Croyde-Lynton Loop

A trip to meet a pal in Croyde provided an excuse to do some more North Devon pedalling, and we planned a trip that would close a bit of coastline between Barnstaple and Bridgwater.  However warnings of a heatwave led us to be more cautious and we cut this back to a much shorter loop from Croyde round over part of Exmoor, down to Lynton and back.  This proved to be a blessing with temperatures in the 30's which resulted in us taking very short days, starting at 6:00 am before the heat got up, and finishing before 11:00. 

In normal circumstances this route could be taken as one challenging ride, under 70 miles and about 7,000 ft of climb.  It was beautifully varied and we loved our crossing of Exmoor early in the morning, as well as the rough toll road along the coast from Lynton through the Valley of the Rocks.  Why they let vehicles on this stretch is a complete mystery, as it was perilous enough on two wheels, but there was nothing else on the road in the early hours and it was an absolute delight.

On our arrival in Lynton at 10:30 am, our wonderful guest house, Ingleside, allowed us to check in and take cold showers, which was a blessing.  We found ourselves right next door to the quirky Lynton Cinema, which is inside a converted church, and we made use of their services, and air-conditioning, to take in a strange and instantly forgettable sci-fi movie.  After departure, our landlord reminded me that there is only Porlock Hill and a few more miles of coastline to finish off nearly every inch of the Devon coast.  I'm sure to go back for that, but I'll be glad never to see another coastal climb in that county.

Ireland