NCN 27 - Devon Coast to Coast

159.5 km 1670 m climbing About 2 days 13% off road Road cycling South West England

The route runs from the coast at Hele south to Plymouth, crossing North Devon's hilly lanes before the land opens out briefly through Barnstaple and the Taw estuary.

From Bideford the road climbs steadily inland, and by the time you reach Meldon and Sourton you are on Dartmoor proper, exposed and high. The descent off the moor carries you down through Mary Tavy and Horrabridge before the route threads through the suburban edges of Plymouth to finish at Millbay. About thirteen percent of the surface is off road.

The figures

Distance	159.5 km
Climbing	1670 m
Off road	21 km, about 13% of the route
Riding time	about 9 hours, roughly 2 days at a moderate pace
Region	South West England
Route from	Sustrans

Worth knowing before you go

The long stretch between Sheepwash and Chichacott passes through very few settlements, and resupply in that section is limited. Dartmoor between Meldon and Vale Down is the most exposed part of the route and the most serious in bad weather. Barnstaple is the largest town on the line and a practical place to end the first day.

Put your own dates on this and TourTrax splits it into days at your pace, finds somewhere to sleep at the end of each one, estimates what it will cost and gets you to the start without flying.

Plan this route → Download the GPX

Other route guides

NCN 27 - Devon Coast to Coast is an official route from Sustrans (their website).