Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
Cycled the Drake's Trail stretch from Plym Bridge to Tavistock, and back to Yelverton and then main road (with the wind 
) back to Plymouth on Sunday.
All excellent. Refreshingly drippy and (a bit) dark in the Grenofen tunnel.
Tip 1: As you approach Yelverton (from the north), don't go through the gate, just cut right across the grass (20m) to the road and left to the main road (A386). If you need the shops, turn left; if pressing on go straight across (there's an island and the grass verge) onto the cycle path, and turn right.
Cycled the stretch from Porlock to Lynton on Tuesday (well actually Street to Blackmoor Gate (A39/A399 cross at the west end of Exmoor) and back) (first 5 hours against the wind
).
There's a cycle 'shop' in Porlock: http://porlockpedals.co.uk/ often 'open' but 'unmanned' - phone and he'll be there in minutes.
Tip 2: There are three routes to climb out of Porlock: the A39 main road; the 'New Road' (toll) via Birchanger Bridge and the Worthy Toll Road. NCN51 takes the latter to start with but after West Porlock turns up the hill and eventually zigzags back to the 'New Road' (below the toll booth). I took this route on Tuesday on 28 road tyres, and my threshold for off-road boldness is high. This 'road' connection deteriorates after a house at 500m to a broken surface track with stones with a steady 1:12 gradient (estimated) for about 1.2km. It was dry (so I maintained grip). I would not follow this route again, unless on a MTB. Last time I went up the New Road. Next time I will try the Worthy Toll Road. Your choice: if I was at the start of a 200 I'd go up New Road and have £1 ready. Surface is excellent and (iirc) 4.2k bottom to top with no flat, climbing from 30m to 411m ASL.
I don't know how slavishly you are trying to follow NCN51 and the options around Lynmouth/Lynton. I think the 'Valley of the Rocks' is not to be missed. The climb out of Lynmouth is double chevron: if you get up you will have earned onlookers' respect (note metal studs in road and the dirt on your hub - you'll be going that slowly!) - about 110m in <500m. Going west through Martinhoe (on NCN51) is fantastic (with challenging ups and grippy downs).
Tip 3: After you've survived the 6 chevron 200m (vertical) drop down King's Lane to Hunter's Inn don't miss the immediate right turn (actually R@T) $ none but it's the road to Trentishoe ( I did) (left 70m to loos if needed!).
) back to Plymouth on Sunday.All excellent. Refreshingly drippy and (a bit) dark in the Grenofen tunnel.
Tip 1: As you approach Yelverton (from the north), don't go through the gate, just cut right across the grass (20m) to the road and left to the main road (A386). If you need the shops, turn left; if pressing on go straight across (there's an island and the grass verge) onto the cycle path, and turn right.
Cycled the stretch from Porlock to Lynton on Tuesday (well actually Street to Blackmoor Gate (A39/A399 cross at the west end of Exmoor) and back) (first 5 hours against the wind
).There's a cycle 'shop' in Porlock: http://porlockpedals.co.uk/ often 'open' but 'unmanned' - phone and he'll be there in minutes.
Tip 2: There are three routes to climb out of Porlock: the A39 main road; the 'New Road' (toll) via Birchanger Bridge and the Worthy Toll Road. NCN51 takes the latter to start with but after West Porlock turns up the hill and eventually zigzags back to the 'New Road' (below the toll booth). I took this route on Tuesday on 28 road tyres, and my threshold for off-road boldness is high. This 'road' connection deteriorates after a house at 500m to a broken surface track with stones with a steady 1:12 gradient (estimated) for about 1.2km. It was dry (so I maintained grip). I would not follow this route again, unless on a MTB. Last time I went up the New Road. Next time I will try the Worthy Toll Road. Your choice: if I was at the start of a 200 I'd go up New Road and have £1 ready. Surface is excellent and (iirc) 4.2k bottom to top with no flat, climbing from 30m to 411m ASL.
I don't know how slavishly you are trying to follow NCN51 and the options around Lynmouth/Lynton. I think the 'Valley of the Rocks' is not to be missed. The climb out of Lynmouth is double chevron: if you get up you will have earned onlookers' respect (note metal studs in road and the dirt on your hub - you'll be going that slowly!) - about 110m in <500m. Going west through Martinhoe (on NCN51) is fantastic (with challenging ups and grippy downs).
Tip 3: After you've survived the 6 chevron 200m (vertical) drop down King's Lane to Hunter's Inn don't miss the immediate right turn (actually R@T) $ none but it's the road to Trentishoe ( I did) (left 70m to loos if needed!).
