Cycle Devon - Coast to Coast
Cycle Devon - Coast to Coast
Cycle Devon - Coast to Coast
4 Days Starting in Tiverton Train Station and ending in Either Tiverton Parkway Train Station or Plymouth Train Station
Visiting: Tiverton, Barnstaple, Tarka Trail, Hatherleigh, Granite Way, Dartmoor Forest, Tavistock, Plymouth
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CDD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 16
Physical rating:
Medium, Moderate
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$1340 (USD)Tour Overview
Cycle this idyllic, 102-mile Devon Coast-to-Coast route through wonderfully varied and verdant countryside. From Ilfracombe we ride past the beaches and estuaries of north Devon to join the stunning Tarka Trail for traffic-free cycling through lush green West Country valleys. We skirt the western flank of Dartmoor, cycling through secluded valleys, across viaducts and bridges before descending into Plymouth.
Sense of achievement - Cross beautiful Devon by pedal power
Tarka, Granite and Drake's Trails - Enjoy traffic-free cycling amid beautiful nature
Dartmoor National Park - Drive (or cycle) across this wild, open moorland
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Join Trip In Tiverton. Cycle Ilfracombe To Barnstaple
Location: Tiverton, Barnstaple
Accommodation: Hotel, The Royal and Fortesque
The trip starts at Tiverton Parkway Train Station at 11.00am. Parking is at the long stay car park at the railway station for the trip duration (approx. £30). We drive for about an hour to the seaside resort of Ilfracombe, on the North Devon coast, in time for lunch. After unloading and assigning the bikes, there will be time to get comfortable and make any necessary adjustments.
Clear and detailed instructions on the cycle route we follow will be given by the tour leader throughout the trip, which means you can cycle at your own pace, either individually or with other group members. GPX tracks are available, if you want to download these onto your own device please request from the Leader. Our local Leader will drive the support vehicle with the luggage and a bike trailer, and will meet us at various points during each ride to help support the ride, ensure all runs smoothly and that you enjoy your trip.
With our lungs filled with fresh, coastal air, we cycle in the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty past the famous surf beach of Woolacombe, taking a scenic detour from the classic NCN route 27. At Braunton we leave the AONB and join the Tarka Trail - a 30-mile traffic-free section built on the almost entirely flat former railway line. Finally, we reach our hotel for the night in Barnstaple.
Our total cycling distance today is approximately 32 kilometres (total 410 metres ascent and descent).
Day 2: Cycle Barnstaple To Hatherleigh On The Tarka Trail
Location: Barnstaple, Tarka Trail, Hatherleigh
Accommodation: The George Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast
We cycle from our hotel after breakfast and soon rejoin the Tarka Trail. Named after Henry Williamson's 1927 novel, Tarka the Otter, we follow this path alongside the expansive saltmarsh, mudflats and sandbanks of the stunning Taw and Torridge estuaries. From the old port town of Bideford the Trail heads inland, leaving the wide rivers and estuaries behind, and follows streams through woodlands and grassland to Great Torrington, before stopping at a quirky railway station turned cafe for lunch. We rejoin the Tarka Trail in the afternoon, tracing along converted railway lines, until its end in Meeth. Now on quiet roads we cycle a short distance to our hotel in one of Devon's smallest but no doubt liveliest towns, Hatherleigh, for a well-deserved pint, fresh local food and welcome rest.
Our total cycling distance today is approximately 52 kilometres (total 605 metres ascent and 490 metres descent).
Day 3: Cycle Hatherleigh To Tavistock On The Granite Way. Optional Ride Dartmoor Np
Location: Granite Way, Dartmoor Forest, Tavistock
Accommodation: Hotel, The White Hart
Meals Included: Breakfast
We continue our route south, cycling on quiet country roads until we reach Okehampton where we join the Granite Trail - a mostly traffic-free cycle route that runs eleven miles through rural Devon with fantastic views of Dartmoor and the surrounding countryside. Look out for the impressive Victorian era Meldon Viaduct. The Granite Trail ends at Lydford Gorge and you have the opportunity to explore the gorge on foot before lunch. In the afternoon, we continue our route, now cycling on quiet roads, hugging the edge of Dartmoor. In Brentor there is the chance to walk up to the tiny church perched on top of a small tor for views. We then reach the ancient stannary and market town of Tavistock. This world heritage town claims to have invented the Cream Tea!
The included cycling ends today and we make our way across the wild and expansive Dartmoor National Park to the market town of Moretonhampstead where we spend the night. For anyone interested you can continue cycling along all or part of this route. The Tour Leader will drive the rest of the group on to the hotel and return to support the ride. The route is on roads with a 40 mph limit and the first section from Tavistock to Princetown is 19km with 550 metres of ascent, followed by a 21km section to Moretonhampstead with 280 metres of ascent.
Our total cycling distance today is approximately 42 kilometres (total 615 metres ascent and 550 metres descent) with optional additional rides possible.
Day 4: Cycle Tavistock To Plymouth On Drakes Trail. Trip Ends In Plymouth Or Tiverton
Location: Plymouth
Meals Included: Breakfast
We start the day with a drive back across Dartmoor National Park to Tavistock where we get back on the bikes. Our final day on the Devon Coast to Coast will be biking down the 21-mile, traffic-free Drake's Trail into Plymouth, descending towards the Royal Citadel on downhill gravel trails. This walking and cycling trail runs through superb countryside with attractive scenery, through wooded river valleys and across open moorland. There is a steep and uneven section just south of Clearbrook where you may prefer to walk for a few hundred metres. Finally we reach the end of your coast-to-coast cycle at Tinside, where you have the opportunity for a dip in the iconic Art Deco seawater lido or in the south coast Devon sea. From here, we drive back to Tiverton Parkway Train Station (aiming to be there by 4pm) or say goodbye to those that want to leave at Plymouth Railway Station.
Our total cycling distance today is approximately 35 kilometres (total 380 metres ascent and 460 metres descent).
Check out our Q&As
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I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
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Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
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How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
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What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
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Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
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Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Sunday - Wednesday
Jul 14, 2024 - Jul 17, 2024Sunday - Wednesday
Sep 01, 2024 - Sep 04, 2024Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.