Cycling and Mountain Biking Around Croyde
Croyde and the surrounding area have some great cycling and mountain biking routes. Nearby is the famous Tarka Trail, which is one of the country’s longest continuous traffic-free walking and cycling paths forming part of the Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Route.
AirBnB Experiences
I run a guided cycling tour of the hills of North Devon, following part of the Tour of Britain 2018 route, contact me if you would like to book it.
I also co-host a walking experience which gives a taste of walking the South West Coast Path.
Planning a Cycle Route
Ride with GPS
If you have a bike computer then this is a great online tool for planning a route and then syncing with your device to allow turn by turn navigation.
CycleStreets
“CycleStreets is a UK-wide cycle journey planner system, which lets you plan routes from A to B by bike. It is designed by cyclists, for cyclists, and caters for the needs of both confident and less confident cyclists.”
This is a great online route planning tool, it will take in to account cycle paths and tracks according to your preference , eg speed vs slower but traffic free sections.
Plan your cycle journey in the UK with
CycleStreets!
Printable Maps
If you are cycling in Croyde or North Devon, and don’t have a fancy GPS system available, old fashioned maps can be pretty handy.
Croydecycle
A resident of Croyde has produced a series of maps specifically designed for cyclists and walkers, they can be purchased online, or from Croyde Post Office:
Barnstaple Cycle Map
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B9RK60i4rDByNlluZEZDLWdVR0E
Maps of cycle routes in Devon can be found here.
https://www.cycledevon.info/cycle-routes/
Tarka Cycle Trail
Map, useful contacts, cycle hire shops, train information [pdf 1.7mb]
Cycle Hire
Otter Cycle Hire
The Old Pottery, Station Road, Braunton EX33 2AQ
Phone: 01271 813339
Website
Tarka Trail Cycle Hire
The Railway Station, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX31 2AU
Phone: 01271 324202
www.tarkabikes.co.uk
Example Cycle Routes
Croyde to Mortehoe (22 miles / 35 km)
At the bottom of Watery Lane, or coming down Hobb’s Hill, turn right at Croyde Post Office signposted to Georgeham. Cycle through Georgeham, go past the Lower House pub, and pass the sign for Pickwell. Ignore the signs for Woolacombe, and take a left fork to descend the steep Challacombe Hill into Woolacombe. Take a left at the Red Barn onto the Esplanade, and follow this coastal road up to Mortehoe.
To get back to Croyde, head downhill from Mortehoe, following the coast to Woolacombe. At the first junction in Woolacombe, turn right and head up Challacombe Hill Road.
Take first right, into Marine Drive car park, follow it along the coast and subsequently on to the dirt path, until you emerge on to a road. Take next right, signposted Croyde. Keep following this bendy road, and you will end up back at the Post Office.
When in Mortehoe why not visit The Mortehoe Heritage Centre (based in the Cart Linhay building), Bull Point Lighthouse, or see the grave of William de Tracey in the parish church.
Tarka Trail Circular Route (77 miles / 123 km)
Based on Henry Williamson’s classic novel Tarka the Otter, this circular route along footpaths and cycle paths traces part of the otter’s journey through Exmoor National Park and along the Exmoor and North Devon Heritage Coasts.
