Anyone near Newton Abbott?

[goody]

I'm staying there for a week from next Tuesday and hoping to get two road rides in and a trip to Halden Forest on the MTB. Any must see places down there? Or any roads to avoid? I was thinking of a long ride over to Bude and a shorter ride to Torquay. A couple of routes to put in the Garmin would be good. Cheers!

 

[Pale Rider]

Looks like the Devon Coast to Coast Sustrans map includes Newton Abbot to Bude, and other routes of possible interest.

I don't know if there's a gadget option.

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/devon-coast-to-coast

 

[Jerry Atrik]

You could download the Dartmoor classic route from the site , starting at the racecourse . 65 miles of hilly heaven . Rather than riding to Torquay a very nondescript route you could cross the pen inn roundabout take the back road to Shaldon , beautiful village by the estuary , cross the bridge to teignmouth turn left and climb back to Newton . Beautiful views down the estuary and Haytor and Dartmoor looming on the way back .

 

[Ajax Bay]

Newton Abbot (NA) to Bude via Moretonhampstead to Whiddon Down (B road) and then via Exbourne, Hatherleigh and Holsworthy (A roads to get the distance; there is a myriad of minor road options, all hillier) = 90km https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12455020 If you're contemplating 190km, I'd return via Okehampton, old A30 to Cheriton Bishop and thence south down the lovely road alongside the young Teign x A38 to Chudleigh Knighton, to NA

However if weather allows, for preference I'd do a loop over Dartmoor https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12455492 via Bovey Tracey, Moretonhampstead, Princetown, Yelverton, Lutton, Ivybridge, old A38, Avonwick, Totnes; though maybe clockwise if the wind is SW. I'll be up at Princetown tomorrow morning and may do that ride (from there).

The MTB trails up at Halden are great fun, though I confess only going there in the summer months: we have Woodbury Common close by: its scope is broad.

 

[Ian H]

You could check with the local CTC group. They're a friendly bunch.

 

[goody]

Thanks for the suggestions I think I have plenty to choose from!

 

[ChrisEyles]

I'd second the route over Dartmoor suggested by @Ajax Bay, especially if you've never explored the area before. Try and pick the nicest sunniest day for it though!

 

[goody]

Got a few gpx files based on the CTC chevron Haldon Loop, Torplex 200, Dartmoor Classic, Devon Delight and Ajax's Dartmoor loop so lots to choose from. Thanks!

 

[Ajax Bay]

Bit windy today (Wednesday) @goody ! I have crafted a variation on the Dartmoor loop I offered earlier, for your interest (and one I'll do sometime anyway):
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12507562
The climb up onto the moor after crossing the A38 is both quiet and tough, and then there's a great run north to the Moretonhampstead-Princetown road, above Widecombe-in-the-Moor. The B3212 takes you SW but go past Dartmoor Prison to Tavistock and then use the new 'Drake's Trail' with a breathtaking new bridge (long and hundreds of feet high) and a (lit) tunnel, to get SE to Yelverton. SE cross grain (undulating) to Ivybridge and then parallel to the A38 back via Buckfastleigh and Ashburton. Loop is exactly 100km, plus any distance to get to and from it.

 

[goody]

I did your loop today. I rode it clockwise not sure if that's the way you designed it but the route was nice. Wind was shocking going across Dartmoor. Hardest 80 miles I've ever ridden. MTB tomorrow and a shorter road ride Friday. Thanks!

 

[ChrisEyles]

Hardest 80 miles I've ever ridden.

I'm not surprised given the weather today (my wife and I took the car for the measly 4 miles into work) - cracking effort!

Enjoy the MTB ride tomorrow

 

[goody]

Like summer in Majorca today! Halden was closed because of fallen trees so did another road ride legs felt a bit tired after yesterday. I'm staying near Chudleigh so headed towards bovey haytor, ashburton, buckfastleigh, totnes, Torquay, teignmouth then back to Chudleigh. Hopefully they've cleared halden for tomorrow.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Yup! Brilliant on Dartmoor yesterday (Thursday). Glad you got to enjoy the Haytor climb. I went out from Exeter straight over to Yelverton via Moretonhampstead, up to Tavistock (Drake's Trail - over the fantastic 'Gem Bridge') and north (against what wind there was) to Okehampton, picking up the Granite Way (several trees down on each of these excellent cycle paths, so pick up and step over or round), and back down the old A30. https://ridewithgps.com/trips/8102292 I had 6 hours and used every minute.

Climbing out of Moretonhampstead I had a guy in my sights and was just gaining a bit on the steeper sections. Had decided that if/when I caught him my opening greeting would be ' @goody , goody' as his speed was typical of your trip to Paris and back. Miles later I caught him just coming into Two Bridges but no 'recognition' response to that. He had come out from Plympton and already done 40 miles. We cycled together down to Yelverton in the sunshine.