Our ride to Ugborough Beacon included the now customary stop at South Brent's Plymco for refreshments and the usual cautious traversing of Wrangaton Golf Course, taking care not to be hit by golf balls. There was a stiff breeze and occasional showers as we approached the shelter of the rocks on top of the beacon, so we didn't hang around for too long. Soon we reached the Redlake Tramway track, our third visit this season, and proceeded into the heart of the South Moor. Today, for the first time in many years, we continued all the way to the Redlake site itself. Thick peat covering the track did little to aid our progress, but sitting on top of the hill that was the main spoil heap it all seemed worthwhile: everything around was remote and beautiful.

Bogs made the descent to the Abbots Way more difficult than we had imagined, but once there we were able to follow paths along the upper sections of the river Avon as it passed through rich and stunning moorland scenery that few people ever get to see. Gage was pleased to have completed his stage 4 off-road qualification and to have visited the Avon Dam, his Stage 2 destination. The going had been difficult at times, but this had been a spectacular ride through the heart of Dartmoor that none of us will forget.