Destination Guide

Cycling in Devon & Dartmoor

England's cycling heartland. Dartmoor's savage moorland climbs, empty lanes, and a coastline that rivals anything in Europe.

Last updated: 12 March 2026

Terrain: Road, Climbing, Touring, Gravel
Difficulty: Easy — Expert
Road Quality: Mixed
Cycling Culture: Strong
Pro Team Presence: The South West has produced and trained a generation of British cycling talent. INEOS Grenadiers riders including Luke Rowe have trained extensively on Dartmoor lanes, and the region served as a key training ground for British Cycling's academy programmes. The annual Tour of Britain has repeatedly used Devon climbs as decisive summit finishes.
Traffic: Low

Best Time to Cycle in Devon & Dartmoor

Jan

Feb

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Apr

May

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Oct

Nov

Dec

Best Shoulder Avoid

Devon cycling peaks from May through September when daylight is long, moorland roads are dry, and the full range of routes becomes reliably accessible. June and September are arguably the finest months: long days, moderate temperatures (17-22°C), and school-holiday crowds yet to peak (June) or already subsided (September). July and August bring warm, settled weather ideal for big Dartmoor loops, though coastal towns and the A-roads connecting them become congested — stick to moorland lanes and you'll barely see a car. April and October offer rewarding shoulder riding for riders willing to accept unpredictable weather; the moor takes on dramatic colour in both months. December through February can deliver extended wet and cold spells with high wind on the exposed moor plateau, making them unsuitable for all but the most committed riders. Dartmoor's elevation (up to 621m at High Willhays) means the moor itself can be 5-8°C colder than the coastal towns even on the same day — always carry a gilet.

Temperature: 1°C (winter) to 24°C (summer)

Best Cycling Climbs in Devon & Dartmoor

Haytor Vale

4.8km · 270m · 5.6% · CAT3

The most recognisable climb on Dartmoor, ascending from the village of Haytor Vale toward the iconic granite tors that define the eastern moor skyline. The early ramps out of the village bite immediately at 8-10%, before the gradient eases to a more manageable 5-6% on the exposed upper section. The road surface is good quality tarmac throughout, and above 400m the view opens across the entire eastern moor — on clear days the English Channel is visible to the south. A regular training climb for local club riders and a consistent feature on sportive routes across the South West. The descent back toward Bovey Tracey on the northern side is fast and technical, requiring full attention on the tight lower switchbacks.

Widecombe Hill

3.2km · 215m · 6.7% · CAT3

The climb out of Widecombe-in-the-Moor heading north toward Chagford is one of Dartmoor's most punishing short efforts. Widecombe sits in a deep valley at around 245m, and the lanes climbing out in any direction are steep. The northern approach toward Natsworthy ramps sharply from the village to 14% on the initial exposed wall before levelling into a sustained 7-8% grind through open moorland. The entire road is single-track with passing places, meaning traffic is minimal — this is proper Dartmoor lane cycling. Widecombe village itself, famous from the folk song and annual fair, provides a natural café stop mid-ride at the village inn or the tea rooms on the green.

Rundlestone to Princetown

5.6km · 285m · 5.1% · CAT3

The climb from Rundlestone crossroads up to Princetown — the highest town in England at 435m — follows the B3357 across the exposed western moor in conditions that can be dramatically different from the surrounding lowlands. The gradient is relentless rather than savage: a long, grinding 5% that eats into legs already tired from moorland miles. Princetown sits on the high plateau surrounded by open moorland on all sides, and the final kilometres are fully exposed to prevailing south-westerly winds — a strong headwind can turn this into a genuinely difficult effort. The climb rewards with a proper café stop at the Fox Tor Café in Princetown, a cyclist-friendly stop well used by touring and road cyclists traversing the moor. Dartmoor Prison looms overhead — an atmospheric backdrop that somehow suits the grimness of the upper moor.

Porlock Hill

4.1km · 380m · 9.3% · CAT2

Legendary among British cyclists and notorious enough to have earned a place in cycling folklore. Porlock Hill on the Devon-Somerset border is one of the steepest public roads in England: the main A39 route averages 9.3% for 4.1km with the central section hitting a verified 25% gradient — one of the most extreme ramps on any tarmac road in the country. Vehicles regularly fail the climb in winter; cyclists have been conquering it since the earliest days of cycle touring. The toll road alternative (Porlock Toll Road) offers a rideable but still demanding variant at a more consistent 6-7%. The main road is the defining test: the section above the hairpin at Porlock Weir demands out-of-saddle efforts in the lowest gear available. Reaching the summit at Porlock Common delivers views across the Bristol Channel to South Wales on clear days.

Dunkery Beacon

6.3km · 410m · 6.5% · CAT2

The highest point in Somerset and Exmoor at 519m, Dunkery Beacon is reached via several approach roads from the north, with the ascent from Wheddon Cross via Dunkery Gate being the most commonly ridden cycling route. The approach from the A396 at Wheddon Cross begins immediately with 10-12% ramps before easing on the moorland flanks, then biting again in the exposed upper section where the road deteriorates to rough tarmac and the gradient reasserts at 13-15%. The summit itself is open moorland without a road — the cycling objective is the highest tarmac point on Dunkery Gate road, approximately 480m. Exmoor's moorland character is distinct from Dartmoor: the vegetation is denser, the lanes more enclosed in the valleys, and the views northward across Exmoor toward the Bristol Channel coast are exceptional. This climb sits technically on the Somerset side of the Devon-Exmoor border but is universally included in South West cycling itineraries and frequently combined with North Devon coastal routes.

Insider Tips

The B3212 between Moretonhampstead and Princetown is the closest Devon comes to a 'must-ride' road: 25km of open moorland crossing the high plateau past Postbridge and Two Bridges with almost no traffic on weekday mornings. Ride it east to west in the morning to keep the prevailing wind behind you on the return.
Dartmoor lanes require a different navigation approach than roads with consistent signage. Download a GPX route before leaving — mobile signal is absent across most of the high moor interior, and paper OS maps (Explorer OL28) are a genuinely useful backup for longer loops. The moor's ancient granite waymarkers (letterboxes) are not reliable navigation aids.
Moretonhampstead is the ideal moorland base for road cyclists: at 240m it sits on the eastern moor edge with direct access to Haytor, Widecombe, the B3212 traverse, and the descent into Chagford, all without a car transfer. The White Hart Hotel has secure bike storage and early breakfast service — book ahead in summer.
The North Devon coast road between Combe Martin and Ilfracombe, and then west toward Croyde, delivers exceptional riding that most cyclists visiting Dartmoor never explore. The lanes drop in and out of deep wooded combes on gradients of 15-20% — short, savage, and completely unlike moorland cycling. Allow a full day for a proper North Devon coastal loop.
For the Porlock Hill ascent, recce the bottom of the main road before committing: if there is any surface water running across the tarmac from the hillside above (common after rain), the 25% section becomes dangerously slippery. The Porlock Toll Road is the sensible alternative and still delivers a genuine 380m climbing effort.

How to Get to Devon & Dartmoor for Cycling

Nearest Airports

Exeter Airport(EXT)

Transfer: 30-50 minutes to central Dartmoor

The closest airport to Dartmoor cycling country. Direct flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Belfast, Dublin, and a small number of European destinations. Flight frequency is considerably lower than Bristol, and airline choice is limited — check schedules carefully. Transfer to Exeter city (15 minutes) or direct to moorland bases like Moretonhampstead or Okehampton (40-50 minutes) by taxi or hire car. Hiring a car at Exeter Airport is strongly recommended given Dartmoor's dispersed terrain. The airport handles bike bags without issue on all carriers currently serving the route.

Bristol Airport(BRS)

Transfer: 1.5-2 hours to Dartmoor

The practical primary gateway for most UK and European visitors. Bristol serves a far wider range of routes and airlines than Exeter, with direct flights from across Europe and frequent domestic connections. The transfer south to Dartmoor takes 1.5-2 hours by hire car via the M5 and A38 — straightforward driving on well-signposted roads. The additional journey time is offset by substantially better flight choice and typically lower fares. Car hire at Bristol is well-served by all major operators. Cyclists arriving with bike bags should note Bristol's car hire car parks require a short shuttle bus — allow 20 extra minutes for collection.

London Heathrow Airport(LHR)

Transfer: 3-3.5 hours to Dartmoor

Best option for international visitors arriving in the UK without a domestic connection. The M4-M5 motorway route from Heathrow to Exeter and Dartmoor is well-maintained, and hire car collection at Heathrow is efficient. Journey time to the moor is 3-3.5 hours in normal traffic. Alternatively, the Great Western Railway service from London Paddington to Exeter St Davids (approximately 2 hours) connects with local taxis or hire cars for the final leg to moorland bases — a viable option for riders willing to manage bike bags on the train.

Getting around: Car Recommended — A car is the most practical means of accessing Devon and Dartmoor's dispersed cycling terrain. The moor has no public transport serving the interior villages and farms that mark the start and end of the best routes — Dartmoor's appeal is precisely its remoteness. Hiring a car at Exeter or Bristol airport and basing yourself at a single location (Moretonhampstead, Tavistock, or Okehampton work well for moorland access) allows daily rides without repeated driving. Exeter city itself is a reasonable car-free base for riders prepared to cycle to the moor from the eastern edge — add approximately 20km and 200m climbing each direction. The Tarka Trail (a 30-mile traffic-free cycleway on a former railway line through the Taw and Torridge valleys) is a notable exception requiring no car access from Barnstaple.