Ilfracombe to Plymouth - National Cycle Network Route 27

The famous Devon coast to coast cycling route (NCN route 27) is a 102 miles (163km) of old railway lines, pathways and roads linking IIfracombe on the north coast down to Plymouth on the south coast. 

Cutting through the heart of Devon the route is renowned for it’s large sections of traffic free cycling and leads you through Devon’s most spectacular countryside. Through tunnels, across breathtaking viaducts and bridges, along the famous Tarka Trail here at Tarka Holiday Park and also along the traffic free Granite Way section at Meldon on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

The Cycling Route via Tarka Trail

Starting from Ilfracombe in North Devon and heading south towards Braunton there's a good traffic free section to ease you into your ride before joining quiet roads with great views all the way south to Braunton. From Braunton you enter the famous Tarka Trail country at Barnstable with a 30 mile traffic free section on the Tarka Trail’s former railway lines with beautiful estuary views across the Taw and Torridge estuaries, which take you down to Bideford and Great Torrington to the villages of Petrockstowe and Meeth. Continuing south to Okehampton on the edge of Datmoor National Park, the route from there to Lydford is known as The Granite Way. It’s a glorious 11 miles of cycling with superb viaducts along way and includes a short on-road section viaBridestowe, continuing to Lydford along former railway lines (There’s a steam train option in Summer between Okehampton and Meldon).

Again, south along disused railway paths and leads you along the western side of Dartmoor National Park giving you spectacular views of Dartmoor and the west Devon countryside down to Tavistock. Venturing south from there there are more traffic free sections along the Plym Valley Trail which is easy 7 miles of family cycling to Clearbrook near Yelverton over many spectacular viaducts that takes you all the way to Plymouth Hoe. If your feeling a little more adventurous you can take The Drake’s Trail between Tavistock and Plymouth - a new off-road cycling section which may test the fitness levels of a keen cyclist. 

Devon is arguably one of the best places in the UK for cycling and the Devon Coast to Coast route is THE way to explore this varied and wonderful countryside. Whether you are planning to travel across Devon over a few days, or take a day's outing from Holiday Parks in Devon, Barnstaple, Plymouth or Ilfracombe, the Devon Coast to Coast route is the way to explore this varied and wonderful countryside.

We would love to here some of your cycling stories or recommended routes around the Devon countryside.

Best Wishes

Tarka Holiday Park