EXPLORE DEVON

There are few places in Devon that I have not been to with my bike. The guide books for Lejog will tell you that Devon and Cornwall are the toughest for hills. I have cycled Lejog and found my way through Cornwall avoiding many of the hills but not in Devon. Devon's hills are not long. It's just that there are lots of them and many are steep. They just go up and down. There are some lovely family friendly traffic free routes too and Devon Coast to Coast is a longer distance route where the hills are more modest. I try to avoid cycling main roads. The joy in Devon is to explore country lanes, devoid of traffic from coastline to coastline, Dartmoor, South Hams, Mid, West and North Devon. 

Mini-adventures with a mountain bike can be found on Dartmoor such as the Drover's Trail from Hexworthy and the Puffing Billy from Ivybridge as below

The coasts are busy in high season but quiet lanes and traffic free paths can be found. The view over Woolacombe Bay on Devon's Coast to Coast route is iconic.  The tiny coastal route from Ilfracombe to Minehead must be one of the most compelling and challenging. Below is Slapton Lea in the south

Inland Devon between Exmoor and Dartmoor is tranquil and cycling feels almost as if it is from a byegone era. There are beautiful villages, thatched roofs and rural pubs with proper food. Below is Iddesleigh, home to War Horse country

My leg is on the road to recovery. On my electric bike, I managed 55 miles with 1,300m ascent to Moretonhampstead and back last week. It needed less than a full charge of the battery but I took my charger just in case. Now that the worst of the pandemic is over, I hope to reacquaint myself with many parts of Devon that I have not seen for a while. Keep pedalling