Cycling in Devon and Cornwall - 6 Day Guided

What You'll Do

Explore Devon and Cornwall on two wheels, getting far off the beaten track with a local guide who will show you the most beautiful cycling routes and stunning landscapes, the cosiest pubs and most fascinating landmarks, the most characterful towns and authentic food spots, and then bring them all to life with that invaluable local knowledge.

This 6-day 5-night tour is designed to immerse you in South England’s stunning countryside, and a bit of it’s history and culture. It’s an ideal tour for those who want to get escape to the great outdoors, as our routes contain off-road tracks and converted rail to trail paths, perfect for those who want to bike at a leisurely pace without distractions.

You’ll travel through the stunning Dartmoor National Park, down into Poldark country, along mineral tramways, and into historic ports and coastal villages. Cycle along the coast and visit some of Devon and Cornwall’s most incredible sites, including the famous seaside town of St Ives, the seafood havens of Padstow and Mevagissey, and Port Isaac, home to Doc Martin!

With incredible views around every corner, excellent accommodation every night, wonderful pubs and delicious local cuisine, we can guarantee an experience you won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

Experience
Highlights

Cycle miles of stunning coastal path and drink in stunning scenery from Dartmoor to St Ives

Visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a quirky botanical masterpiece and a true gem of Cornwall

Opportunity to swim along Carbis Bay where the local seals are often spotted

Experience Itinerary

Arrive in Devon

The tour starts at Exeter Railway Station. You’ll jump on the bus to travel to Lydford for lunch in Dartmoor National Park. You begin your cycle ride along the stunning Granite Way, a mostly traffic-free trail with stunning views over Dartmoor and the surrounding countryside.

Look out for the spectacular Meldon Viaduct! There is the option to stop off for coffee at the Finch Foundry near Okehampton, a 19th Century water-powered forge, one of the last examples in England.

This mostly flat route is the perfect start to your tour, cycling right to the doors of your hotel, the Three Crowns, in Chagford, for a group dinner in this beautiful thatched building.

Accommodation

The Three Crowns

country hotel exterior

Discover Dartmoor

Today, you’ll cycle through the National Park towards Moretonhampstead and Bovey Tracey, known as the Gateway to Dartmoor. Heading uphill to the heart of Dartmoor you reach Hound Tor and Great Tor, with views over the atmospheric remains of an isolated and abandoned village.

You’ll also see up to Hay Tor, the most famous granite formation in Dartmoor. Dropping down towards Bovey Tracey you stop for lunch at the Home Farm Café, with some great riverside walks for those wishing for an afternoon out of the saddle.

In the afternoon you join the Ray Valley Trail, in the footsteps of Devon’s Victorian railway builders, which leads you through a maze of tiny quiet countryside roads with spectacular views of the mountainous South Devon area.

There is an option (seasonal) instead of cycling this afternoon to swim in the heated, open-air Chagford Lido, fed by the River Teign. You return to the pretty Dartmoor village of Chagford for dinner in the evening.

Accommodation

The Three Crowns

hotel bedroom in devon

Lobster Lunch and Lost Gardens

After a transfer South into Cornwall, you’ll set off on your bikes from Bodmin, along a cycle trail that heads inland, past the wonderful Lanhydrock gardens and towards the Roseland Peninsula and the iconic Cornish seaside town of Mevagissey.

Enjoy lunch in an amazing lobster-focused restaurant, then in the afternoon, bike to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a quirky botanical masterpiece and a true gem of Cornwall, which lay undiscovered for decades!

Finish the day by riding or taking the support vehicle to your stunning hotel, the Plume of Feathers in Mitchell.

Accommodation

The Plume of Feathers

hotel bedroom in cornwall

Spectacular St Ives

In the morning, ride out from the hotel to the intricate tramways of Cornwall’s tin mines, and on to reach the jewel in Cornwall’s crown, St Ives.

Best known for its spectacular light and as a haven for painters over the last few hundred years, you’ll take the train for the last few miles into the heart of this harbour town, consistently voted one of the best train journeys in Britain.

While on the coast, why not take a dip and swim along Carbis Bay! Look out for seals, regularly spotted perusing this coastline and, with their natural curiosity, happily floating alongside swimmers.

Lunch is taken at one of the wonderful seafood cafes, and you’ll have plenty of time to walk around and visit the Tate St Ives or Barbara Hepworth’s Sculpture Garden, before returning to the Plume of Feathers hotel for the evening.

Accommodation

The Plume of Feathers

hotel bedroom in cornwall

The Camel Trail and Classic Cuisine

Today, arrive at Bodmin where you will join the off-road, traffic-free Camel Trail, a 25-mile flat ride, which hugs the Camel estuary and finishes in the foody heaven that is the quaint town of Padstow.

Here, you’ll stop for lunch at Rick Stein’s famous fish and chip shop. After catching the ferry over the Camel to Rock, you visit the archetypal Cornish village of Port Isaac, before heading along the bay to Port Gaverne and your accommodation for the night.

Accommodation

Port Gaverne Hotel

hotel exterior by the sea

Departure Day

There is no cycling on the last day. After a relaxed breakfast in your hotel, which looks out to the sea and its little cove beach, your guide will take you to Bodmin Parkway station for your onward travel home.

Location Information

The tour begins at Exeter Train Station, where you’ll be met by your guide and taken on a minibus to Dartmoor National Park, where your adventure will begin.

You’ll cycle and travel all over Devon and Cornwall, heading from Devon and your base of Chagford, all the way down to St Ives and your final accommodation in Port Gaverne.

Along the way you’ll visit some of the most spectacular sights in the region, as well as some local hidden gems, and you’ll be travelling via a combination of bike and transfer vehicle.

The tour ends in Bodmin, where direct trains are available from Bodmin Parkway Station to London.

FAQs

This tour is rated 2/5 for difficulty, meaning it’s appropriate for guests going for a good ride and can handle an incline or two. The terrain you will cover is varied. You’ll enjoy some gently rolling hills, with wonderful downhills and a few climbs which will be a bit more demanding.

Your holiday, however, will be tailored by your guide to suit your individual preferences. Rewarding views are guaranteed. Daily distances range from 10-40 miles and options for shorter or longer rides are available on all days.