Cycle path recommendations for Cornwall Devon

[johnnyxs]

Hoping to get away for a weeks respite at the end of this month with swmbo and I'm determined to enjoy at least 2-3 days easy cycling away from the roads.

Ideally we'd like some scenic cycle paths thats are not too hilly and close to water so that we can enjoy the surroundings stop for picnics and take plenty of pictures of wildlife .
Any suggestions are very welcome especially if its from personal experience.

We'll be using road bikes with 23 &25mm road tyres

[johnnyxs]

OK I was up half the night trawling the net for walks and cycle routes in Devon and Cornwall and soon found the Tarka Trail.

The cycle route forms part of the Tarka Trail between Saunton and Petrockstow in North Devon.
The Cycle path mostly follows the estuaries of the River Taw and River Torridge at Barnstaple and look to be scenic and pretty flat on the map.

Hope this might be helpful to anyone else looking for Family friendly cycle routes in North Devon
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/tarka-trail

[CliveyT]

Similar to the Tarka trail, the Camel trail follows the old railway line from Bodmin into Padstow. There are also a number of trails that visit old engine houses etc. which are largely off road http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/countryside/cycle-routes-and-trails/.

[honesty]

Theres quite a few in Devon and Cornwall, but the ones I've cycled are:
Tarka trail - very nice and tarmaced up to the last few miles where it goes to gravel. Nice route, but the bit from Barnstaple along the estuary I found a bit dull.
Granite trail - from Oakhampton to Lydford. My view, the best off road trail in Devon. Really nice area and some really good views, nice route as well and the viaducts are great cycling over.
Drakes trail - nice, better towards Tavistock as its all down hill that way. Gem bridge is nice as well, but the route can be a bit enclosed by trees.
Camel trail - First bit from Padstow is good, wide, nice views, but gravel surface. The bit from Bodmin was really overgrown when I rode it in July, but I met hardly anyone on it and had a nice ride. There's also a new cafe at the very top of it which was really nice.
Exe estuary trail. Very nice, flat, peters out towards Powderham, but mostly tarmaced.

[niggle]

If you come as far west as me, near Redruth, the coast to coast mineral tramway trail from Portreath to Devoran is good for anything other than a full on road bike, mainly gravel, mildly uphill from one coast to the middle then down hill to the other coast, then there are other bits of mineral tramway including the Great Flat Lode, which is slightly more challenging, lots of interesting views of industrial achaeology, engine houses etc. All the other link up trails on this map are now in place and quite usable, though there are one or two sections on quiet lanes and slightly steeper bits involved:

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/media/7396956/mt-map2.jpg

EDIT: just realised you will be using road bikes with 23/25mm tyres: TBH the mineral tramways are really too rough surfaced for such steeds.

[johnnyxs]

I

EDIT: just realised you will be using road bikes with 23/25mm tyres: TBH the mineral tramways are really too rough surfaced for such steeds.

thanks niggle that looks like a nice trail for when we are next down in Cornwall although we would need to hire bikes for sure. I don't know why trail builders all assume everyone has MTB with knobbly tyres
Looks like the trail has some interesting photographic subjects which would be brilliant.

[johnnyxs]

Similar to the Tarka trail, the Camel trail follows the old railway line from Bodmin into Padstow. There are also a number of trails that visit old engine houses etc. which are largely off road http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/countryside/cycle-routes-and-trails/.

Thanks CliveyT
the Padstow Wadebridge section looks perfect ! level with excellent views of the estuary and great photo /bird watching and picnic opportunities too .

[johnnyxs]

Theres quite a few in Devon and Cornwall, but the ones I've cycled are:
Tarka trail - very nice and tarmaced up to the last few miles where it goes to gravel. Nice route, but the bit from Barnstaple along the estuary I found a bit dull.
Granite trail - from Oakhampton to Lydford. My view, the best off road trail in Devon. Really nice area and some really good views, nice route as well and the viaducts are great cycling over.
Drakes trail - nice, better towards Tavistock as its all down hill that way. Gem bridge is nice as well, but the route can be a bit enclosed by trees.
Camel trail - First bit from Padstow is good, wide, nice views, but gravel surface. The bit from Bodmin was really overgrown when I rode it in July, but I met hardly anyone on it and had a nice ride. There's also a new cafe at the very top of it which was really nice.
Exe estuary trail. Very nice, flat, peters out towards Powderham, but mostly tarmaced.

thank you honesty there are some excellent rides to investigate here .
Looks like I'm going to have to build myself a tracky bike . Most of these trails are not tarmacced and a tracky will give me some off-road possibilities too.

[niggle]

I

EDIT: just realised you will be using road bikes with 23/25mm tyres: TBH the mineral tramways are really too rough surfaced for such steeds.

thanks niggle that looks like a nice trail for when we are next down in Cornwall although we would need to hire bikes for sure. I don't know why trail builders all assume everyone has MTB with knobbly tyres
Looks like the trail has some interesting photographic subjects which would be brilliant.

They are not that bad, and have had a lot of work done to improve them since they first opened, so they are OK for my touring bike and my partner's hybrid, both with 35mm tyres, but 23-25mm would be unpleasant and risking pinch punctures or bent rims IMO.

[RJS]

You can ride from the centre of Exeter to Exmouth, all hard surface, nearly all traffic free, a small bit on quite road and only a couple of short hills, not that steep, and you can come back on the train. It follows the canal/river so boats and birds to see as you ride. If you want to go further, the route, (part of route 2) carry's on mostly off road to Budleigh Salterton, there's a stiff climb after that
Cheers, Rob.

[johnnyxs]

Thanks you you guys we now have a great weeks break in North Devon lined up.

We have chosen to
Cycle the Camel trail Padstow Wadebridge
Cycle the Tarka trail Braunton to Weare Gifford
Walk the Tamar Lakes (birds wildlife photography)
Walk Tarka Trail route 4 Saunton Croyde
If we have any energy left after that we hope to spend half a day paddling somewhere either sea or estuary .
http://encountercornwall.com/ excellent paddling at this place but a bit far to travel.
Photography ..might try fit in a photography field trip/workshop if we can http://www.northdevonphotographycourses.co.uk/workshops.html

After that lot we'll need to take a week off to recuperate lol

thanks for all your help and recommendations

[johnnyxs]

You can ride from the centre of Exeter to Exmouth, all hard surface, nearly all traffic free, a small bit on quite road and only a couple of short hills, not that steep, and you can come back on the train. It follows the canal/river so boats and birds to see as you ride. If you want to go further, the route, (part of route 2) carry's on mostly off road to Budleigh Salterton, there's a stiff climb after that
Cheers, Rob.

Thanks Rob we have been on a canal boat trip at Tiverton in June this year and walked the canal path last year and it is an excellent day out but regretably too far to travel in a day from North Devon. We did Tiverton from Barnstaple and back in a day but 3 hours driving cross country was tiring and Exeter would be practically home for us

The Exeter Exmouth ride is a good days cycling for when we next stay in South Devon /Cornwall

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Done the Tarka and Drakes recently.
Drakes has a closure on part of it now I think Plymouth to Tavistock.
Tarka has varied surface from tarmac to MTB terrain, but plenty of rough bits the further south you go. Meeth (near hatherlieh) to Barnstaple.
Granite way has best surface. Oakhampton to Lydford.
Exe trail is very good surface too. Dawlish (powderham) exexter to exmouth.

Unfortuanately, apart from granite (25 min tyre) Exe trail (23 min tyre) the rest need (except camel ?) 28 min tyre and then its bumpy especially on the tarka.

You really limit your enjoyment of cycleable trails with minimum road tyres I.M.O.
Get 32 mm actual width and you can tackle all that stuff including all the Railway and forest tracks on Dartmoor which make all those with exception of Exe trail (lots to do and see for those who like to frequent cafes etc,) look drab dull and send me to sleep boring.
The dartmoor scenery is top drawer, and you dont see the hills as the railway tracks are very low gradients.

The reason roadies dont like the cycle paths is because the terrain is too rough.

[Slowroad]

mostly off road to Budleigh Salterton, there's a stiff climb after that

You're not kidding! I did that last week, took ages to push me bike up it! Great views back though, and a super route from Exeter right through to Seaton.

[RJS]

Hi Slowroad, there is an alternative, perhaps easier, instead of Salcombe Hill go up to the main road, all but flat, cross over, follow the lane, you need to check the map, but if you turn right there is another hill, but before the climb a road which says dead end continues as a bridle way, the surface is a bit loose in places, but I would say rideable, and the gradient a bit easier. If you are following route 2 its not too difficult to get back on course. If you use the main road there is a nice farmshop/café at the top
Cheers, Rob.