We selected a flexible ride today in case ten-year-old Dennis found the riding a bit tough, but as it turned out we needn't have worried. We climbed Ausewell hill in double quick time and then took the moorland path to Buckland Beacon.

It was here in 1928 that a stonemason from Exeter was engaged to engrave the Ten Commandments into granite slabs by the Lord of Buckland Manor. The work took six months, during which time the stonemason lived in a cow shed on the site and was supplied with a loaf of bread each day for his efforts! Our exploration of the site also included the discovery of four Dartmoor letterboxes hidden under the rocks.

When Joe had finished falling off his bike for no reason whatsoever we followed the track past the cattle and Dartmoor foals to Cold East Cross, then continued down Widecombe hill for lunch at the Green restaurant. We all had hugely expensive ice cream sundaes and felt ready for anything when we finally set off again. Local Ian Boyes gave us his good wishes in the general stores - he seemed to know as much about our group as we did!

Ponsworthy ford provided entertainment for the youngsters, then Keir provided more on the descent to Spitchwick by riding into a ditch! There was no real harm done however, and we were soon enjoying a Frisbee contest on Spitchwick Common and then hot food at New Bridge. We concluded the ride with the descent of the Slalom track in Hembury Woods - the best part of the ride according to Dennis who performed remarkably well on his first day ride.

We quickly reached Belford Mill after a short ride through Ashburton, but the woodland track back towards the town turned out to be a little muddy after the recent rains. We returned through the picturesque Druid lane, then on through River Dart Adventures and up the steep path from Holne Woods, pausing in the tranquil rabbit-festooned field to enjoy the sunset before emerging at Gallant Le Bower. Keir and Joe enjoyed the muddy descent through Hembury as darkness began to fall.

On a superb May morning we rode to South Brent, stocked up with food at Plymco and then pressed on to Wrangaton and the steep lane to the golf course. When Dennis had proved his worth by reaching the top first we started the short walk across the golf course, where a competition was in progress. Ten-year-old Dennis spotted a golf ball lying by the path, and when he saw some golfers heading in his direction he did the obvious thing: picked it up for them to save them a walk! Poor Dennis! But they were very understanding, hastily urging him to drop it back where he had found it.

We had lunch half-way up the hill, hunted for letterboxes at Ugborough Beacon itself, then headed across the moor to pick up with the path down the valley to South Brent. Part-way down we found a spring producing a stream of pure ice-cold water - just what we needed on such a hot afternoon. There was time to explore the wooded riverside before we headed home via South Brent.