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Rout 27 Devon Coast to CoastRiding the Devon Coast to CoastFrom stunning cliffed coasts and sandy beaches to wild moor and deepest rural Devon, Route 27 on the National Cycle Network takes you from Devon’s north coast resort of Ifracombe to the vibrant south coast city of Plymouth. Known as the Devon Coast to Coast route, 78 of the 103 miles follow off-road traffic free trails, mainly using well surfaced track beds of former railways. These trails take you gently from sea-level to the elevated plateau of mid Devon and western fringes of Dartmoor, avoiding most of the sharp gradients (and traffic) of Devon’s road network.
Within the first thirty miles you’ll find the glorious sandy beaches, flower-rich dunes, craggy cliffs and sweeping estuaries which make up the internationally recognised northern Devon Biosphere Reserve. This section includes the popular Tarka Trail which follows the otter haunts of the Torridge valley up into the secret plateau lands of the Marland Basin. Don’t miss Yarde Orchard with café and hearty cyclists menu – and an eco bunkhouse if you need a stopover, nor the village of Sheepwash, thatch capital of Devon. Hit Hatherleigh on a Tuesday (market day) and mingle with mid-Devon’s farming and smallholding characters. Cruise down to Okehampton on the northern edge of Dartmoor where the Youth Hostel uses the old railway station. From here the Granite Way swings round the north-west fringe of Dartmoor following the old London-Plymouth railway. The cycle route takes you over the towering Victorian viaduct of Meldon (Brunel’s masterwork of iron beams) to Lydford. For a bit of comfort and an excellent Italian restaurant stopover at the Lydford House Hotel, right on the trail. Lydord Gorge, Devon’s answer to the Grand Canyon is well worth a detour on foot and the stark Medieval Castle is a must. Hereon, there’s a choice of routes – a lower route through the ancient stannary town of Tavistock or stay on the flanks of Dartmoor through the moorland villages of Mary and Peter Tavy. Either way, you’ll end up at Yelverton for the grand finale – the exhilarating descent of the Plym Valley Trail through glorious woodland above the swift moorland waters of the Plym river. In no time you’ll find yourself in a bleak wasteland beneath urban flyovers – but fear not, the familiar blue cycleway signs soon guide you to Plymouth’s city centre and beyond to the historic and spectacular Hoe. Devon Coast to Coast is a glorious 3-day ride (some people do it in a day!) which can also fit well into more extended bike tours. From Plymouth, Brittany Ferries link you to Roscoff on the north Brittany coast – or even Santander in northern Spain for a real adventure. Time things right and you could link this route to Bristol or South Wales (and then to Ireland) by boat from Ilfracombe. |
