Sarah has recently been given regular work commitments in the south-west. We had therefore taken the opportunity to combine this work trip to Newton Abbot by also popping over to Bournemouth to see my brother. And yesterday we had enjoyed a day out in Winchester. Today, however, Sarah was working, so I took the chance to get out on my bike. I decided to cycle over to Exeter.

The Passage House Inn, where we were staying, overlooks the Hackney Channel, which flows into the River Teigh, and I began my cycle ride by following the path that runs alongside it.

This path is part of the Templer Way, an eighteen-mile path from Teignmouth to Dartmoor.

It was a muddy beginning. Thankfully, the path quickly improved.

I then turned on to National Cycle Route 2 and skirted the edge of Newton Abbot.

Past the racecourse.

At the town quay, I joined National Cycle Network route 28 and headed in the direction of Bovey Tracey.

A section of this route is called the Stover Trail (and also forms a section of the Templer Way).

The route took me over the busy A38.

In Bovey Tracey, I cycled through Mill Marsh Park, where I spent some time talking to a local. He had spotted me taking photos of the colourful benches.

When cycling through Bovey Tracey I had also joined a section of the Dartmoor Way and we entered Dartmoor National Park.

Next, the path briefly enters the National Trust’s Parke.

So far the route had been relatively flat. However, as I turned eastwards towards Slade Cross the climbing started.

I cycled past Trenchford and Tottiford reservoirs.

It had been intermittently raining all morning, and unfortunately, I realised my brakes weren’t working great as the sharp climbs were accompanied with sharp downhills down the narrow lanes of Devon. I decided it better to get off and walk down some of them.

I made slow progress. However, after cycling through Christow and Ide I eventually arrived in Exeter.

I passed by the remains of the medieval Exe Bridge.

I had thought about taking time out and visiting Exeter Cathedral.

However, have made slow progress so far, decided to settle for lunch at the Cathedral Cafe. Usually, I rave about the food at cathedral cafe’s, but to-be-honest, the soup and sandwich here were decidedly average.

After lunch, I headed for The Quay, crossed over Cricklepit Bridge, and joined the Exe Estuary Trail, the first section of which is NCN Route 34, as I made my way out of Exeter.

This took me through Riverside Valley Park.

This soon became NCN Route 2. This long stretch along the coast was a welcome flat and fast section following on from the hills before lunch.

Along the way, I cycled through Statcross.

Before eventually arriving at Dawlish.

Leaving Dawlish, there began the second section of climbing.

The route took me away from the coast up Oak Hill and over Holcombe Down.

Finally, there was a sharp drop down back into Kingsteignton (involving more walking down some sections rather than cycling) where technically the Inn is located.

There was a muddy final off-road section to finish. I had cycled over 42 miles and climbed over 3600 feet. With most of the climbing condensed into two taxing sections, and the downhills made tougher due to the poor condition of my brakes, I arrived back extremely tired. I enjoyed the ride, but would quite like to have another go with suitable brakes to be able to fully appreciate the route.