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Devon Cycling Holiday Itinerary
Cycling Holiday : Day 1 - Saturday
Arrive in Devon - The beautiful and ancient village of Chagford.
We start from the delightful village of Chagford, within the Dartmoor National Park. We stay in the Three Crowns, which manages to run a modern hotel within a traditional English pub. Last orders, 11.00 pm!
Cycling Holiday : Day 2 - Sunday
Dartmoor and Totnes
Today is a lovely ride. Dartmoor is hilly, no way to avoid that even though we're leaving the National Park. We'll visit an Iron Age village at Grimspound and the beautiful moorland villages of Buckland and Widecombe-In-The-Moor as we make our way off the moor at Buckfastleigh.
Then we'll follow a special cycle route along the Dart valley, through Totnes to the Waterman's Arms at Bow Creek. Another traditional pub developed into a hotel. I've been to thousands of pubs(!), but if there is a pub in a more beautiful location than the Waterman's, I haven't seen it.
Cycling Holiday : Day 3 - Monday
Dartmouth and the beautiful South Hams
Another pretty ride, but very different. Via Sharpham Vineyard, one of the UK's leading winemakers, we follow the Dart estuary to Dartmouth. Leaving Dartmouth we cycle into the South Hams, and our ride through East Portlemouth, Salcombe and Kingsbridge features some of the most beautiful scenery of our week.
We'll also visit the poignant memorial at Slapton Ley, where 749 American soldiers were killed in 1944 when German torpedo boats interrupted rehearsals for the D-Day landings at 'Utah' beach. Forty years later a US tank was recovered and now stands as a memorial to a shocking night.
Tonight we stay at Hope Cove, a delightful, hidden cove with spectacular views across Bigbury Bay to Burgh Island.
Cycling Holiday : Day 4 - Tuesday
Plymouth and the Tamar Valley
A memorable day. We'll follow a little-known route that brings us into the heart of Plymouth, Devon's largest City, by ferry. We land at the Barbican, from where the Mayflower set sail for America in 1620, and where the names of all the Pilgrims are listed. Before we leave Plymouth we'll visit the famous gin distillery, then we'll follow probably my favourite cycle path up the Tamar Valley, past Saltram House, and up onto the (lower!) slopes of Dartmoor.
Cycling Holiday : Day 5 - Wednesday
Dartmoor and the Lydford Gorge
Back to my favourite cycle path, and through the traditional 'Stannary Town' of Tavistock - granted the right to assay local tin, these towns were given peculiar rights including law-making, which in theory still exist.
We'll cycle along the edge of Dartmoor, through the delightful villages of Mary Tavy and Peter Tavy, along a beautiful National Cycle Route to Lydford House close to the famous gorge and waterfall.
Cycling Holiday : Day 6 - Thursday
Mid-Devon and a special hotel
A long day with a very special hotel at the end of it. We follow an off-road cycle path along a disused railway to Okehampton, then we head off towards North Devon via my favourite pub (the Duke of York in Iddesleigh). We cross the Taw valley, and follow the River Mole to South Molton and the George Hotel (The Good Hotel Guide's 'Hotel Of The Year' for 2009!).
Cycling Holiday : Day 7 - Friday
Exeter and the beautiful ancient port of Topsham
We cross the valley of the Little Dart River on our way to Crediton, birthplace of St Boniface in the 7th Century, who is bizarrely the Patron Saint of both Germany and the Netherlands. Quite a guy.
Then we follow tiny back roads into Exeter, the capital of Devon. St Peter's Cathedral is Devon's most magnificent building, with the longest unbroken Gothic roof in the world.
We leave Exeter on an off-road cycle path beside Britain's oldest canal. We're headed for Topsham at the head of the Exe Estuary, once an important port, now an exquisite village given over to all things nautical and famous for its fabulous pubs. We'll show you!
Maps
Click to enlarge the map, or click the link to see a detailed route.
