Heath, woods, farm tracks and sea views — Exeter gravel routes

The capital of Devon, Exeter is a historic city placed on the River Exe, which flows into the magnificent Exe Estuary, known for fantastic bird life, seafood and shellfish. Surrounded by hills in all directions, there’s an incredible choice of off-road riding in this rural county, with many bridleways, muddy farm tracks, heathland gravel roads and woodland singletrack.

With two national parks, Dartmoor to the west and Exmoor to the north, it’s all too easy to travel to these areas to ride while overlooking what surrounds the city. The Pebblebed Heaths of East Devon, forests of Haldon Hill, valleys of the Teign, Otter and Clyst rivers all offer an impressively varied assortment of terrain, as well as gorgeous sea views from the estuary and Devon coastline.

These Tours vary just as much as the terrain around Devon, both in length and technicality. Choose from a quick jaunt up onto the wide gravel tracks of Woodbury Common and the challenge of the blue mountain biking flow trails at Haldon, to day-long epics across the countryside.

If you’re a wildlife lover, you’re in for a real treat. There are numerous RSPB sites including Goosemoor at Topsham, Aylesbeare Common and the Powderham Marshes, plus Exeter’s Riverside Valley Park, and East Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, all yielding a wonderful array of fauna and flora. Look out for wading birds on the estuary’s mudflats, coastal seabirds and heathland birds like stonechats and nightjars. The area is also favoured by many migratory species, so you can enjoy spotting different bird life year-round.

The only wildlife that you need to be wary of are ticks and adders, both of which can be potentially dangerous. Make sure you check yourself over for ticks after riding and remove them correctly. If you’re on common land on hotter summer days and are lucky enough to see an adder, make sure you leave it plenty of space. An adder bite is painful but rarely fatal; you should still seek hospital treatment.

These routes all start either in central Exeter or just on the edges, which can usually be easily accessed via small roads, lanes and cycle paths. A gravel bike is the best tool for these routes, with a good mix of both techy terrain and linking lanes, although you could also use a rigid or hardtail mountain bike.

These Tours will change drastically from summer to winter, thanks to the generous helping of rain we get here in the winter, so make sure you leave extra time for navigating sloppy trails when wet. Waterproof socks and mudguards are highly recommended!

If you’re travelling to Exeter from elsewhere, you can make use of the great train network linking the city to London and Bristol, as well as local trains to Topsham, Dawlish, Honiton and Exmouth which help to avoid some urban riding. As with most cities, Exeter can get congested in the centre and parking can be pricey, so if you’re driving to the city, it’s best to park out of town.