Wild camping on Dartmoor?

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

I want to take ds(10) :)
I am recklessly confident that we will be ok (we have GPS, can read maps, have mobile phone etc)
Does anyone have any advice on a good circular route? I want to leave the car somewhere, walk for upto 8 miles (any more and DS will get hysterical) camp overnight then continue back to the car. The sensible part of me says that it would make sense for us to find a wild campsite for the night where we can have access to water and be able to light a fire. OTOH I am quite happy to eat super noodles in a far flung piece of moorland if that's not possible.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

I can recommend this book, it has a range of different length circular walks on Dartmoor so you could pick one of the longer ones and camp half way. I like it because the maps are clear and easy to follow.

www.amazon.co.uk/Pathfinder-Dartmoor-Walks-Guide/dp/0711705151

Ooh thank you tell, I think that's just what I'm looking for :)

DH is a bit about the whole adventure, being a sporadically reluctant glamper himself. Talk of sleeping miles from nowhere with no showers has caused him to view his immediate family with an air of deep suspicion and mistrust :o

Wow, that sounds fab! I didn't even know you were allowed to wild-camp on Dartmoor. In fact, I'm very hazy about wild camping and what's allowed, generally. Would welcome more information. DS1 (6) says he wants to camp where nobody else is, and while I applaud his intrepid spirit, we have a 24kg bell tent and a shitload of clobber and I don't feel ready for lightweight camping yet.

let us know how you get on, OP?

Will do spoon :)
If truth be told I think we are going to camp at the YHA at Okehampton. We are still leaving the car and carrying our gear (light 2 man tent, SIMs and sleeping bags plus cooking gubbins- no bell tents on this trip!) but it will give us a definite point to aim for (using GPS) if our newly acquired map reading skills aren't quite upto scratch :o
DH is also visibly happier that he will know we have arrived safely on our first outing. Haven't broken the news to DS yet but the promise of a shower might swing it for him :o

There are specific areas where you can wild camp on Dartmoor, avoiding the firing ranges - this 'interactive' map might be useful if you plan your own trip www.dartmoor.gov.uk/visiting/vi-enjoyingdartmoor/camping/camping-map

Spoon, many areas on the map have fairly remote car parks so you don't necessarily have to walk miles to find a place to camp where nobody else is - I think it's possible with a 24kg bell tent!

Though it does mention that "large family tents" should not be used- I imagine a 24kg yet falls in that category :o

Mmm yes, I think in that eventuality we'd get a lighter pop-up job.