[Closed] Devon trip

Keypitts Ilfracombe local - never been but understand good for a couple of hours

Exmoor? There's plenty of excellent natural trails to explore around the Lynton/Porlock/Horner wood/Dunkery Beacon area, I guess that's about an hours drive from Barnstaple. There will be stuf on Exmoor closer but I'm not too familiar with the SW part of it.

Or, I reckon you could probably get to the Quantocks in about 1hr 20 if the traffic's good. Plenty around those parts to keep you busy for a few hours!

Haldon forest (Exeter way) has a small trail centre - the blue/red routes are okish for an hours entertainment, but there's supposed to be some good off piste stuff too.

If downhill is more your thing then there's Gawton Gravity hub, probably an hour and a half away.

I'd offer to show you around but I have my folks down this weekend and they are not quite as cool about me disappearing when they've come to visit!

Where are you staying?

Keypitts is fun for a short blast but it's not quite a "proper" trail centre.

Halton has lots off piste if you can find it, the marked routes are fun but probably a grade easier than the colours suggest compared to other trail centres.

To be honest if you are going to drive an hour then exmoor is a better bet. There are a couple of fun routes from the lynton end which is only 50 Mins from Barnstaple. There's one from the valley of the rocks in an old single track (issue sixty something maybe?) it's also in the vertebrate guide book. The doone valley/ Brendon common/ watersmeet bridle way route from the same book is good. Most exmoor routes are 2- 3 hours

The quantocks are brilliant but more like a 90 min drive. That same vertebrate book has a good loop that packs three ace descents in.

Local to Barnstaple there is stuff but it all involves bits of on-road to link. The goodleigh to stoke rivers green lane is good in either direction. Sadly the trails in snapper woods have just gone.

If you fancy seeing the sea there's enough for a couple of hours from Braunton (which is about 15 mins from Barnstaple) over to woolacombe and back. I can email you a gpx if you give me your address.

Either way, bring your climbing legs

+1 Dunkery, Horner, Selworthy etc but it seems a shame to spend two hrs of a short day driving. You could set out early on the bike and just go explorating instead - pump like hell to up the Tarka Trail, check out Braunton Burrows, drink some nice ale in Instow,/enjoy the beach etc, then keep on the Tarka thru Bideford and grab late lunch in Torrington - then return up the trail back to to Barny in the dark,

Personally I'd say just sticking to the tarka trail is a bit of a waste if you bring an mtb. There's better views and some fun sections along the coast. Puffing billy does do a good lunch though

I dunno I'm afraid as it's on the dark side of the moor..

Anywhere north of Exeter's all Yorkshire to me

Another vote for Horner/Dunkery area.

Brendon Common is also worth a look, but Horner Woods would be top of my list for a short-ish blatt and a lot of fun singletrack.

Horner Woods +1

Horner is good (unless you meet grumpy ramblers), shillet wood has a good descent and there's a real fun single track descent from Pitt farm through worthy wood at porlock weir. It's best part of an hour from Barnstaple, depends how much time you've got.

It's all steep climbing though so you can plan on a low average speed, even a short route takes a couple of hours

Haha Yunki. Where are you from? I'm from Lympstone.

Haldon is tame but a fun few hours. Going to be good whatever the weather. It's the safe bet!

Wow so many options, cheers for the advice. I'll do a bit of research into some of them. Sounds like i need to pack my climbing legs whichever i choose

I believe the cottage we are staying at is in Umberleigh

Millbrook Estate?

A little bit of inspiration

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There's a nine mile figure of eight circuit taking in Eggesford & Flashdown woods a bit south of Umberleigh but its nothing technical & very muddy after all the recent rain.
Drop me an email for a couple of 20+ mile loops in that area.