Bike Devon & Cornwall – Guided

Joining the Tarka Trail, named after Henry Williamson’s famous 1927 novel, Tarka the Otter, we follow this path along the stunning Taw and Torridge estuaries via Bideford and Great Torrington, before stopping at a quirky railway station turned café stop for lunch. We rejoin the Tarka Trail in the afternoon, tracing along converted railway lines, to cycle onto Devon’ smallest but no doubt liveliest towns, Hatherleigh, to stay at The George Inn for a well-deserved pint, fresh local food and welcomed rest.

Mileage: 20-31 miles

Starting north of Okehampton, we take a slight detour up to Dartmoor, to visit Devon’s finest stone circle at Gidleigh Common. The views and atmosphere on Dartmoor are magical and after lunch in the wonderful Chagford we head onto the high moors before heading downhill all the way into the wonderful town of Tavistock where we stay the night – there will be plenty of opportunities to trial Devon’s famous beverages and cream tea, but remember to put the cream on the scone before the jam when you’re in Devon – and the other way round when you’re in Cornwall! 

Mileage: 20-38 miles

Our final day of exploring Devon will be biking along the Drakes Trail, all the way, mostly downhill into Plymouth where we visit the place where the Founding Fathers left for America in 1620. We arrive into Tinside, where we will have the opportunity for a dip in the iconic waterside lido or in the south coast sea before we transfer into Cornwall into the lovely estuary side town of Wadebridge where we stay for the next two nights.

Mileage: 23-33 miles

We transfer a few miles to the top of the Camel Trail and bike all the way down to the coast towards Padstow, probably the most beguiling town in Cornwall. We’ll enjoy Rick Stein’s famous fish and chips and a good look around this magical harbour town. In the afternoon there is the opportunity to bike to the locations made famous by the filming of Poldark and Doc Martin before our final night together in Wadebridge.

Mileage: 15-30 miles

After a relaxed breakfast in your hotel which overlooks the sea, cliffs and little cove that is Port Gaverne, we transport guests to Bodmin Parkway station for pre-booked travel all the way to London (4.5 hours).

We have handpicked a selection of hotels and bed and breakfasts in ideal locations along the beautiful Cornish coast, with great access into towns and views over the harbours and ocean, and in a Dartmoor village, Chagford, in the heart of the National Park. There is a wealth of great restaurants and gastro-pubs in each location and your hotels are the perfect place to rest your legs and relax during the evenings while on your tour.

Read M.W’s review of our hotels: “The accommodations were first rate — small inns scattered throughout the countryside. And the food — out of this world! […] It was so relaxing to have the whole trip prearranged.”

Devon is an easy train journey from London, Bristol and the Midlands, taking you to the start of your walking trip, straight onto your bikes and off on a leisurely afternoon cycle to into the heart of Dartmoor. Exeter Station is a direct 3 hour train journey from London.

Devon is a large county in southwest England, with Cornwall to the West, and Dorset to the East, bordered in the North and South by the sea. With two stunning wild coastlines and the Dartmoor mountains and hills in the centre, Devon is a must-see, and with over 350km of byways Dartmoor National Park is perfect cycling country!

Cornwall is in the far Southwestern tip of England, bordered by the famous English Channel and Celtic Sea. Known for its natural beauty, rugged coastline, idyllic coastal villages, beaches and walking and cycling trails, Cornwall is an outdoor enthusiast’s ideal playground.