The path alongside the A38 to Ashburton is familiar as a regular meet up place with the Teign Valley Pedal Bashers. After this through Buckfastleigh, Ivybridge and the lanes up to the pretty village of Cornwood .
Dartmoor classic views at Lee Moor, where late tiny lambs wander out onto the tarmac! Then swooping down to cross the river at Shaugh Prior, where the little carpark is busy. We indulge in a "99" from the ice cream van, providing the energy to pull up a tiny steep road, coming out by the rail cycle path from Plympton. A final really steep pull up to Clearbrook, and on to the moor proper. Since our last visit a new tarmac cycle path has been put in alongside Drake's Leat and the golf course, a lovely safe way into Yelverton.
Next the village of Walkhampton and the picturesque old bridge at Huckworthy.
We are avoiding Tavistock, skirting to the east. At Peter Tavy a national cycle route sign tempts us, but turns into a stony steep path across fields. We should have stuck to the road! Gorgeous views now of Brentor church on it's pinnacle ahead as we wind through sleepy Mary Tavy to Lydford. At the Bearslake inn, we eat their last piece of chocolate-cherry flapjack and four packets of crisps, washed down with cold beer.
Behind the pub a track leads up onto the Granite Way,with the easy gradients of an old rail line and fabulous sweeping views, especially from the Meldon viaduct.
There is little traffic in Okehampton, though a bit of a climb out on tired legs, before sweeping all the way back on the old A30 past Whiddon Down, through Tedburn St Mary, and mainly downhill to Ide. Back at Trews Weir, the mileometers register 96 miles.
Location:Dartmoor
