I was wondering if anyone had experience of travelling to-and-from the Devon-Coast-to-Coast by train. Some friends and I are thinking of doing it and wondered how others have handled the start.
The start of the route is Ilfracombe, but the nearest station is 20 miles away (Barnstaple) albeit on the route. If you take a more direct route to Ilfracombe it cuts it down to 13 miles. Is this shorter route reasonably cycle-friendly, or is it better to stick to the official route (and get a bit bored by having to do it twice :-)
Are there any other cunning options that people have discovered (buses which take bikes, teleporters, that kind of thing)
I was wondering if anyone had experience of travelling to-and-from the Devon-Coast-to-Coast by train. Some friends and I are thinking of doing it and wondered how others have handled the start.
The start of the route is Ilfracombe, but the nearest station is 20 miles away (Barnstaple) albeit on the route. If you take a more direct route to Ilfracombe it cuts it down to 13 miles. Is this shorter route reasonably cycle-friendly, or is it better to stick to the official route (and get a bit bored by having to do it twice :-)
Are there any other cunning options that people have discovered (buses which take bikes, teleporters, that kind of thing)
Many thanks in advance,
Matt
I haven't cycled the roads but I do know them quite well.... which if the direct route you're thinking of? (If it's the B3230 through Muddiford then I'd steer clear due to the narrowness of the upper windy bits coupled with the traffic you can enounter....)
You could always go down the Tarka trail to Braunton then head up the lanes to West Down then on to Ilfracombe....
I was wondering if anyone had experience of travelling to-and-from the Devon-Coast-to-Coast by train. Some friends and I are thinking of doing it and wondered how others have handled the start.
The start of the route is Ilfracombe, but the nearest station is 20 miles away (Barnstaple) albeit on the route. If you take a more direct route to Ilfracombe it cuts it down to 13 miles. Is this shorter route reasonably cycle-friendly, or is it better to stick to the official route (and get a bit bored by having to do it twice :-)
Are there any other cunning options that people have discovered (buses which take bikes, teleporters, that kind of thing)
Many thanks in advance,
Matt
I haven't cycled the roads but I do know them quite well.... which if the direct route you're thinking of? (If it's the B3230 through Muddiford then I'd steer clear due to the narrowness of the upper windy bits coupled with the traffic you can enounter....)
You could always go down the Tarka trail to Braunton then head up the lanes to West Down then on to Ilfracombe....
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Or just take the lanes pretty much directly from Barnstaple all the way, of course....
I was wondering if anyone had experience of travelling to-and-from the Devon-Coast-to-Coast by train. Some friends and I are thinking of doing it and wondered how others have handled the start.
Quoted message said:
The start of the route is Ilfracombe, but the nearest station is 20 miles away (Barnstaple) albeit on the route. If you take a more direct route to Ilfracombe it cuts it down to 13 miles. Is this shorter route reasonably cycle-friendly, or is it better to stick to the official route (and get a bit bored by having to do it twice :-)
Quoted message said:
Are there any other cunning options that people have discovered (buses which take bikes, teleporters, that kind of thing)
Quoted message said:
Many thanks in advance,
Quoted message said:
Matt
I haven't cycled the roads but I do know them quite well.... which if the direct route you're thinking of? (If it's the B3230 through Muddiford then I'd steer clear due to the narrowness of the upper windy bits coupled with the traffic you can enounter....)
You could always go down the Tarka trail to Braunton then head up the lanes to West Down then on to Ilfracombe....
Thanks very much for that. I don't have the details to hand, but will have a look tonight. The route through Braunton sounds like it might be useful.
I was wondering if anyone had experience of travelling to-and-from the Devon-Coast-to-Coast by train. Some friends and I are thinking of doing it and wondered how others have handled the start.
Quoted message said:
The start of the route is Ilfracombe, but the nearest station is 20 miles away (Barnstaple) albeit on the route. If you take a more direct route to Ilfracombe it cuts it down to 13 miles. Is this shorter route reasonably cycle-friendly, or is it better to stick to the official route (and get a bit bored by having to do it twice :-)
Quoted message said:
Are there any other cunning options that people have discovered (buses which take bikes, teleporters, that kind of thing)
Quoted message said:
Many thanks in advance,
Quoted message said:
Matt
I haven't cycled the roads but I do know them quite well.... which if the direct route you're thinking of? (If it's the B3230 through Muddiford then I'd steer clear due to the narrowness of the upper windy bits coupled with the traffic you can enounter....)
You could always go down the Tarka trail to Braunton then head up the lanes to West Down then on to Ilfracombe....
Thanks very much for that. I don't have the details to hand, but will have a look tonight. The route through Braunton sounds like it might be useful.
It's not direct, but the stretch by the estuary can be stunning if the weather is right!
Actually, just checked on sustrans - that stretch is part of the official route, and the way I mentioned looks like part of a proposed future route. The return journey to Barnstaple will take you through some stunning scenery BTW - plenty of photo opportunities at the top of climbs!
