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Weekend Breaks In Devon
I’ve chosen my favourite part of our Devon tour and planned a fabulous weekend of cycling, for people who don’t have a week to spare, or who fancy a short break.
We’ve chosen Hazelwood House as our base. This beautiful country house features in both the Good Hotel Guide and Alisdair Sawday’s Special Places To Stay. Set in 67 acres in the Avon valley, Hazelwood is the perfect choice for a spot of bike-based exploration of the South Hams. And if we ever get a complaint about the restaurant? Well, we won’t, so I won’t offer any hostages to fortune!
It's your weekend, you can cycle as much or as little as you like, but here are two itineraries we've researched for you.
Weekend Cycling Holiday : Day 1
We’ll fix you up with your bike and any equipment you need, including map and detailed route notes - then you’re off.
First stop, Totnes, the hippy capital of the SouthWest. Once you’ve finished laughing at hippies, remember that Totnes is a pretty, ancient town with a striking castle, a steam railway, and a distinctive and local shopping culture. Once you’re done, a lovely cycle path leads to Devon’s best-known vineyard at Sharpham. It’s an interesting place, they produce cheese and wine on the banks of the river Dart, and its good stuff. It’s worth a walk round and a cheese & wine tasting – all included, just arrive and tell them you’re with The Chain Gang.
From Sharpham we follow the Dart estuary through Dittisham to Dartmouth, a beautiful harbour with a growing reputation for quality local foods and restaurants. Dartmouth really is beautiful, so enjoy for a while. From Dartmouth, it’s into the hills, yippee! We’re way off the beaten tracks this afternoon in the countryside of the South Hams, cycling through Blackawton and Moreleigh on the way back to Hazelwood.
Weekend Cycling Holiday : Day 2
Leaving Hazelwood from the downstream end, we follow the Avon valley as far as Loddiswell, where we head towards Buckland-Tout-Saints on our way to Torcross.
There is an amazing freshwater lake next to Torcross, Slapton Ley, two miles long and separated from the sea by a tiny strip of sand. It’s a wildlife reserve now, but in WWII it was the training ground for the Normandy landings at Utah beach. More than 700 American soldiers died following a German torpedo attack. The details were kept secret for decades, and in fact it was locals who raised a Sherman tank from the wrecks to stand as a memorial to the American soldiers. It’s worth a visit, and a few moments.
When people talk about how beautiful the South Hams are, it’s because of the next bit, following a National Cycle Route through East Prawle to East Portlemouth on the Kingsbridge estuary. Then cross by ferry to the sailing mecca of Salcombe. Another very pretty town, and you should have plenty of time to explore.
Back to Loddiswell, then the high road back to Hazelwood. I’m afraid that’s it, we’re done. Bathe and change, and back home. Good chance you’ll be back, I reckon, so let’s call it au revoir rather than adieu.
What's included / Getting There.
There is parking available at Hazelwood. Alternatively we can meet you at Totnes, on the main train route from London to Plymouth – it’s approximately 15 minutes drive, and the train is only two and a half hours from London.
We’ll provide everything except drinks and lunch. When you arrive on Friday evening you’ll have dinner at the hotel in their wonderful restaurant, perfect preparation for 2 days of biking.
On Saturday morning we’ll fit you with your bike, brief you on the route, special sites and things to see, what to do if things go wrong, and so on.
Here’s what’s included:
- Two nights accommodation
- Evening meals (drinks not included)
- Breakfasts
- Bike (Trek 7300FX)
- Lock, puncture equipment, basic toolkit and pannier bag
- Waterproof jacket
- Map and detailed route notes
- Entrance to Sharpham Vineyard
We can arrange local transfers from Totnes train station, or from Exeter and Plymouth. Extra nights are an option, just ask.
