Cycling Cornwall and North Devon
What's included:
4 nights accommodation (single room basis)
Simple breakfast and snacks each day
2 lunches on selected days.
Luggage transfers each day
Support Vehicle (as and when required)
Fully guided trip
All repair & first aid equipment
Tour dates: TBC
Duration: 5 days
Distance: 300km
Grading: Intermediate-Advanced (see below)
Trip Overview
This is an amazing trip through England's most southern counties. Cornwall and North Devon are renowned for their picturesque fishing villages, dramatic coastline, crashing waves and beautiful hills. And this tour has no shortage of natural beauty and challenges. The tour follows two of the UK's top 10 traffic-free cycle trails, the Tarka trail and Camel trail. The Camel Trail is ranked in the top 3 of almost every bike trail review article there is due to fantastic diversity and flat gradient through magnificent countryside and waterways. Other than that, overall the scenery is some of the best in the country as we visit some picture postcard places along the coast and inland including Padstow, Bude, Woolacombe, Ilfracombe and Wenford Bridge to name just a few. This trip will be top shelf when its comes to fantastic scenery and traffic-free cycle trails and back roads!
DAY 1 - Barnstable to Holsworthy (56km)
This five-day odyssey into the depths of Devon and the Cornish coast begins with a ride from Barnstable to Holsworthy on the fabulous Tarka trail.
DAY 2 - Holsworthy to Wadebridge (69km)
This is the hardest day of the trip but your efforts are rewarded with one of the best days you are going to have on two wheels! We will follow the 'Cornish Way' bike trail - Sustrans route number 3 - for most of the day. This delightful trail which runs from Bude all the way down to Lands End, passes through Camelford and the atmospheric Bodmin Moor which is a world heritage site and the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Cornwall. We finish the day's ride in Wadebridge, taking the perfect Camel trail, voted in the top 3 cycle trails in the UK by pretty much everybody.... Cool!
DAY 3 - Wadebridge to Bude (63km)
Day 3 is where the real hills begin...however, with hills comes amazing scenery and this day is certainly beautiful. The day starts following the tail end of the Camel Trail to Padstow which is arguably the most picturesque section of the trail and entire tour. At Padstow this unique day's ride sees us board the ferry across to Rock. Along the coast the terrain turns into a 15km up and down assault of the hills with expansive views to the finish.
DAY 4 - Bude to Ilfracombe (72km)
On this the longest day of the tour, we ride a straight line from Bude to Ilfracombe. We head east past the Tamar lakes and then through the rolling pastures of North Cornwall before reaching Barnstable. From there it’s a tough final 20km through to the seaside town of Ilfracombe.
DAY 5 - Ilfracombe to Barnstaple (40km)
A fabulous final day riding along the stunning North Devon coastline, we will re rejoin the Tarka trail from Ilfracombe to Woolacombe. After chilling out beach-side with some lunch, we continue the final 20km on the Tarka trail to Barnstable. A great way finish off an unforgettable trip!
Distance
300km (5 days cycling)
Grading
Challenging Adventure 5/5. This ride is graded as advanced-intermediate because whilst the ride is manageable for a regular rider with medium fitness, there are some hilly sections on all but one day.
Terrain and Elevation
The ride has some challenging sections as we tackle the hills of the Cornish countryside, although every effort is made to use the numerous flat disused railway lines. Day 3 and 4 are the most challenging involving around 700m ascending and 750m descending - geared towards the experienced intermediate rider.
Logistics
The first day's ride begins in Barnstaple at 1pm and ends at the hotel in Holsworthy. You will need to park in Barnstaple for the duration of the tour (details provided). The tour will be point-to-point riding to before finally ending back Barnstaple. On Sunday we will leave for Barnstaple at 9:30am and aim to arrive at around 3pm. Please book a train that leaves Barnstaple after 4pm on Sunday. A luggage transfer will be provided for you on each day of the tour.
Highlights
- Riding the renowned Tarka and Camel traffic-free cycle trails.
- Take in the stunning beaches of North Devon and dramatic rugged coastline of north Cornwall.
- Feel the charm of Cornwalls fishing villages including Padstow and Rock
- Explore the charming resort town of Bude, known for its mild climate, beaches, canal and seaside pools.
What to budget for?
Train tickets
Extra meals and snacks
bike and helmet
(please bring your own - bike hire can be arranged)A spare inner tube for your bike
What to Bring
Water bottle
Money for extra food and refreshments
Spare inner tube for YOUR bike
Cycling equipment
(bicycle, bike lock, compulsory bike helmet, cycle jacket etc)No jeans please.
Prices
Earlybird Single £445
Earlybird Twin £385pp
Full Payment - Single £495
Full Payment - Twin £425pp
Deposit £250