Bantham, South Devon, South Dartmoor. Routes, things to do?

Hi there,

Wife and I are off tomorrow for a week in Bantham. Got a very cheap week in a holiday place, but know nothing about the area. Looks fairly sparse in terms of bridleways from the OS map.

Anyone spent much time in that area, got any hints and tips for where to ride and things to do?

Cheers!

Its really not a cycling area. We go regularly and don’t bother to take bikes, unless you fancy a drive to Dartmoor or Haldon. There are few tracks but nothing special and the roads aren’t nice for bikes. Its all about the water. Bantham beach is nice. Go for a walk on Burgh Island (watch the tide times), good place to kayak too. Swimming in or out with the tide in the estuary is a must, better in a wetsuit. The coast path is nice for a walk pretty much all around. Hope Cove to Salcombe is a nice stretch.

Visit Tor Cross and learn its WW2 history, grab fish & chips at the Start Bay pub or a latte at the sea breeze.

One of my favorites is Lanacombe beach. Soar Mill Cove is nice too.

Hire a pukka wet suit and body board at Bantham.

I’d agree it’s not a place to take bikes unless you’re prepared to drive for an hour or so.
At this time of year, I’d think you would definitely need a wetsuit for swimming/surfing, though I’ve never been there in October/November – many years of summer holidays, though, and wetsuits were a good idea even then…
Lots of walking, especially the coast path.
I’m not sure whether the cross-river ferry will be running at this time of year – do you have access to a boat? If not, it’s another longish drive to Bigbury/Burgh Island.
(Nickjb – do our families know each other? We used to stay in Mayflower Cottage for many years…)

Dartmoor is worth the trek with a bike if your there for a week, around Lustleigh Cleeve is the spot to head for, park in lay by outside of Bovey Tracey, ask on here for more local route info.

Nickjb – do our families know each other? We used to stay in Mayflower Cottage for many years..

Probably not me but I go with the Kain family who are regulars usually staying in Old Shop Cottage which I think is owned someone in the Turnbull family who are Bantham stalwarts.

Cheers all,

Wife has a new bike so we’re definitely going riding! I found some stuff on Dartmoor riding on other threads here (Bovey Tracey and LC) so I already thought we might be in for a drive to ride. Don’t know whether to take the PA or the CX/monstercross type thing.

Another dead cert is the wetsuit and surfboard are going in the car. We’re close to the river so I’d already wondered whether I might be able to swap a walk to the surf for a well-timed float!

Cheers for the pointers on extra curicular activities, any more hints, tips and facts gratefully received!

Nickjb – is that the Kains who run/ran the Dittisham fruit farm? I spent a lot of time with them and some of the Turnbull clan when we were younger…

I would say “Small world”, but Bantham is a bit like that at the best of times!

Nedrapier – it may have been my family being paranoid, but we were only ever allowed to float up the river after surfing, not down; I think the tides were considered a bit dicey for that option. I’m not sure how true it was, but we were taught that the best surf was on the incoming tide anyway (though my memory may be wrong, as it’s a long time since I was down there.)

haldon is a wee drive away and has some great riding both offical and off piste, Cann woods in Plympton is 25mins away too and worth a ride around.

bantham surf best around low tide, gets very very crowded all year in the water.

walk to hope cove and drink beer.

enjoy your stay whatever the weather.

but we were taught that the best surf was on the incoming tide anyway (though my memory may be wrong, as it’s a long time since I was down there.)

Has been the case when I’ve been there recently.

V jealous, one of my favourite parts of the world.

We took bikes, they stayed at the house apart from a break at Haldon on the way down.. the roads are a bit dicey, no way would I let the kids cycle on them and there aren’t many bridleways in the Hams themselves.

That said Dartmoor won’t take long this time of year if you cut up through Loddiscombe / California Cross. Haldon is a good bet for a night ride thats easily navigable (I train down that way sometimes, and get a bit nervous night riding alone on Dartmoor, the consequences could be bad)

If you fancy a change, the DartRock climbing center is open after dark and good fun.

Overbecks in Salcombe worth a visit.

There are a fair few bridleways the other side of Salcombe Estuary around East Prawle / East Portlemouth – but a bit of a drive (although you can get ferry across estuary from Salcombe itself

we tend to take road bikes…..