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Thanks to Snaps for his trail maps of Exmoor. From it and my OS I was able to pick some choice trails to make up an exploratory route encompassing Selworthy and Horner areas. Didn't quite make it out to Hawkcombe this time but there's so much great choice in Horner Combe it didn't matter.
I have to comment that the quality and number of trails around there is superb, varying from wide fast and rocky to steep, narrow and rooty. Some the climbs were unexpectedly evil though and there was some pushing going on!
Rough route:
North Hill to Selworthy Beacon for a view over the sea
Cheeky "on-the-edge path" down to Bossington Green
To Horner and then to west to pickup the end of the Dunkery Path
Dunkery path to Webber's Post
Down the ridge to Horner
Up Horner Combe, Granny's Ride, Lord Whatsist Path to Ley Hill
Looped back on Granny's Ride and then some other path down to Horner
To Selworthy for cake then back up to North Hill
BTW. We were also impressed by the cake collection at Selworthy's NT tea-room.
some nice climbing done there ...
The first part of Granny's Ride climb was amusing as it's wide, rocky, but rather steep. In my smallest gear and with the saddle-end in my bumhole I ran out of legs about 50 metres short of the first intersection. Dismounting was easiest done by seated trackstanding, unclipping and allowing the bike wheely so I could slide off the back!
I considered it a "good effort".
The weather was typical April "Gibolet": strong winds with spells of warm sunshine punctuated by abrupt hail/rain storms.
Ah yes, the Granny's Ride climb up Lord Wassisnames Path, fairly steep and then gets narrow with some roots, know it well 🙂
Nice route, I used to ride all those areas regularly - then I had to move to "mountainous" Essex with work, and it sucks ass !!!!!!!
Glad you had a good'un, I'd have joined you but was diaryed out on the 25th - after buying tickets for the Exeter Chiefs final home rugby game of the season (read good all day pi$$ up) I then realised that the STW Purbecks ride changed to that date, then I get a call asking if I was going to the Somerset stages rally (haven't missed it for 5 years now)
How many miles was your route in total?
[i]"How many miles was your route in total?"[/i]
I dunno really, I'm not a stats kinda guy! When I looked at your suggested route, I didn't fancy riding over Wootton Common but I was hoping to descend Hawkcombe into Porlock. But our legs were fading by Ley Hill then and we were looking at our watches so I decided to descend back to Horner and then head back to North Hill.
Very enjoyable area and lots more to explore - like the Q's there looked to be juicy trails going everywhere.
Yes, Hawkcombe decent is a must do in that area - not a bad climb either really.
This decent from Webbers post to Horner is also superb & techy with an huge amount of roots to navigate (you might have done it)
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=289824&y=144669&z=120&sv=289824,144669&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=742&ax=289824&ay=144669&lm=0
Yep, I'm quite certain that was it. It was good with fast bits that led into steeper, rooty rutted bits and loose rocks.
Hurrah for Exmoor!
Hawkcombe - I remember that one. I hit one of the stream crossings flat out, the bike disappeared from beneath me. I flew over a small waterfall and bounced on my arse on, fortunately, the only flat rock amongst lots of very pointy ones, completely winding myself. I ended up on hands and knees in the pool with the peak of my helmet in the waterfall, unable to move or breath for a few moments.
Highly recommended - the trail, not the crash ;o)
40mpg u gonna go for a repeat this weekend?
Was that horner corner to dunster path?
and the 'on the edge path' is a bit bonkers, knottie will confirm my enjoyment of it.....lol.
Glad you liked, i went to Lynmouth yesterday and forgot just how vast and steep alot of the moor is...