What
does the 'Ex' stand for in Exmoor? Well, after this
route, we're sure you'll agree, it could stand for Excellent,
Exciting, as well as Extreme. Based in Devon, Exmoor
is home to miles and miles of some of the best and most
varied trails in the UK. Rest assured, you'll be grinning,
as well as gurning, the whole way round this ride.
The route is entirely made up of bridleways. Now, that
might sound a little dull to some, but these bridleways
ain't boring. They offer a great mix of rugged climbs,
tight singletrack along sketchy ridges (with steep drops
for any who get it all wrong), rocky and root-filled
descents, swooping trails that canter down into dark
forests, and nearly all the trails finish with a refreshing
spin through a stream. In fact these bridleways have
only the smallest smattering of flat, easy-to-spin-it,
wider-than-average trails, so you'll need to keep your
wits about you.
The route is 35.44km (22.15 miles), with the last 7.2km
(4.5 miles) on the road back to the starting point.
Don't be fooled by the mileage as this ride will feel
a lot longer, and will probably take longer time-wise
than you're used to for this length of off-road riding
too. It's a very challenging yet rewarding route that
will leave your lungs burning and your legs throbbing,
but your heart swelling with pride at the sense of achievement
as you survey the land around you after slogging it
up the final climb to the tip top of Exmoor: Dunkery
Beacon.
You begin in the richly historic Dunster, approximately
four miles from the coastal resort of Minehead. After
parking up and admiring the cool-looking castle in the
distance and the quaint little high street, you can
saddle up and find yourself high up in the hills in
a matter of miles - mainly thanks to the steep climbs
that ensure you enter the action almost instantly. From
here you'll be able to enjoy technical trails and wicked
wilderness throughout the woods and forestry and out
on the flatland plateaus of the Exmoor National Park.
The other great feature of this Exmoor extravaganza
is the sheer selection of trails waiting for you. We've
picked out what we felt was an all-encompassing ride
that offers everything a mountain biker needs - challenging
climbs to clamber up, wonderful views to devour as you
have a breather, splendid singletrack to speed along
and delicious downhills - but there's loads of different
trail options tempting you to travel up and down them,
so why not check them out? And if you'd like to head
out fully prepared we've explained all you need to know
about all-day biking on page 56 in our extensive epic
rides feature.
Essential info
Rating: Hard
Distance: 35.44km (22.15 miles)
Time: 4.5-6 hours
Best time to go: Early spring throughout the
summer. It's best off dry as Exmoor can get a bit wet,
and then stay wet - and very muddy. Even though many
of the bridleways cross rambler's paths, there's so
many routes up over the moors you rarely find yourself
stuck behind (or crashing into) walkers.
Getting there: From the M5 take the Bridgewater
turn off (junction 23 from the north or junction 24
from the south), take the A38 to Bridgewater then follow
the A39 to Minehead, turning off on A396 to Dunster.
Once you've passed the castle, turn on to the high street
and drive through the traffic lights. The car park starting
point is on the left after the Forrester's Arms.
Food and where to stay: Dunster is full of B&Bs,
and Minehead's only four miles down the road - take
your pick of masses of accommodation down there - including
Butlins! On the way round you can stop in Horner Tea
Garden, in Horner, which sells a selection of hot and
cold meals and drinks - there's a garden to park the
odd bike too. The Forrester's Arms at the start is a
good place for a rewarding pint, and there's also various
cafes off Dunster high street.
Tourist information: The Exmoor National Park
Centre in Dunster, 01643 821835, is your best port of
call.
What to take: Lots of fluid, this is a deceivingly
long ride and thirsty work. You don't want to get dehydrated
as you're a long way from civilisation at certain points
- so take at least three litres of fluid, and snacks
for the ride too as you'll be in the saddle for well
over four hours. It's also very rocky so pack spare
tubes in case of pinch flats. Plus general first aid
and an extra layer for when you're exposed up on top.
Bike shops: Pompy's in Minehead is the nearest
decent bike shop that also offers bike hire to head
for the trails. It's on Mart Road in Minehead, tel 01643
704077.
Maps: OS Landranger 181 Minehead and Brendon
Hills OS, Explorer OL9
The
route
The start: Car park down from the Forrester's
Arms pub. Turn right, head back towards high street,
at end of high street take tiny road turning left for
the Ellicombe road. After the school turn left. SP Public
Bridleway Grabbist Hill.
1. 0.96km (0.60m) Cycle past allotment and go
through gate by cemetery. As the bridleway forks go
left (NW) towards St Leonard's Well, admiring steep
drop through the trees to your left while also concentrating
on the singletrack ahead, and stay round to the right.
At the top of the path, enjoy the views of Minehead
and the coastline in the distance, then take left turning
West onto Grabbist Hill, SP Wooton Courtenay bridleway.
Exiting woods continue straight along ridge bridleway
over four crossways, heading back into woodlands, keeping
wall to your left.
2. 3.28km (2.05m) At fifth crossway in Wooton Common
go straight over. SP Wooton Courtenay. Take left fork
and bear right. Rattle down the long and ever steepening
rocky decent into Wooton Courtenay, exiting path by
funky wooden church hall. Turn right and follow road.
3. 6.43km (4.02m) Just outside the village, as
road splits three ways, take 'left' fork - SP 0.5 mile
Brockwell. In Brockwell turn right at T-junction and
continue back along bridleway, as it forks, take right
fork and go straight. Whiz up and down through roots
and rocks of the super singletrack, keep 'straight'
SP Chapel Cross. Pink house on right (9.31/km5.82m)
in field. After a large gate the bridleway turns into
lane at a crossroads, go left towards Horner.
4. 12.16km (7.60m) In need of refreshment? Stop
at Horner Tea Garden on your right. If not, stay on
road, turn right, then left over Packhorse Bridge and
on to bridleway.
5. 20.45km (12.78 miles) Exit bridleway then
start heading left on the road and uphill. SP Pool Bridge
Camp Site. Bloody steep road climb takes you up to moors,
near the top swing left onto bridleway SP Flora's Ride.
6. 16.48km (10.03m) Follow track along the top
then, as track seems to veer off right, turn left down
into woods. Hang off the back for some furious trails
that just keep going, getting rockier and looser all
the time. Follow 'blue' bridleway signs for Granny's
Ride while staying switched on to bottom. If hot dunk
head in fresh stream. Then head up rough and tough ascent
and out of Horner's Wood.
7. 19.20km (12.00m) Breathe deeply. Knackered
yet? You will be... Go through gates to pass through
Church Farmhouse. Continue to Stoke Pero on the road,
past the church and then up and along to the moors again
to Stoke Pero. Spot Dunkery Beacon on the top. You'll
be there in a bit.
8. 20.45km (12.78 miles) Cycle up road, at T-junction
go straight into field and onto faint bridleway - head
diagonally through fields of sheep until you pick up
rocky bridleway. Head up path to Dunkery Beacon.
9. 22.72km (14.20m) On top of the world. Catch breath.
Soak up panoramic views of Exmoor. From summit find
Trig Point then take bridleway (Macmillan Way West on
map) straight on. Drop down, jump whoops, then cross
road and head straight on bridleway. Prepare for a rock-strewn
ride as you search for smooth lines until you reach
the woods.
10. 27.54km (17.21m) Enter the woods, SP .5 mile
Brockwell, and zip through bridleway tracks, staying
left and heading down until you reach the road. You're
back at point 3 now, just outside Brockwell. Cruise
back along flat Tarmac road giving your legs a break
as you potter the 7.2 kilometres (4.5m) through Wooton
Courtenay and then pick up the A396 to Dunster. Turn
before Forrester's Arms and you're back at the car park
- reward yourself with a well-deserved pint post ride.
Total distance: 35.44km (22.15 miles)
This route was provided by WhatMountainBike? magazine.
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