We're on holiday in Slapton Sands (south of Dartmouth, north of Salcombe) in a couple of weeks.
Looking on Strava heatmaps, there doesn't seem to be anything locally ridden, either MTB or Gravel.
Anyone local know if there actually is anything to ride down there (maybe it's just not popular enough to generate any 'heat' on heatmaps ... he says hopefully)
I've a HT, gravel or FS bike I can take, depending on what's there.
I don't believe there are many roads around there let alone anything else as historically there was no need for there to be
Been down that area recently. A few bridleways and tracks about but not much that won’t also involve road. Lots of narrow - very narrow! - lanes with 12ft hedges. I was glad I didn’t take the bike, went running instead.
So, what about the south-west coastal path. I know it's footpath, and frowned upon in some places, but I'd be riding early and obeying rule#1 (if the trail is rideable/worth it).
Good luck with the coast path, it is steep as hell towards Dartmouth and not great in the other direction. It won't flow at all. Avoid.
There's some trails around Dartmouth towards Totnes but the area is mainly tight lanes and the bridleways will be an overgrown mess. Lot's of good road riding if you don't mind steep hills.
We rode some of the coastal path in Dorset, walkers didn't seem to mind, as we were nice. Some of it pretty steep, even on eBikes. And the big problem ebiking it was the gates! But some of it is legal and nice to ride for shore. (Shore! Geddit?)
We rode some of the coastal path in Dorset, walkers didn't seem to mind
Yeah, I know from following @jimmy748 on here and on Strava (since I made a similar request a few years ago about Dorset riding) that there's some great stuff on the coastal path in places ... And I've had good success elsewhere in Cornwall and north Devon. But, it's a bit hit & miss in riding terms, and from what @findusomally up there says, doesn't sound like it's worth it where we'll be going this year.
Sounds like it's best to bring my running shoes, and maybe the gravel bike ...
If you're prepared to load the car there's plenty on Dartmoor or haldon. Post here and I'm sure someone would guide if you wanted that.
If you're prepared to load the car there's plenty on Dartmoor or haldon. Post here and I'm sure someone would guide if you wanted that.
Not a bad shout. I've seen there's stuff north of Plymouth, and then some other MTB activity near Bovey Tracey, both about an hour from where we're staying. If anything new got any 2 hour gravel / trail loops that might be good
Head to Bovey Tracey and onto Dartmoor, local input / GPX will get the best bang for buck.
There's really no MTBing at all round that part of Devon.
As others have said - Dartmoor or Haldon are both within a shortish drive. Haldon marked trails are pretty poor, but off-piste is excellent (though a fair amount was shut recently due to felling).
Otherwise use the gravel bike and ride the miles of gravelly back roads around the South Hams. It's all pretty steep, but good riding.
