We were taking a risk at setting the Pathfinder for September such a distance away and it would entail a round trip of about 140 miles but gosh, it was so worth it. Sheila, Phil Conroy and I had reccy’d the ride a few weeks ago and knew what a treat was in store so didn’t want to change the start point.
Devon lanes are very different to Cornish lanes with regard to the amount of traffic that uses them and up until the lunch stop we saw a total of 7 cars, quite a record I think. We saw none after the lunch stop as we were on the Granite Way all the way back to the start.
Sheila, Don, Clive and I made a weekend of it and went up on Saturday to do a bit more glorious Dartmoor cycling heading off towards the moor and rode a 30+ mile route. We have plenty of longer, and/or hillier rides up our sleeves ready for a Wheelers weekend away next year hopefully. We stayed behind the Highwayman Inn which is a quirky pub serving excellent food. They allow overnight parking and keep a loo open overnight. There is also a campsite along the road.
We started the ride from Sourton Services where parking if free. Ian had ridden up from Tinhay, adding an extra ride of 10 miles each way to his day. Fred, Liz, Damien and Christine had driven up and the four of us were already there so a total of 9 riders. Coffee came first at Devon Cycle hire (once Fred had found us)) before we headed off along the old A30 for a brief downhill to a right hand turn which immediately had us in the quiet lanes. The scenery along the old A30 was a taste of what was to come and with clear blue skies there was nowhere better to be. We rode with good road surface and our only obstacles were the pheasants and pea hens scattering across the road. We stopped for photo opportunities along the way at a couple of churches and view points and took a ride around the drive of a very posh country house and spa which has a really interesting looking gate house along the road. There were a couple of testing hills but it wouldn’t be a Pathfinder without a bit of a climb. The last big climb took us up to the junction that is signposted Lydford. Our lunch stop was the Castle Inn, Lydford, which is handy as it’s next to Lydford Castle. The Castle used to be a prison way back but nowadays was the ideal spot for a picnic for a few families. We found our pre booked table outside under the canopy and enjoyed a delicious lunch. The roast dinners looked amazing but I think we mostly had fish Goujon ciabatta rolls. Somehow Clive got his before I had even ordered it, he says ‘Sorry Ian’.
Refreshed and with the sun beginning to vanish behind the clouds we set off to find the Granite Way which would take us all the way back along the old rail track to the start. The track is well used by families though was a lot quieter than the Camel trail with better surface to ride on. We overshot the finish as we wanted to end the ride with a lovely view so just another mile or so takes you to Meldon Viaduct and if you were to continue for just a short distance you would come to Oakhampton. We turned around and ended the day with more coffee at the Devon Cycle hire and the usual Wheeler banter that takes place before we headed off home our various ways.
A great day out with perfect weather and great company as always.