I had some spare time today and nipped out to burrator to check out the locked gate across 202 038.
I spoke at length with a ranger there. Apparently the gate has been installed by South west water. Illicit campers have been using the lane and using the leat to wash and defecate in. Its a drinking water supply for Plymouth.
Apparently the gate has been purposely created to stop these campers but allow an easy ride by for horses bikes and people.
We probably need to tread carefully with this one to avoid the lane being closed altogether. (public health would be a powerful reason)
The lane is open to us and in my humble opinion is fine as it is.
I just hope joe public doesn't misinterpret the locked gate if they see me up there.
-- Edited by mike on Monday 11th of May 2026 02:25:55 PM
Apparently the gate has been purposely created to stop these campers but allow an easy ride by for horses bikes and people.
We probably need to tread carefully with this one to avoid the lane being closed altogether. (public health would be a powerful reason)
The lane is open to us and in my humble opinion is fine as it is.
I just hope joe public doesn't misinterpret the locked gate if they see me up there.
The gate is not possible to pass on a horse and I can't be bothered to lift my emtb over it not sure how you got the idea of 'an easy ride by' (he lied?)
The section of the lane above Leather Tor farm ruins is inaccessible to all but pedestrians and is effectively closed altogether to all other traffic.
The ucr ends at an arbitrary point 160m short of the leat and there is no sign or marker to indicate this
Unfortunately the section of ucr blocked off by the gate is a Footpath and NERC rules apply unless you know otherwise
I rode it last week before the gate had appeared. You can see the offending camper in the video which is the one commented by many to have caused this action as i took slightly the wrong track. It is all public highway.
