Devon Delight

The Devon Delight as it’s name suggests, takes in some Delightful lanes and scenery around the County of Devon.

Setting out from the market town of Newton Abbot, the route takes in a few flat miles past the famous racecourse, and then climbs steadily for a few miles over the Haldon hills.
A steep descent drops into the Ashcombe valley, where the road gently decends along a quiet valley into the seaside town of Dawlish. From here the route flows the coast and the edge of the river Exe, and around the pretty harbour at Cockwood, and past Brunels famous “Atmospheric Railway” at Starcross.
At Powderham the route heads back inland and then through Exminster and across the top of the Exe Estuary and through a maze of lanes to eventually bring riders to the main refreshement stop at the village of Stoke Canon, where helpers will be busy making teas, coffees, and serving a selection of delicious cakes.
Leaving Stoke Canon, the ride follows the Exe Valley for a while, before rolling over a few gentle hills in to back of the city of Exeter, and then a long steady climb back over the hills of Haldon, through the village of Longdown, aptly named as after this it’s a long downhill run for about ten miles through the beautiful Teign valley, and then the final handful of miles back to Newton Abbot, for cream teas and cakes.
There is a very generous time limit on the Devon Delight, so for someone attempting this sort of distance for the first time you have about 10 hours to complete the 66 mile route, so ample time to make sure you eat, drink, rest if needed, and enjoy the scenery along the way.