HEART OF DARTMOOR CYCLE CHALLENGE

40 Cyclists took part in the first Heart of Dartmoor Cycle Challenge organised by Devon Wildlife Trust on 12 May.  At 50 miles, the route attracted riders with a wide range of abilities with many coming from all over the country. 

Many were skilled racing cyclists attracted to a new route while for others it would stretch their abilities.  The common theme was that all wanted to experience the wildness of Dartmoor.

I lead a group of 10 cyclists on a route that included an off-road section.  Another group followed the fully on-road route while others had to use their map reading skills as they set out on their own.

Starting and finishing in Ivybridge, we started by following Dartmoor's rugged southern boundary via Shipley Bridge.  We rode through woods, alongside rushing rivers and past remote farms.  At Buckfast, we turned north to climb up on to the high moors with Princetown being the highest point.  We had managed to spread out here and most needed to recharge energy levels with a mixture of cream teas, pasties and chocolate bars.  We twice crossed the upper reaches of the River Dart.

The scenery via the off-road route from Princetown was breathtaking with unspoilt open moorland and Dartmoor's famous torrs all around us.

The Trust laid on refreshments at Holne and cycle repair facilities were provided on route by Big Peaks of Ashburton

It is hoped that the event will be repeated in 2013.

LON CAMBRIA

Fresh mountain air, red kites, forest trails and secret river valleys greeted me on my cycling tour of Wales at the end of April.

My trip started at Gloucester.  I rode north following the Malvern Hills and River Severn until just outside Shrewsbury where I turned west and my route crossed into Wales.  My destination was Fishguard on the Pembrokeshire coast.  I planned to follow Sustrans cycle routes nos 81 and 82 known as "Lon Cambria".

Cycling in Wales always feels like a mini adventure and I come alive on these trips.  I started on little tiny roads.  Sometimes they changed to woodland tracks more suited to mountain bikes.  Much of my journey was little visited and felt remote.  I pedalled into Welshpool and on to Llanidloes pearing at hill farms plentiful with sheep and lambs.  It was early Spring.  The rivers were slightly coloured and leaves were starting to form on the trees.  Daffodils were still out and primroses were plentiful on the lower slopes.

I crashed out for the night at a pub in Llanidloes just seen in the distance in this picture.  It was not before having 2 pints of local ale, a big meal and a long chat with a hill walker.  Shortly after leaving Llanidloes, I met a local couple at the top of a hill who were marvelling at the view.  They told me that it still snows here long after it clears elsewhere in Britain.

A tiny lane took me to Rhayader where there is a bike shop.  Parked outside was an expedition bike with a trailer.  These are huge rigs for long journeys.  The last one I saw was in Sweden being ridden by an Australian cycling north.  I changed direction on to a stony trail that headed up the Elan Valley well away from the cars.  My highest point was amidst open moorland and the air was clear, fresh and cool, absolutely brilliant.  The onward journey to Fishguard took me down a steep windy road, passing a redundant slate quarry and towards the head waters of the River Tiefi.

A deep woodland trail followed and 3.30pm I found a small shop for lunch.  Outside with the sun shining were two hill walkers taking a mid point break.  The shop served me what it called an oggin and looked like easily the biggest pasty I have ever seen.  We swopped tales of hill walking and cycling then shook hands as we left.

I now followed the River Tiefi for its entire length.  It is a beautiful river.  The valley looked to be a haven for wildlife with a mixture of water meadows, forests, hills and occasional bogs.  The final stretch of the journey involved a loop into the Preselli Hills only to find more crags, woodlands and river valleys.

My total journey was 268 miles over 5 days and there are train connections at each end.  The map can be bought from Sustrans Shop.

SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT

A great way to support a healthy lifestyle is to look after the environment. This is why Devon Wildlife Trust is my charity of choice for my next challenge.  My cycle ride last week through the Cambrian Mountains of Wales reminded me, as if I need reminding, how important wild places are and that we must protect them.

This charity is modern, healthy and green.  Not only does it look after 45 nature reserves in Devon, it promotes good practice at sea to preserve our marine environment for the benefit of fish stocks. It understands the effects of renewable energy with wildlife and it assists our regional water company to provide clean fresh drinking water without harming the environment. As if this is not all, our wildlife habitats absorb carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

For me, looking after our environment helps us with our lifestyles. Devon Wildlife Trust, having reached its 50th birthday, is innovative, green and understands modern life.  To find out how to support the Trust and this challenge, please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GrahamWilson150

MY NEXT CHALLENGE

I have set myself a new challenge.  Every 2 years I need to challenge myself to do something new that I have never done before.  It is usually on a bike but not always so.  In 2010, I cycled 3,762 miles on The North Sea Cycle Route.  In 2008, it was Le Jog.  Previously I cycled in Mongolia, trekked across the Andes and there have been others.

For 2012, it is to beat my biggest one day cycle ride.  My current best is 122 miles across Snowdonia made three years ago.  I have set myself two targets and these are:

        127 Miles on 7 July from Stafford to Llandudno with Stafford Balti Bike Club, and

         150 Miles on 10 June from Ivybridge (Devon) to as far north of Bristol as possible.

These journeys will all be on minor roads and I prefer to use the National Cycle Network where possible.  This means great scenery and little traffic but many hills. 

I want to raise money for a special charity and have already been given £100 to it even though I have not told anyone about the challenge yet!  I support charities that promote healthy lifestyles because for me they contribute so much to society. 

Keep pedalling.

THE COBBLY WAY

I discovered the Cobbly Way while out in the beautiful South Hams of Devon.  It is an ancient cobble track beside the River Avon near South Brent.  It is so bumpy that cycling it requires much care, especially when wet.  The river flows fast between deep pools while mature trees span over it.  I peered into its pools and imagined giant salmon just waiting to be caught.  Hanging from a branch was a rope obviously used by children in the summer to swing into these pools. 

South Hams is rich farmland south of Dartmoor spanning to the sea.  The fields are filled with dairy cattle known for producing high quality milk and clotted cream.  Field boundaries have high banks with wild hedges and trees.   Several rivers run fast off Dartmoor and cross this landscape on their way to the sea.  As a consequence wildlife and food production seem to be in harmony.  I followed a figure of eight loop to the sea and back on little lanes and on route discovered a few hidden gems.  My next was a pub which required only a short detour at Slapton and well worth checking for a longer visit at another time.

Just two miles further on, I arrive at Slapton Lea, well known to local people and easier to find for visitors.  This freshwater lake just a stone's throw from the sea is a magnificent nature reserve where hoards of birds, many of which are unusual happily feed from crumbs thrown to them by children. 

East Prawle is the Devon's most southerly village.  I pedal here then follow a loop back to my home.

THE COTSWOLDS

I first met Jaana and Bill exactly 10 years ago on a cycle ride in Cuba.  Last weekend, we met up to explore the Cotswolds by bike.

Meeting regularly, we always cycle bye-lanes to explore the countryside and find great pubs.  Often we see somewhere special in some way and plans for the day are changed while we stop to have a look. 

Our previous rides have been a mixture of challenges from hard to easy.  Bill accompanied me on Lon Las Cymru, 250 miles across Wales on what some say is the most challenging road ride in Britain while Jaana has been with me across Scotland and Norway. 

The Cotswolds in late February in brilliant sunshine are hard to beat.  We started at Princes Risborough, cycled to Oxford and on to Witney where we stopped overnight.  As we rode, a flock of 15 red kites gave a stunning display swooping down into the furrows as a farmer was ploughing his fields.

The next night found us in a pub just outside Stroud.  We followed a route on the National Cycle Network that was a mixture of canal paths, quiet roads, gentle hills and small towns.

 
At Frampton on Severn on the following day, we parted company.  Jaana and Bill cycled to Gloucester to meet a train home while I pedalled south to Bristol.  Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire are well worth exploring and as always cars leave us alone while we are on the National Cycle Network.

Our next ride is already planned.  We resume at Gloucester to head north close to the River Severn.

THE AVOCET RIDE

Nature at this time of year can be wonderful and my ride with three friends to Bere Alston Peninsula, near Plymouth, did not disappoint.  It is easy to travel here by train (15 minutes from Plymouth) but long and tedious by car.  This is where the Rivers Tamar and Tavy meet and the unspoilt village of Bere Ferrers stands sentinal. 

Standing on Bere Ferrers ancient quay, we see lapwings, shelducks, snipe, curlew and lots of gulls.  We move upstream beside the Tavy on to a muddy track where we find a loan egret hunting prey.

It is sunny but cold and a log fire beckons in the Plough at Bere Ferrers but not before one of us has a puncture. This ancient inn is welcoming and the food good. Afterwards we set off to find the Tamar and stop to admire the salt marsh just downstream from us. Out in front are two flocks of avocets quietly feeding on the mud flats. These are the most beautiful of birds and it is hard not to be entranced. Further one we encountered more avocets and just visible were, I think, a flock of knots. We returned to the train station via the Tavy where we had been this morning to find a flock of oyster catchers.

One of my daughters, not to be outdone, sent me a photo of herself on top of Sticklepike in the Lake District while we were on our ride. I have not heard of Sticklepike before and must check that out.