema in Ivybridge at 10.30am (Erme Court, Leonards Rd, Ivybridge PL21 0SZ). PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY as the walk will leave at exactly 10.30. It takes approximately 20 minutes to walk from Ivybridge Station to the Watermark.
The walk is around 4 miles / 7 kilometres and takes about 2 hours to get from Ivybridge to the START of the event in Cornwood. You would then join the main event for an additional 2.6km walk onto Stall Moor (one way).
The walk will be on small back roads, footpaths and open access land, and involve a number of stiles and gates: it’s a beautiful route but we advise you need to be a reasonably strong walker to do this. No dogs please, or if they must be brought please keep them on short leads.
There is NO OFFICIAL GUIDED WALK back to Ivybridge.
Return shuttles will run from 4pm – 9pm.
IMPORTANT: If you intend to walk back to Ivybridge at the end of the event, please *BRING A TORCH* – it will be dark. And please stay safe whilst walking along roads. Please bring hi-visibility clothing if this is your intention.
5) CAR POOL
Please make best use of the space in your car. If you have space in a car, or are looking for a lift, you can add your details to the spreadsheet below to self-organise lift shares.
NOTE: this document is shared with all other attendees and will likely be passed around WhatsApp groups etc, so details are provided at your own risk. We will delete the spreadsheet the day after the event.
CAR POOL SPREADSHEET:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HW-TgqZS_mzrCLtLl4TctPmIJl1wZa9NNrMViz76Lms/edit?usp=sharing
B) THE WALK FROM CORNWOOD TO THE CEREMONY
Please arrive in good time for the event to start at 1.30pm at Cornwood War Memorial. We will walk from there to Stall Moor for the ceremony to summon Old Crockern, the spirit of Dartmoor, before returning to Cornwood for around 5.30pm.
Accessibility: the walk from Cornwood to Stall Moor is around 2.6km, mostly over metalled road surfaces, but for the final 500 metres involves walking over rough and uneven ground on the side of the moorland (at this point there is a place where pushchairs etc can be left before proceeding on to the final section). We expect to be outdoors from 1.30pm to 5.30pm, and will be standing on the open moor for 30 minutes to 1 hour – please dress warmly.
C) WHAT TO BRING AND FACILITIES
What to bring:
-Wear warm waterproof clothes and sturdy boots or welly boots.
-Bring water, and flasks of tea to help stay warm.
-Bring all the food and snacks you need – we are unable to provide these.
-DON’T leave litter – we will be picking up any litter we find on the route.
Toilets: there are toilets in the Village Hall (open 11am-7pm) and public toilets next to the Cornwood Inn, but there are no toilets after we leave Cornwood village.
Village Hall: We have booked Cornwood Village Hall from 11am to 7pm and will be using this for rehearsals 11am-1pm and for serving tea and coffee. From 1pm to 6pm, the Village Hall will be a family friendly space where people can stay if you are not coming on the walk, to stay warm, drink tea and talk. Between 6pm and 7pm we will need to clean the Village Hall and leave it as we found it.
Pub: the Cornwood Inn (https://www.cornwood-inn.com/) is open 12 noon – 11pm, with food served between 12 noon – 3pm and 6pm – 9pm. It is essential to book in advance for food, please do so using the online booking form here: https://www.cornwood-inn.com/eat. Please be aware that the pub may be very busy on Saturday, particularly after everyone returns from the walk after around 5.30pm.
PARKING IN AND AROUND CORNWOOD
If you do have to drive directly to Cornwood, please be aware that parking spaces are very limited.
There is very little parking in the village centre. Availability may be possible at Delamore Park Car Park and Abbots Park Car Park.
The local community is broadly supportive of the action this weekend, but that will change if they are inundated with cars – so please be as responsible as possible.
Only use clearly designated parking. Do not on any account block people’s drives or make passing places impassable!
OLD CROCKERN RISES! LET’S CELEBRATE THE TRUE SPIRIT OF DARTMOOR!
Right to Roam