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Cycling in Sussex

Cycling in Sussex

Cycling in Sussex

Bike rides in Sussex can be on or off-road, by the coast or around the villages, and of course amongst the lovely South Downs. Wherever you ride, cycling in Sussex can give you great views and lovely routes.

In the page below you will find sections on:

  • Suggested cycle touring and cycling holiday hubs
  • Gentle / family bike rides
  • Circular cycle tours
  • Guide books and maps for cycle touring
  • Waymarked long-distance cycle routes
  • Mountain biking / off-road cycle routes
  • Cycle-friendly holiday accommodation
  • Cycling maps and guide books

There are also very good guide books and maps to help you plan your routes and find your way.

Suggested cycle touring and cycling holiday hubs in Sussex

There are many excellent places to stay in Sussex for cyclists (see below) and these are just some areas that might suit:

  • Eastbourne, with access to the Cuckoo Trail and the South Downs Way
  • Lewes, again close to the South Downs Way, but also with routes north of the South Downs and down to the sea at Brighton
  • Steyning, just north of Shoreham-by-Sea, on the South Downs Way and also the Downs Link (mostly off-road) cycle route all the way to Guildford
Sussex beach at sunset - photo by Gaby Hill on Pixabay 2

Gentle / family bike rides in Sussex

Lewes Village and the River Ouse

This is a 9.5 mile easy cycle ride close to the town of Lewes on quiet lanes or bridleways.

OR the same guide book (below) has a very short and almost off-road 2.5 mile route: “short, safe and fun”!

Guide book: Cycling in Sussex – Off-road Trails and Quiet Lanes

The Cuckoo Trail

Sussex’s Cuckoo Trail runs from Polegate just outside Eastbourne (with an extension into Eastbourne itself) all the way to Heathfield.

It’s 13.5 miles of pleasurable cycling, off-road and mostly hard-surfaced. The first section from Polegate northwards is quite flat, with a gentle climb from Hailsham to Heathfield.

Guide book: Cycling Days Out – South East England

The Centurion Way – Chichester to West Dean

5.5 miles of quite easy cycling, suitable for a family (with just a few short hills to cope with).

Lovely countryside and plenty to keep a family interested.

Guide book: Cycling Days Out – South East England

Barns Green circuit

Close to Horsham and Southwater, this is a 3-mile circuit ideal for families. Easy cycling with a play area along the way.

Guide book: Cycling in Sussex – Off-road Trails and Quiet Lanes

Circular cycle tours in Sussex

Sussex coastline - from Pixabay

There are a whole heap of great cycle tours you can do in Sussex, and excellent guide books and maps to help you choose. Here are just some of those routes:

Brighton and the South Downs

From Brighton Sea Front to Hove, then up and over the South Downs. Return route via the viewpoint at Ditchling Beacon down to the coast at Rottingdean, and back along to Brighton.

28 miles, challenging in places, but very rewarding!

Map: Sussex and South Surrey – Cycling Country Lanes and Byways, from Goldeneye Maps (including 27 cycle routes marked on a weatherproof map, ranging from 10 to 45 miles long).

Chichester and the South Downs

Chichester - photo by Ron Porter on Pixababy

30 miles, mostly on quiet lanes, with ups and downs, past fields and woodland to West Dean and back to Chichester.

The maps in the guide book below are OS maps, very detailed, with good descriptions.

Guide book: Surrey and West Sussex Cycle Tours (including 15 on-road and 5 off-road cycle tours)

Planning your own circular rides in Sussex

East Sussex bridleway

To plan your own rides in Sussex, the best maps are probably the Sustrans pocket-sized range. ‘Central Sussex and South Surrey‘ covers the bulk of West and East Sussex, while the Hampshire and the Kent Sustrans maps cover the western and eastern sides.

The ‘Central Sussex and South Surrey’ map clearly shows, for example, The Downs Link from Steyning north to Guildford plus links to Shoreham-by-Sea and along the coast to Worthing, Hove and Brighton. It also shows recommended roads for cycling the North Downs.

Waymarked long-distance cycle routes in Sussex

London to Brighton

This is the iconic London to Brighton cycle route as mapped by Sustrans using the National Cycle Network.

68 miles from a start point at Greenwich, via Redhill and Crawley using quieter roads and off-road cycleways. Finishes on the sea front at Brighton, where it meets the South Coast East

The South Coast East

From Brockenhurst in Hampshire, the South Coast East continues on from the South Coast West, through Southampton and Portsmouth to Chichester. From there it joins the coast at Bognor Regis, then takes in the sea fronts at Littlehampton, Worthing and Brighton. It continues either on the coast or near it to Seaford, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings, with Dover its final destination.

Mountain biking / off-road cycle routes in Sussex

South Downs by Jonathan Hall from Pixabay 2

The South Downs Way is cycling-permitted for its entire 100 mile length from Winchester to Eastbourne.

You will need a mountain bike rather than a road bike of course, and be comfortable with some hills.

Given those, the scenery is majestic.

Link to National Trails South Downs Way web page.

Shorter rides, some of them not so steep, are also available!

Guide book: Mountain Biking on the South Downs

Cycle-friendly Holiday Accommodation in Sussex

Brighton Pier by Sally Wynn from Pixabay 2

This section is still to be completed.

The maps and guide books for cycling in Sussex

West and East Sussex are very well served by cycle maps and guide books.

Here is a quick preview of some of them:

They are available from Bike Ride Maps shop here:

Photo attributions:

  • ‘Sussex’ photo by Sam Knight, from Unsplash
  • ‘Sussex beach at sunset’ – photo by Gaby Hill on Pixabay
  • ‘Sussex coastline’ – from Pixabay
  • ‘Chichester’ – photo by Ron Porter on Pixababy
  • ‘East Sussex bridleway’ – photo from Pixabay Lin52
  • ‘South Downs’ – photo by Jonathan Hall from Pixabay
  • Brighton Pier’ – photo by Sally Wynn from Pixabay

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Cycling in the Lake District and Cumbria

Cycling past Buttermere
Lake District cycling

Walking, running and cycling in the Lake District and Cumbria. What could be better?

The English Lake District is perfect for outdoors folk, and – while better known for the hill-walking and running – is ever more a destination for cyclists. Of course, there are hills in the Lake District. Some quite big ones really.

So if you are a cyclist who likes a challenge, that’s great! Plenty to offer.

If you prefer flatter routes, those exist as well, particularly in parts of Cumbria just outside the Lake District itself. You just need to know where they are!

There are a number of cycle maps and guide books to help, and I have some suggestions of different types of routes below, along with the map or guide book that would help you plan your route and find your way.

Below you will find sections on different aspects of cycling in the Lake District and Cumbria:

  • Suggested cycle touring and cycling holiday hubs
  • Gentle / family bike rides
  • Cycle touring
  • Waymarked long-distance cycle routes
  • Mountain biking / off-road cycle routes
  • Cycling maps and guide books
  • Cycle-friendly holiday accommodation

Suggested cycle touring and cycling holiday hubs in the Lake District and Cumbria

If you are bringing bikes by car, there are all sorts of places in Cumbria and the Lake District that welcome bikes. See below for some suggestions.

I’ve also chosen three possible hubs:

  • Keswick, for some challenging and adventurous touring, access to the coast and to the C2C cycle route, and close to Whinlatter Forest for mountain bike trails
  • Ambleside, as above, but also with Grizedale Forest and its range of ability trails and the Langdale valleys not far away
  • Grange-over-Sands, with access to flatter cycle routes suitable for families, and reachable by rail

Gentle / family bike rides in the Lake District and Cumbria

When you open a map of the Lake District itself, one thing you tend to notice is the lack of flat land and therefore flat roads suitable for gentle or family cycle rides. You tend to have to look around the outside of the Lake District National Park for cycle rides for young families.

Windermere and Wray Castle

A mix of bridleways and country lanes – 11.5 miles. Includes the shores of Windermere and Esthwaite Water.

Guide book: Family Cycle Rides in the Lake District

Grange-over-Sands to Town End

Grange-over-Sands
Grange-over-Sands

Just outside the Lake District National Park, Grange-over-Sands is a really nice little town sitting on the Morecambe Bay estuary. From Grange-over-Sands a five-mile cycle along the quietest of country lanes brings you to the village of Town End (which has a pub for refreshments).

This is a gorgeous ride, thoroughly recommended.

Start off on quite a busy road (so take great care) but very shortly turn right on to the quiet lanes. Then just follow the Sustrans signs until you get to Town End.

Map: This is part of The Bay Cycle Way route, and is shown on the Ordnance Survey Tour Map of the Lake District and Cumbria.

Grizedale Forest

The Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Forest lies between the shores of Windermere on the east and the village of Hawkshead on the west.

There are several waymarked cycle trails on forest roads, some short and quite flat, others longer and more of a challenge.

Of course, there are also real mountain-bike trails as well, so potentially something for all the family.

Have a look at their website to see if it is for you:
https://www.forestryengland.uk/grizedale/cycling-and-mountain-biking-trails-grizedale

The Solway coast

Cumbria’s northern peninsula is some distance from the Lake District National Park, and the scenery is very different to the mountains of the Lakes. It is flat! This is a 14-mile ride, and for much of the time you will be looking across the Solway Firth estuary to Scotland.

Park a car at Anthorn, a small village next to the river and cycle west along quiet country lanes.

The route follows the shoreline for about ten miles, stopping at the Solway Wetlands Centre near Bowness-on-Solway for a well-deserved cup of something (and maybe a tour of the RSPB site).

Then turn right at Glasson to cut across the peninsula for another four miles to bring you to the village of Whitrigg, where you turn right again to cycle back to Anthorn.

Map: Sustrans North Cumbria map.

Keswick to Threlkeld on the old railway track

The original route was damaged by the floods of 2015, but as of 2021 the route is open again. It’s even better than before, with a tunnel!

This is part of the C2C route, and is very popular.

It still makes a very nice ride, including an incline out of Keswick.

Guide book: Family Cycle Rides in the Lake District

Cycle touring in the Lake District

There are two very good guide books for cycle touring in the Lake District and Cumbria, or you can use the cycling maps from Sustrans or the Ordnance Survey Tour Map to create your own cycle routes. You might also choose to read ‘A Lake District Grand Tour’ of which more below.

Suggested routes from Keswick

Circuit of the Skiddaw and Blencathra ranges

33/34 miles and ‘strenuous’. Fantastic views and mostly quiet lanes until the last section back into Keswick.

Park in Keswick (or hire a bike there), heading out on the C2C cycle route to Threlkeld. Follow signs to Mungrisdale then Caldbeck (excellent pub here with its own brewery). Then follow signs to Bassenthwaite, before following the main road (though not too busy) back to Keswick.

Both the CycleCity and Cicerone guide books give good descriptions and maps. See below. Or use the OS Tour map.

Other suggested cycle routes from Keswick:

Crummock Water

See the Goldeneye Lake District map to follow these routes.

  • Over Whinlatter Pass to Lorton, past Crummock Water and Buttermere, back via Honister Pass and Derwentwater. Very challenging.
  • Cycling to Ambleside via Castlerigg Stone Circle, Thirlmere, Grasmere and Red Bank
  • The circuit of Derwentwater. Take care on busy days down the east side of the lake.
  • Over Whinlatter Pass to Lorton, Cockermouth and the reverse of the Workington branch of the C2C

Suggested cycle routes from Ambleside

Ambleside, Ullswater, Thirlmere and Grasmere circuit

41 hard miles according to the Cicerone guide book (below), but well worth it if the legs and lungs will stand it.

The route starts in Ambleside heading very steeply up The Struggle and over the rock-strewn Kirkstone Pass. Then drops beautifully down to Ullswater, following the lakeshore before climbing up again northwards.

Quiet lanes then take you to Threlkeld (choice of pubs available) and then drop you down on to the St Johns in the Vale road (B5322). Cross over the main Keswick-Ambleside road to ride round the very quiet western side of Thirlmere. Then join the new cycle track that avoids climbing Dunmail Raise on the main road. From there you can either fly down towards Grasmere on the main road, or cut off on small lanes.

Don’t use the main road from Grasmere to Ambleside (which is very busy and unpleasant) if you still have the legs for a climb up the challenging Red Bank to bring you back to Ambleside on the Hawkshead road.

Other cycle routes from Ambleside

Cycling in Langdale
Cycling in Langdale

These probably best followed using the Goldeneye Lake District map:

  • Head west out of Ambleside into Little Langdale. Up and over to Great Langdale. Return via Elterwater and Skelwith Bridge.
  • Again head west from Ambleside, turning south for Coniston. Cycle down the east side of Lake Coniston, then turn back north to follow the lanes through Grizedale Forest (including a stop at the café) and into Hawkshead. Back from there in many places off-road.

Suggested cycle routes from Grange-over-Sands

Circuit of Whitbarrow

This is a 29-mile fairly tough route from Cicerone’s guide book Cycling in the Lake District (see below).

Heading east out of Grange-over-Sands towards the village of Town End the going is straightforward and quite level, at least as far as Levens.

Pedalling north from there in a big loop brings you back to Town End in a figure-of-eight. But then you head for delightful Cartmel. Don’t forget to stop for some refreshment here. The sticky toffee pudding is legendary!

After that, it’s really not that far back to Grange – just enough to shake your pudding down.

Guide book: Cicerone’s Cycling in the Lake District

Other cycle routes from Grange-over-Sands

  • The Bay Cycleway to Dalton-in-Furness (and the train back?)
  • The Bay Cycleway to Carnforth (and the train back?)
  • Circuit of Coniston Water via Grizedale Forest
  • Broughton-in-Furness to Eskdale, over the Hardknott Pass and back via Coniston – a challenge this one

Guide books for cycle touring in the Lake District and Cumbria

Cicerone’s ‘Cycling in the Lake District

The guide book begins with a tour of the Lake District over several days. It’s challenging, of course, but then this is the Lake District! The book then has day rides, many of which are again quite challenging, though some less so. Rides include:

  • Ambleside to Eskdale and back the long way round
  • Penrith to Haweswater
  • A circuit of Skiddaw from Keswick via Caldbeck

Cycle Tours in and around the Lake District‘ from CycleCity in association with Ordnance Survey

Using excellent Ordnance Survey mapping, the guide book has 20 cycle tour descriptions, the length varying from 24 to 35 miles. Each graded from Easy to Strenuous. Rides include:

  • Keswick and Newlands – 26 miles, strenuous
  • Ring around Kendal – 33 miles, moderate
  • Grasmere and Coniston – 25 miles, strenuous

Lost Lanes North

Lost Lanes North - sample pages

This is a lovely coffee-table book with 8 circular rides around the Lake District and Cumbria. It includes maps, wonderful photos and descriptions, plus listings of pubs and pitstops.

It makes a great gift, either to someone else or to yourself!

Planning your own circular rides in the Lake District and Cumbria

You have the choice of either Ordnance Survey or Sustrans cycle maps to plan and ride your own tours of the Lake District and Cumbria.

  • Ordnance Survey Tour Map of the Lake District and Cumbria
  • Goldeneye Cycling Country Lanes and Traffic-Free Family Routes – due for publication May 2021

Waymarked long-distance cycle routes in Cumbria and the Lake District

The C2C coast to coast cycle route

For full information on the route, see the C2C page here.

Hadrian’s Cycleway

Normally an east to west cycle route, Hadrian’s Cycleway follows a route within Cumbria from Carlisle down the west to coast to Ravenglass.

The Reivers Route

Originally intended as a reverse C2C route, the Reivers Route is a very good ride in its own right.

Within Cumbria, the Reivers Route map brings you south from Carlisle to Caldbeck, skirting the northern fells to Cockermouth. From there it reaches the coast at Workington, then follows down the coast on mostly off-road routes to the start point of the C2C in Whitehaven.

The Bay Cycleway

Cartmel
Cartmel, on the Bay Cycle Way route

This a newer cycle route, again starting near Barrow, but doing a loop around Morecambe Bay, ending in Morecambe / Lancaster.

And take time out to visit Cartmel.

Tour of the Lake District

A Lake District Grand Tour
A Lake District Grand Tour

There are several ways to do a grand tour of the Lake District. You can use the excellent Cicerone Cycling in the Lake District guide book.

Or you can use the Sustrans and OS Tour maps to make your own route, just as I did to write “A Lake District Grand Tour“, which is not a guide book at all.

It’s more a humorous tale of taking on a challenge to cycle over all of the passes, to see all of the lakes, and to go to the furthest north, south, east and west points of the Lake District National Park.

This is one hell of way to see the Lake District National Park! A great description of the grandest of Lake District tours. Get pedalling!’ wrote the Chief Exec of the National Park (no less).

Mountain biking / off-road cycle routes in the Lake District

There are both wild and structured mountain bike routes in the area.

For structured routes, go to Whinlatter Forest, west of Keswick, and Grizedale Forest south of Hawkshead, both with excellent mountain bike routes in Forestry Commission woodland.

There are three main options for maps and guide books for more wild mountain biking.

A great map is Goldeneye’s Lake District Off-Road Bike Routes.

There is a little guide book, Off-Road Rides in the Lake District.

Another option is Lake District Mountain Biking – Essential Trails, published by Vertebrate Publishing.

In the form of a book rather than a map, it details 27 routes, splitting them into Classics, Epics, Enduros and Killers!

Routes include High Street, Borrowdale and Skiddaw.

The third option is Mountain Biking in the Lake District, a Cicerone guide book. Equally good, this one has 24 routes: Short, Medium, Long and Full Day.

Both guide books have more of a focus generally on the south and east of the National Park.

Cycle-friendly Holiday Accommodation in the Lake District and Cumbria

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Section still to be completed

Buying the maps and guide books for cycling in Cumbria and the Lake District

Previews of some of the maps and guide books are below.

All are available from the Bike Ride Maps webshop. Either click on a link below for more information or add them to your basket.

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Cycling in Devon

Cycling in Devon

There is no doubt that cycling in Devon can be a joy.

The county has some fabulous cycle routes, taking in the South Devon coast with its estuaries, beaches and resorts and the North Devon coast with its coves and hills and of course more beaches.

Then there are the cycling and mountain-biking / off-road possibilities on or around Dartmoor and Exmoor.

Devon’s cycle routes include shorter and medium-length circular routes, whether family rides or more challenging ones, as well as long-distance signed Sustrans routes for cycle touring.

Devon bay - photo by Diego Torres on Pixabay

Below you will find sections on different aspects of cycling in Devon:

  • Suggested cycle touring and cycling holiday hubs
  • Gentle / family bike rides
  • Circular cycle tours
  • Guide books and maps for cycle touring
  • Waymarked long-distance cycle routes
  • Mountain biking / off-road cycle routes
  • Cycle-friendly holiday accommodation
  • Cycling maps and guide books

There are excellent maps and guide books to those routes as well, with maps from Goldeneye Maps, Cycle Maps UK, Ordnance Survey (the OS Tour series), Harvey Maps and plus guide books for the
Devon Coast to Coast cycle route.

All the maps are listed at the bottom of the page here, or you can click on a green link to go direct to them in the Bike Ride Maps shop.

So whether you are local to Devon, or planning a cycling holiday in Devon, I hope the following helps.

(For non-cycling guide books and maps, plus novels and other books set in Devon, see our sister website, Devon in Books, https://devoninbooks.co.uk/.)

Suggested cycle touring and cycling holiday hubs in Devon

There are some towns or areas that to my mind lend themselves to being the hub of a cycling holiday in Devon.

  • Tavistock, with access to Drake’s Trail and the Granite Trail, plus Dartmoor and to the Plym Valley. Cycling distance to Sir Francis Drake’s house.
  • Barnstaple, on the Tarka Trail and in cycling distance to the beaches on the north coast such as Woolacombe
  • Salcombe, to explore the estuaries and beaches of south Devon

There are many more excellent cycle-friendly towns and villages to stay in throughout Devon.

The Visit Devon website is very helpful.

Gentle / family bike rides in Devon

The Exe estuary

Exeter to Exmouth (and back)

Starting by the river in Exeter, this is a flat ride of about 8 miles each way, with continuous interest along the way.

The route mostly follows the estuary shoreline, nipping through fascinating Topsham with a finish in Exmouth for a drink and a snack, before setting off back to Exeter.

Map: Devon and West Somerset OS Tour map

Exeter to Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve (and back)

Just as flat as the above ride, this follows the western side of the Exe Estuary from Exeter to Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve.

Dawlish Warren - photo by Anthony - InspiredImages - on Pixabay

Start by the river in Exeter, and use the map to lead you over to the western side, then just follow the water!

Map: Devon and West Somerset OS Tour map

Drake’s Trail in the Plym Valley

Drakes's Trail

Park at Plym Valley Railway and cycle north along Drake’s Trail.

The very gently climbing route follows disused a railway line as far as the hamlet of Clearbrook, about 6 miles, taking in viaducts and tunnels along the way. Younger families may choose to turn around at this point.

Beyond Clearbrook, there are short sections on the road to Yelverton and beyond to Tavistock. The town of Tavistock has lots of interest, so make time to stop and wander around. Plenty of tea shops as well…

Tavistock also makes an excellent cycling hub as well, if you are looking for somewhere to stay over and have a range of cycling routes on the doorstep, plus of course walks on Dartmoor. (See cycling hub suggestions below).

Map: Harvey’s Dartmoor and Surrounding Areas for Cyclists

The Tarka Trail

Perhaps the most well-known of the day rides in the West Country, the Tarka Trail justifies its billing as an accessible ride for almost any cyclist.

It is an excellent off-road and mostly flat ride from / to Barnstaple and the old railway station (café) close to Great Torrington. It is about 14 miles altogether, each way.

If you are cycling from Barnstaple, signs take you beyond the roads around the town and quickly onto the old railway line / now cycleway that parallels the estuary of the River Taw. It’s very easy and pleasant cycling.

At the village of Instow the Taw meets the estuary of the Torridge, and across the far side you will see Appledore. Carry on and you come to Bideford’s village east of the Torridge: East-the-Water. For those wanting a short ride, you can walk across to Bideford’s town centre just on the far side of the bridge (note – this is the second bridge you come to, not the first, which is the main A39).

After Bideford, the estuary turns into river, with the Tarka Trail criss-crossing through lovely countryside perfect for otters (after all, the route is named after Tarka the Otter, written and set just here).

Just short of Great Torrington is a café as part of the old railway station, which can be a good place for a break before the return journey. Great Torrington itself is up a very considerable hill, a nice place, but you will need good lungs going up.

The return journey to Barnstaple is just as pleasant. Look out for otters…

Of course, you can also cycle the other way out of Barnstaple. Five miles away, hugging the northern side of the Taw estuary, the cycleway leads to Braunton,

Map: Devon Coast to Coast Guide Book

Stover Trail

This is a short off-road and flat cycle route between Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot. Ideal for families, with cafés and facilities in both towns.

Just 3 1/2 miles (each way) so can be achieved by smaller children.

There is an overview of this and the other routes on the Explore Devon website.

Map: Harvey’s Dartmoor and Surrounding Areas for Cyclists

Circular cycle tours in Devon

Circuit of Dartmoor

How about a grand tour of Dartmoor?

What a challenge.

And there is the perfect map for planning your route: Harvey’s Dartmoor and Surrounding Areas for Cyclists

The map has suggested road cycling on one side, and on the reverse has off-road and mountain-biking routes.

Circular day rides in South Devon and around Dartmoor

Cycling on Dartmoor

There are great day rides shown on Goldeneye’s Dartmoor and South Devon – Cycling Country Lanes and Traffic-free Family Routes including routes from:

  • Crediton
  • Bovey Tracey
  • Buckfastleigh
  • Okehampton
  • Tavistock
  • Ivybridge
  • Totnes
  • Kingsbridge

The routes are marked on Goldeneye’s robust waterproof map and have brief descriptions of the type route. For example, from Ivybridge there is the “Southern Edge of Dartmoor“, 29Km/18miles through South Brent, Avonwick, Ugborough and back to Ivybridge. “A quiet route with long, easy sections between few steep climbs.” The mapping is very clear and easy to follow.

The distances are 13 to 25 miles, but you can also join routes together to create longer ones.

So as not to be too bulky, one side has south Devon and the southern half of Dartmoor, while the other side has the northern half.

Circular day rides in North Devon and around Exmoor

Day rides in North Devon and Exmoor are covered in Goldeneye’s Exmoor North Devon – Cycling Country Lanes and Traffic-free Family Routes including cycle routes from:

  • Barnstaple
  • Ilfracombe
  • Braunton
  • South Molton
  • Simonsbath
  • Dulverton
  • Tiverton
  • Dunster
  • Minehead

Again, the mapping is very clear, the distances generally from 18 to 35 miles, some with options for longer or shorter versions.

Planning your own circular rides in Devon

If you want to plan your own circular cycle routes around Devon, you can go for the large OS Tour Map of Devon and West Somerset.

The OS Tour map is great for planning long rides, if a bit cumbersome to use en-route.

The Goldeneye Dartmoor and South Devon Country Lanes and Off-Road Cycle Routes Map has a wealth of ideas for rides, and is printed on weather-proof paper.

Waymarked long-distance cycle routes in Devon

The Devon Coast to Coast

Ilfracombe - the start of the Devon Coast to Coast
Ilfracombe – the start of the Devon Coast to Coast

The Devon C2C cycle route is one of the best fully signed Sustrans National Cycle Network routes.

At 99 miles, it is normally ridden over two or three days, though side trips to Dartmoor or Sir Francis Drake’s house can make for a longer journey.

It starts at Ilfracombe on Devon’s gorgeous north coast with some up and overs to Barnstaple.

From there it follows the Tarka Trail inland and then the Granite Way from Okehampton to Lydford on to the fringes of Dartmoor. At Tavistock the route joins Drake’s Trail (above) gently dropping towards Plymouth.

Much of the route is on disused railway lines, so the gradients are generally very kind.

The end of the Devon C2C is on the iconic Plymouth Hoe.

Guide Book: The Ultimate Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Route from Excellent Books

Mountain biking / off-road cycle routes in Devon

Dartmoor and Exmoor offer some great off-road riding, some of it relatively easy, other sections more challenging. There are some excellent maps and guide books.

The Harvey “Dartmoor and surrounding area for cyclists for off-road cycling and cycle touring” is of course extremely well mapped.

It shows the whole of Dartmoor rather than just specific routes, so you can easily create your own plan.

Goldeneye’s Dartmoor Off-Road Bike Routes map has a brand new design and 10 really good off-road rides.

Vertebrate Guides have the very good South West Mountain Biking guide book, with 26 rides in Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Quantocks.

There is also the folder of routes from Rough Ride Guides – Mountain Bike Rides in and around Dartmoor and Exmoor.

So as an off-road rider you can be spoiled for choice!

Support the local businesses

Don’t forget to support the local businesses. One way or another.

Scones!

Now is it cream then jam, or jam then cream?


Cycle-friendly Holiday Accommodation in Devon

Devon is of course a great place to go on holiday, especially with a bike. The following are particularly happy to welcome cyclists.

This section is still to be completed.

The maps and guide books for cycling in Devon

Here are some previews of the cycle maps and guide books for Devon:

You can order any of the maps and guide books below from the Bike Ride Maps webshop:

For map and guide book postage rates, see below.


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