Your Next Adventure
Your Next Adventure
Devon & Cornwall
Trip Overview
Experience some of the most appealing and quiet cycling in England when you join us for our Devon & Cornwall tour. Cycle protected rail trails around the stunning Dartmoor National Park in Devon. Then visit the idyllic villages and wild coastlines of the north and south coast of Cornwall. In Devon, you stay two nights in historic Chagford, where you can stroll around the church of St. Michael the Archangel, dedicated in 1261. It’s also the town where Evelyn Waugh wrote Brideshead Revisited. You stay at the lovely Three Crowns there, where you can enjoy a friendly local pub and delicious dining. Then head farther south to Cornwall and visit splendid seaside towns like Mevagissey and St. Ives — known for its cobbled streets, arts community and beaches. And taste delicious fare from local farms or fresh from the sea. You spend two nights in the stylish country accommodations at the Plume of Feathers. Then cycle the Camel Trail and visit the foodie heaven of Padstow. Stay your final night at the secluded Port Gaverne Hotel … in the Port Isaac area, where the famous British TV series Doc Martin is filmed.
Itinerary
From start to finish, check out the route.
Book a scenic train ride from London’s Paddington Station to Exeter St David’s. Meet your leaders at the train station there and transfer to the Castle Inn at Lydford, where you can have lunch and are fitted for your bike. Then cycle the Granite Trail, a quiet former railway path, to Okehampton — with great views of the mystical Dartmoor Tors (hills). Next, cycle onto Dartmoor itself for the last few miles. Finish your ride at Gidleigh Village Hall. Then transfer to the Three Crowns, where you will enjoy dinner and stay for two nights. Those looking for extra miles can bike through the back of Gidleigh Park and into Chagford. If you still have energy, take a walk to the Scorhill Stone Circle, one of Devon’s biggest and most recently discovered prehistoric stone circles — it’s more than 4,000 years old!
After a delicious breakfast, hop on your bike right from the hotel and enjoy the wonderful gentle hills of central Devon. Cycle to Bovey Tracey for an early lunch at the 360 Café. Tackle a challenging hill (or skip it with a van ride) and head toward Haytor, the biggest and most well-known landmark on Dartmoor. See wild ponies and the gorgeous scenery — which has not changed for hundreds of years. Take an optional walk up to Haytor and then bike back to Chagford for dinner at the Three Crowns. Avid riders can ask about added miles, with a quick coffee stop instead at the 360 Café, and more cycling around Bovey Tracey with a suggested lunch spot on the moor at the Tinpickle & Rhum in Haytor.
After breakfast, transfer the one hour into Cornwall, and bike from Bodmin Parkway to St. Austell and into the charming seaside town of Mevagissey, featuring several coffee and lunch options. Don’t miss tasting an authentic Cornish pasty, a flaky pastry crust filled with delicious, savory treats — like cheese or stew. It was the classic lunch meal for local copper miners. Also, try the local ice creams, fresh fish, or other seaside specialties. Make an optional stop at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a restored garden estate rescued from destruction. Continue cycling to our inn, the Plume of Feathers — the English heraldry symbol for the Prince of Wales. Dinner is on your own tonight, and is best spent at the Plume of Feathers restaurant.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast and then cycle from our inn to the charming seaside town of St. Ives. Legend has it that this popular vacation destination was where the Irish Saint Ia of Cornwall (Saint Ives in English) arrived in the 5th century. Explore the shops, galleries, beach and restaurants in St. Ives. The town also features an outpost of London’s famous Tate Museum, which showcases modern art. We transfer you to Mevagissey for a wonderful seafood dinner at the Kings Arms.
Today you have a 45-minute transfer to Bodmin to ride the enticing Camel Trail — another famous rail trail — to the lovely town of Padstow, reportedly home to the best fish and chips in the world. After a short ferry ride from Padstow, you then have the option to ride the additional 10 miles to the wonderful Port Gaverne Hotel, right on the seafront.
After breakfast, we say farewell and transfer you to Boddim Parkway Train Station for your travels back to London or elsewhere.
Map
Dates & Pricing
Make your reservation with confidence. Your tour is completely 100% refundable until the final payment due date.
What’s Included
5 nights’ lodging, 5 breakfasts, 4 dinners (you are on your own for one dinner), Padstow ferry ride, all gratuities for accommodations and meals, leaders, van support, detailed maps and itineraries. Plus, use of a bicycle and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Dates & Pricing
Make your reservation with confidence. Your tour is completely 100% refundable until the final payment due date.
What’s Included
5 nights’ lodging, 5 breakfasts, 4 dinners (you are on your own for one dinner), Padstow ferry ride, all gratuities for accommodations and meals, leaders, van support, detailed maps and itineraries. Plus, use of a bicycle and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Inns
Where you stay along the way.
Gallery
Images from this tour. Click each to see it larger.
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