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Mini-Pierre is 6 1/2 years old and breaks up on summer holidays next week. He's a pretty decent bike rider, has ridden off road a fair bit and did 25km on Sunday afternoon. We've got a few days together between breaking up school and his first full week of holidays which he's spending at the in-laws in Devon.
He'd like to go on his first "bring a tent ride" with me, so I'm looking at Sustrans routes and campsites in and around the Somerset / Devon area. Do any of you have any recommendations? There seem to be quite a lot of options (although the Sustrans website is NOT as easy to search as it should be!) but I'd like to know if anyone on here has done something similar before and has any suggestions.
I'm wondering about a circular / out-and-back route about 90-110km which we can do over 3 days, parking the car somewhere then heading to one campsite, riding to another the next and then back to the start at the end of the 3rd day. However, I'm also debating something like the Devon Coast-to-Coast, maybe over 4 days, if we can get a train to one end / back from the other.
I'd appreciate any advice you have!
Did the Devon coast to coast last year with friends, over 3 days. Good part of it on converted railways so fairly easy. Arranged a coach transfer back from the finish (Plymouth) for us and the bikes. Didn't camp though.
Thanks Squirrel - I reckon we could get trains from Exeter to Barnstaple and from Plymouth back to Exeter and do a mini version. What did you think of the route?
Hi Pierre. A good mix of lovely scenery, fair number of cafe and pub stops. Middle bit slightly climbey but mostly on quiet lanes. We cheated slightly and started from Croyde as 1) I love it and 2) that avoided Ilfracombe and the big climb out. I ķnow you're thinking of camping but we did B&B with luggage transfers. As there were 6 of us the coach return worked out cheaper than the train.
There's a good website with lots of info and a reliable gpx to download. There's quite good signage on the route too. Maybe best to avoid the cycle path sections at weekends if you can as they can get busy.
Simon
I live half way along the coast to coast route and did it over two days with some mates last year. Its a good ride, there are many miles of rolling Devon countryside to trundle through, a few cafes to stop off at on the way, and plenty of relatively quiet cycle trail once you get away from the Taw Estuary, and before you reach Plymouth.
I'd say go for that, none of it is too steep, and if you're doing it over 4 days with stops you'll do fine. Several good campsites along the way, and if you get near where i am next to Dartmoor you could always squeeze in a wild camp off the Ganite Way or Mary Tavy Common section of the trail.
The Devon c2c is a lovely and varied ride, I've done it with a 8 year old, we took 3 days although the second day was v long die to my choice of stops! The middle part around hatherleigh and okehampton is mainly on lanes and rolling countryside so probably the most challenging. A great little adventure and a good way to start touring with the family.