Tour to Tor – Watch Tour of Britain Take on Dartmoor

August 2012: Book ‘ring-side seats’ to see Olympic Gold Medallist and Tour de France winner, Bradley Wiggins and World Champion, Mark Cavendish, as they take on Dartmoor and its tors in the seventh leg of this year’s Tour of Britain on 15 September 2012.

During stage 7 of the Tour the road race legends will be cycling 106 miles from Barnstaple on the North Devon coast to Dartmouth on the south. The route passes through the charming Dartmoor villages of Lydford and Brentor, into Tavistock and then up the infamous ‘Pork Hill’ to Merrivale and Princetown, before descending towards the South Hams. 

Book a room (or pitch) at one of the following to guarantee a race-side view: 

Woodovis Park (www.woodovis.com), near Lamerton, has a range of luxury holiday homes, the holiday cottage, 50 spacious pitches (including all weather pitches) camping pod and new tipi. 

Ideal for: Eco warriors. Devon Cycle Hire will deliver your bike direct to the site so you don’t even need to get in the car to follow Wiggo. 

The Elephant’s Nest Inn (www.elephantsnest.co.uk), near Mary Tavy, is situated five miles from the thriving market town of Tavistock, the ideal rest stop for many a Dartmoor hike or biking trail. One of only three pubs in Devon to feature in every edition of The Good Pub Guide since it was first published, the Elephant’s Nest offers delicious, locally sourced fare and three luxurious en-suite bedrooms.

Ideal for: Day trippers. The Elephant's Nest is a short detour from the Granite Way linking Okehampton and Lydford, and the Devon Coast to Coast route, great for families and those new to the sport. 

The Prince Hall Hotel (www.princehall.co.uk), near Two Bridges, is the epitome of a country house hotel: warm, welcoming and with an atmosphere akin to staying with friends. Owner-run and with just eight elegant rooms, the hotel offers a luxurious home from home with an eclectic style all of its own. The Tour travels right past the end of the drive so guests won’t need to join the melee for a prime view. 

Ideal for: Gold medallists. And armchair spectators who’ll be happy with the short amble up the drive. 

For more information on the route see the Tour of Britain website.

(http://www.tourofbritain.com/_ns_race/default.asp?section=stage7_route)