- This topic has 19 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 1 year ago by nedrapier.
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Exmoor 25mile loop – sanity check
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rj2djFree Member
Despite what looks like less than favourable weather conditions, I’m off to Simonsbath, Exmoor with the other half this weekend. We don’t know the area, and I’ve created a route based off half a magazine article – I am hoping someone a bit more familiar with the area could give me some reassurance that
a) we won’t die (because it’s STW, you have to check this…)
b) would be fun to do, even in the rainI have done quite a few wet, but relatively tame lake district rides in the past (eg: Grizedale/Granddad, Dad, Dentist) on a hardtail without much mishap. This time round I’ll be with my other half who is less experienced, but is for example happy to tackle the red at Whinlatter / Swinley etc. Overall fitness isn’t an issue, extremely difficult terrain would be more likely to be the obstacle to a good time.
This is the route I was thinking: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/138133926
Also happy to accept route suggestions if I’m going close by to something that would be much better over a similar distance.
theotherjonvFull MemberI’m not an Exmoor expert by any means but it’s the toughest riding I’ve ever done. 35 mile loop took all day and nearly broke me, and that was the year I’d done a 12 hour Gorrick solo the month before. Even the flat riding was up and over rocks, picking lines, steps, etc.
Way harder than Swinley red, some proper rocky descents. IDK Whinlatter.
ampthillFull MemberI’ve not done that route or much riding on Exmoor
But I road north from Simons bar once with 2 teenagers. It wasn’t crazy hard but it was slow going . The trouble is that it’s just so different to a trail centre. Your route has a fair amount of road which counts in its favour. On the other hand it’s steep in places in a way that a trail centre would never be
At least that’s a bump for a better answer
zerocoolFull MemberEvery time I’ve ridden on Exmoor it reminds me just how bloody steep Exmoor is!!!
Good luckmontgomeryFree MemberYou’ll be fine. Exmoor is fantastic. As a northerner who lived in the Lakes for a decade, and thought things got shitter the further south you went, a few years living in Somerset was an eye opener. I’d still be there if things had worked out differently. I was in the Porlock area on the bike almost exactly a year ago; the colours and trail conditions were perfect….
dropoffFull MemberYour propoed route potentially hs a couple of issues, the downhill after the A39 is known locally as the pheasant pens and its most likely there will be a shoot going on at some time during the day. They dont take kindly to being disturbed. Also your chosen route out of Porlock via Doverhay is the steepest possible and goes through an area which was de forested last autumn and is still hard work to ride thru and will be very heavy going after the rain weve had.
montgomeryFree Memberthe downhill after the A39 is known locally as the pheasant pens and its most likely there will be a shoot going on at some time during the day. They dont take kindly to being disturbed.
**** ’em, it’s a public right of way. However, having now looked closer at the route (and assuming it’s being done as a clockwise lollipop, I can’t tell from the gpx imported into the OS app), it’s an odd choice of tracks, and too much tarmac for me given the off-road available in the same area.
mrwhyteFree MemberYou’re missing out a lovely bit of trail from Simonsbath down along the Barle, past Cow Castle.
dropoffFull MemberIf you take the right fork off the Exford road and head straight towards Porlock hill after 100 yds in the bottom of the dip you’ll find yourself at Hawkcombe Head, the top of a very nice downhill that will take you straight into Porlock.
rj2djFree MemberThanks for the replies, it sounds like other than being shot at and having to rocl-climb out of Porlock the route is perfect!
The plan was a clockwise lollipop, only because we’re staying in Simonsbath and wanted to ride from the door. We could easily drive somewhere to start with if that would be better.
If the trail south-east from Simonsbath is really good, perhaps I need to completely re-think the route and not take in Porlock at all? Does anyone have a route they could share that has less howling errors in it?
rj2djFree MemberIf you take the right fork off the Exford road and head straight towards Porlock hill after 100 yds in the bottom of the dip you’ll find yourself at Hawkcombe Head, the top of a very nice downhill that will take you straight into Porlock.
Thank you!
jonostevensFree MemberIf you want to ride from Simonsbath I’d head over to Hawkcombe Head as suggested and drop into Porlock. This trail is ace, and if you head up the steep trail to the left after the gate at the bottom of Hawkcombe, there is another ace trail that drops you into Porlock. There are cafe and pub options here, or you could ride half way up the toll road and take the Worthy Wood zig zags down to Porlock Weir. Cafe and pubs here, as well as the lovely Ziangs on the Weir. A thai half way round is not as mad as it sounds, honestly!
Other option would be to head over to Dunkery (highest point on Exmoor, second highest in southern England), and drop off there to the east on the MacMillan Way, and then head back up to Webbers Post and drop a trail into Horner for lunch.
If you’re not wedded to riding from Simonsbath, it would be worth driving to Horner in the car and starting from there. More than happy to share a gpx with you from my Strava, but yes, it is hilly. 26 miles from Horner will see you clear 5,000ft of climbing, but there are options to do a lot of the climbing on the road and back lanes, which does make it easier.
Exmoor is brill.
mrwhyteFree MemberFrom Withypool up to Dunkery then over to Horner woods. Lots of trails over there.
I cannot access my old gpx files at the moment so cannot find the exact route I have taken. But I am sure others will have more info. Last time I rode up there was just over a year ago.dropoffFull MemberI think given you say that youd like to avoid anything too technical then (in order to avoid alot of road) I’d take you out to Badgworthy water and down the Doone valley to Malmsmead then up to Hawkcombe head and into Porlock, then over and up to Webbers post and around Dickies path onto Dunkery and then back onto your route to join wellshead lane at the cattlegrid. Would be a bit more picturesque and rolling, although still plenty of climbing on the way back.
oldfartFull MemberNo tea rooms open in Horner this time of year . My favourite starts at Dunster over Wooton Common traverse Dunkery to Webber’s Post Stoke Pero Horner Selworthy Beacon and a cracking descent down North Hill into Minehead . It’s less than 25 miles but you’ll know you’ve done it come the end .
phil56Full MemberYou’re missing out a lovely bit of trail from Simonsbath down along the Barle, past Cow Castle.
Does anyone have a route they could share that has less howling errors in it?
sboardmanFull MemberI’d second the descent off Dunkery to the MacMillan way; superb bit of track.
Not sure if it’s open over the winter season but the Withypool tea rooms does the best sweet or savoury cream tea in my humble opinion.
rj2djFree MemberI’ve ridden this a few times – great little route
Thank you – I’ve saved that route, if we’re after a shorter one because of rubbish weather that’s going to be a winner!
I’d take you out to Badgworthy water and down the Doone valley to Malmsmead then up to Hawkcombe head and into Porlock, then over and up to Webbers post and around Dickies path onto Dunkery and then back onto your route to join wellshead lane at the cattlegrid.
Brilliant thanks, have revised route accordingly.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/138139277nedrapierFull MemberThat wide loop is better than the lollipop route for chopping bits off you’re running slower/later than you need/want.
Always nice to have options if you’re not 100% sure what you’re getting yourselves into!
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