Goldeneye Exmoor & North Devon: Cycling Country Lanes & Traffic-Free Family Routes

This Map covers the Exmoor National Park and North Devon; an area with a wide variety of coastal and inland scenery, much historic, architectural and leisure interests. The Exmoor National Park is largely in Somerset, with a small portion lying in Devon. At times the climate is harsh with mist, cloud and rain, and is reminiscent of Scotland. When the skies clear, the wild, wide beauty is unsurpassed. The landscape is undulating, full of rolling hills, marshland, bracken, heather and gorse, and divided by swift flowing streams which cut through the steep-sided valleys, known as combes. The rolling moorland provides splendid views seawards across the Bristol Channel to Wales. In places the coast is crowned with high cliffs falling precipitously to the sea.  The Exmoor sheep and wild ponies are seen everywhere, as can be found buzzard and raven. The roaming red deer is rarely seen close to, they feed at night and by day lie hidden in the woods or bracken. North Devon is a rural landscape of small villages, rich pastures, secluded coves and long sandy beaches popular with the surfing fraternity. The two ancient ports of Barnstaple and Bideford have grown beside the wide estuary of the Taw and Torridge rivers. Stretching southwards from these ports is the gentle pastoral countryside known as 'The Land of the Two Rivers' so vividly brought to life in the works of Henry Williamson. The warm equable climate, together with the nature of the countryside provides excellent recreational opportunities, particularly for the cyclist and mountain biker, walker, horseman, fisherman and surfer. The area also contains a sufficient variety of cultural and urban interests to satisfy all tastes. So, if you seek quiet country lanes, river valleys and routes along flat ridges affording spectacular sea views that swoop down to picturesque villages with tearooms awash with clotted cream, and hospitable country inns. Look no more. It is all here.   Happy Cycling, Al ChurcherRecommended Routes/TrailsNational Cycle Network (NCN) & Regional RoutesThis comprises three Regional Routes (RR) and is bounded by the National Cycle Network Route (NCN) 3 to the south, and the NCN 27 to the west. 1. Regional Route 56: This is a link between NCN 3 at Bratton Fleming and RR 51 at Berrynarbor. (J4) 2. RR 51: Links coastal towns and villages; Ilfracombe - Combe  Martin – Trentishoe – Martinhoe – Lynmouth – Malmsmead. (G2) 3. RR 59: Links Exmoor with the coast; Kinsford Gate – Simonsbath – Lynmouth. (K4)4. NCN 27 Devon Coast to Coast: Ilfracombe – Mortehoe – Woolacombe – Croyde – Upcott – Braunton – Barnstaple, then onto the NCN 27 towards Dartmoor and Plymouth. (F2) 5. NCN 3 The West Country Way; Bristol – Padstow via Exmoor, Barnstaple, Instow (Tarka Trail to Petrockstow). (G9) Traffic-Free Family Routes/Trails1. The Tarka Cycle Trail (part of NCN 3 & 27) runs on tarmac from Braunton – Barnstaple, then beside the Taw Estuary to Instow, up beside the River Torridge to the Puffing Billy pub below Torrington. Crossing the river to Watergate Bridge, the trails joins a bridlepath and is cycleable on a hybrid, touring and folding bike all the way to Meeth. Excellent café at Yard - Railway summit (F8). Distance 32 miles/51kms - all traffic-free. (F4) 2. Ilfracombe to Willingcott Cross. Easy family trail along former railway line with waymarked links to Woolacombe. Distance 3 miles/5kms. (F2) 3. Grand Western Canal (NCN 3). Quiet, family cycling trail along canal path, to and from Tiverton. Distance 8 miles/13kms. (P8) 4. Willand to Tiverton Parkway. With link to NCN 3, this is a flat, traffic-free path. Also links up with the Grand Western Canal at Sampford Peverell. Distance 3 miles/5kms. (R8) 

Goldeneye Cornwall: Cycling Country Lanes & Traffic-free Family Routes

Cornwall is one of England’s most rural counties and these twenty-one circular routes have been chosen to explore the best of the quiet lanes linking its many interesting & picturesque villages, harbours & market towns. Although short sections of busier roads have sometimes had to be used to complete a circuit even the quietest lanes can be busy for short periods, as local people travel to & from work & school. To avoid sending cars along the very roads you are going to cycle, these routes have been designed, in the main, to begin at towns or villages, close to major roads, or from railway stations. Most inland routes tend to be reasonably easy going, but be prepared for short, steep climbs, in and out of coastal valleys & bays. This is often via narrow sunken lanes & these take a little getting used to, so always be ready for the possibility of meeting vehicles on descents. This is particularly true during the 6 summer weeks when sections of the narrowest coastal lanes can become completely snarled up by a few cars. For maximum enjoyment at this time of year, coastal sections are best ridden in the early morning, or in some cases, avoided by using inland variants. Happy Cycling, Al Churcher

Goldeneye Cotswold: Cycling Country Lanes & Traffic-Free Family Routes

The Cotswolds are ideal for the touring cyclist. They represent England at her very best. Long, windy lanes connect beautiful villages with excellent pubs and friendly tearooms. The landscape you cycle through is rich in imagery; rolling, “galloping country”, dry-stone walls dividing vast, sweeping sheep pastures, lazy trickling trout streams and quaint hamlets undisturbed by coach, sightseer or time.  The landscape undulates, and as you reach the top of a little hill, you will rest and peer down a valley where evidence of local craftsmanship is ever present in the shape of tithe barns, churches, farms and cottages.   The twenty-eight circular routes are designed to follow the quietest country lanes and to introduce you to the best of the Cotswolds. They are only an introduction. The purists may prefer to pursue their own course. They will, we hope, enjoy and appreciate the clarity of our mapping. So free the spirit for the joy of the open road…and enjoy the Cotswolds…. Happy Cycling, Bill Trelawney Recommended Routes/Trails National Cycle Network (NCN) 1. NCN Route 5. Stratford-upon-Avon – Banbury – Oxford. The Traffic-Free sections run along the Oxford Waterway (see below), from Oxford to Woodstock and northwards, and a couple of short sections from Bodicote, south of Banbury (see map reference Q1). 2. NCN Route 41. Gloucester & Sharpness Canal – Bristol. The Traffic-Free section runs between Frampton-on-Severn and Slimbridge for about 6km/4 miles. 3. NCN Route 45. Gloucester – Salisbury via Stroud, Cirencester & Swindon. There remain gaps in the route. The Traffic-Free sections runs between South Cerney and Cricklade for about 10km/7 miles.  4. NCN Route 48. Northleach - Cirencester. 5. Regional Route 57. Northleach – Witney.  The Traffic-Free section runs between Minster Lovell and Witney for about 5km/3 miles. Traffic-Free Family Routes/Trails 1. Stroud Valley Cycle Trail. 15km/9.5miles. Former railway track along the Nailsworth Valley.  Start at Kings Stanley car park, cross A46, to Dudbridge Roundabout and follow trail to Egypt Mill. (D8) 2. The Oxford Waterway. 15km/9.5miles. Trail along canal towpath. Best started from Wolvercote car park. Suggest you first head north towards Duke’s Lock, Kidlington Green Lock, Roundham Lock and the Jolly Boatman Inn, then onto Thrupp. Return to Wolvercote, and south to Oxford City Centre. (R7) 3. Forest of Dean Family Trail. 15km/9miles.  Former mining tracks now converted into a web of criss-crossing biking trails. This circular route starts from Pedalabikeaway – Drybrook Road – Dilke Hospital – Blackpool Brook – Burnt Log – Connop Wharf with off-shoot trail to Coleford via Parkend. The routes are waymarked. A detailed map is available from the bike hire hut. Refreshments. (A6)