Camping Dartmoor

For those who love camping, Dartmoor offers a wonderfully windswept retreat to explore, hike and enjoy. The Dartmoor National Park is one of the smallest in the UK, covering 954 square kilometres (368 square miles) and is mostly moorland with tors, which are granite hilltops, peat bogs, rivers, a few remote villages and the prison at Princetown. Although there are 450 miles of footpaths and bridleways, Dartmoor is designated as 'Access Land' and although it is privately owned, the public has free access rights over it.

Wild Camping on Dartmoor

Although there are organized campsites on Dartmoor, wild camping on open land is acceptable on Dartmoor. Campers cannot pitch a tent on farmland, moorland which is enclosed by walls, on archaeological sites or within 100 metres of a road. Otherwise you are free to backpack, tramp the moors and sleep beneath the stars as you please.

Things to do on Dartmoor

The most common pastime on Dartmoor is hill walking and visitors should be well prepared with proper hiking boats for the rough, sometimes wet terrain. Clothing, maps, a compass and emergency supplies should be carried, as the fog can descend, leaving hikers marooned.

Cycling both on the road and off-road is popular on mountain bikes. The Granite Way is a dedicated cycle path. For those making their own way, an off-road cycling map is recommended. There are many pre-planned cycle routes available on the Devon County Council website too.

The granite tors of Dartmoor are popular with climbers of all abilities, particularly around Haytor and Leigh Tor. The many rivers on Dartmoor provide not only a natural home for wildlife but also some great canoeing. After heavy rains the swollen rivers can make for some exciting and challenging conditions. The River Dart has some excellent whitewater areas. Fishing is also popular on Dartmoor.

Dartmoor Letterboxes

One pursuit which is unique to Dartmoor is letterboxing. A little like Geocaching or treasure hunting, people have hidden 'letterboxes' all over Dartmoor. Guidebooks can be bought listing clues to letterbox locations and when discovered the letterboxes usually hold a visitor's book for signing, and a rubber stamp which can be used to stamp the finder's record book. The stamp and visitor's book are then hidden again for the next seeker. Letterboxing adds an extra dimension to walking and camping on Dartmoor, especially for children as it captures their imagination and adds an element of excitement and purpose.

Every year, millions of people choose camping or caravanning as their preferred holiday type. However, the limitless options facing campers can be daunting - from the choice of region and campsite to the selection of activities and visits. Everyone knows that planning is one of the best ways to get the most out of any holiday. CampStead is an Internet-based organization dedicated to helping campers make the right decisions. Our website reunites all the information the camper requires, ranging from area descriptions and suggested activities to online reservation of pitches and bookings. To read more and to start planning your camping holiday to Dartmoor, please visit Camping Dartmoor. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Norris

Planning A Vacation At Yosemite Park

With its beautiful waterfalls and stunning rock formations, the Yosemite National Park is an ideal destination for anyone who is planning a vacation in California. Yosemite, one of the oldest national parks in America, is widely known for its valleys, meadows, mountain cliffs and many other captivating sights. The park also boasts of an exclusive collection of flora and fauna. At Yosemite you will find different species of native trees, wildflowers and animals. The huge trees in the Mariposa Grove called ‘Giants of the North West’ also add to the beauty of this place.

The scenic beauty of Yosemite enthralls visitors of all age groups. With a wide range of exciting activities, it has got lots to offer to almost each one of its visitors.

A vacation in Yosemite can thus be a highly rejuvenating experience for you and your family. But to make the most of it, it would be good to plan the following things before you pack your bags:

How To Reach There?

Since Yosemite is easily accessible from almost all metropolitan cities, reaching there is not an issue. If you are keen on driving, you can drive your way to the park. Alternatively, you can take other means of transport. Also, there are bus tours to the park but for these you need to make reservations. The reservations can be made online or by directly visiting a tour operator.

When Is The Right Time To Go?

The park is accessible throughout the year, though certain areas like Tioga Pass, Glacier Point etc. are closed during the winter. Spring and autumn are known to be the best times to visit this place. Also, some areas of the park may not be accessible by car during a certain periods. So if you plan to travel by car, you will have to plan your visit accordingly, so that accessibility is not an issue.

Where To Stay?

For this, firstly you need to decide in advance the number of days that you would like to spend there. If you plan to spend the night, it would be advisable that you get the reservations done for camping or lodging accordingly. The park has many campgrounds, most of which are on a first-come, first-served basis. Although plenty of hotels and lodges are also available, making reservations in advance would help you find the place of your choice.

What To Do Once You Reach There?

There are lots of interesting activities like rock climbing, river rafting, skiing etc that you can take up at Yosemite. Guide books and other reading material are available online at the Yosemite book store that would help you decide things in advance. At the park you can also choose to hike or take a ride. If you really wish to get a first-hand experience of the scenic views of this place, hiking would be a great option. But if you do not prefer to walk, you can get an easy ride through the park in a tram or a bus.

Planning a few essential things would go a long way in making your Yosemite Park vacation, a safe, comfortable and memorable experience. For great articles check out the Yosemite National Park resource and information site that covers everything from planning an affordable California vacation to activities such as Yosemite camping. Always updated with great resources on Yosemite.

By REED TIERI