Cycling the English Riviera

If you are looking for a cycling holiday in Devon, the English Riviera, a UNESCO designated Global Geopark warmly welcomes cyclists.  The flat seafront promenades of Torquay and Paignton are ideal if you enjoy a leisurely cycle by the beach, with perhaps a stop off for coffee and cake, a light snack, or an ice cream.

From Torquay harbour, right round to Paignton Harbour, you can experience a beautiful winding and coastal road that is relatively flat and would suit all cycling abilities. It is about 4 miles between the two, and would take approximately 30 minutes to cycle in one go. En route there are ample places to stop, take in the views and even sit down for a drink or some delicious food.

There is the whole new complex by Abbey Sands, including restaurants and bars such as On The Rocks, Bistrot Pierre, Coco Cocktail. Further along the coast in the perfectly located Boathouse Bar & Grill who welcomes cyclists all year round and sometimes even have live music going outside!

Cycle the English Riviera coast

If you are keen for a whole day out on the saddle then why not cycle the whole of the English Riviera coast, from Babbacombe to Brixham? You will experience a few more hills but the stunning views that it offers will definitely be worth it!

This stretch is approximately 11 miles but can easily be broken down into smaller sections, depending on your appetite for the bike, and how long you want to take in the stunning view! A great place to start would be on top of the Babbacombe Downs, overlooking Oddicombe Beach and enjoying views right across the Jurassic Coast in the distance. There is also ample parking options, including on road or nearby in the pay and display car park.

From there it's all downhill as you descend towards Torquay Marina and along the Strand towards Torre Abbey. This is the most direct route, however if you had more time and were looking to stop and explore then it might be worth going off route and enjoying a dip in the secluded Anstey’s Cove. This is a hidden gem of a spot and would be a great place to cool down on a hot day.

Accessing Anstey’s Cove by bike would mean locking the bikes in the car park at the top of the winding steps that lead down the small beach. It is a relatively steep and narrow road to access the car park.

Another alternative route, perhaps for the more experienced cyclist, would be to ride down the steep, winding road leading to the awe-inspiring, crescent shaped Meadfoot Beach. This would not be recommended with younger children as the road in and out is very steep and narrows in parts where cars are passing.

There is a cycle lane on several sections of the road between the Torquay seafront and Paignton Beach stretch of the route, offering much safer riding terrain.

If you’re heading along that road towards Brixham then you will pass Hollicombe Beach, before arriving at Preston Sands and then Paignton Beach, the green and the famous Pier.  This is the ideal point to stop off and grab a bite to eat and a cold drink (or a hot drink if you’re enjoying this journey in the winter months when it is just as beautiful!), before heading towards Brixham on the A379.

As the name suggests, this is a main road so only suitable for more confident cyclists. A great option at this point would be to stop at Goodrington Sands and then turn back the way you came. There is lots on offer at Goodrington, including Splashdown Waterpark, Reach Outdoors (watersports hire) and Cantina Kitchen if you’re still hungry!

The Meadfoot to Goodrington section is about a 45-minute ride depending on how leisurely you wish to cycle, but it does lend itself to some fantastic views.

UNESCO Global Geopark

Did you know that the English Riviera, Devon has been accredited by UNESCO as a Global Geopark, just one of seven in the UK and 140 worldwide to celebrate our incredible geology, landscape and heritage?  It is incredible to think that ‘our’ rocks were formed millions of years ago at the bottom of a warm tropical sea and then scorched by the equatorial sun.

Family-friendly cycling in South Devon

If you have a young family, or just like to take it easy, a good route is the family leisure route, with a combination of signed ‘on road’ links with shared use ‘off road’ sections through Roundham Head, Young’s Park and Goodrington south promenade travelling along the Paignton seafront.  The route provides some stunning views of Torbay along the way and you can join the route at any point.

If you wanted to take the bikes a little further afield then perhaps explore The Stover Trail. This is a traffic-free route which connects neighbouring towns, Newton Abbot to Bovey Tracey.  This flat, off-road family friendly route passes close to the beautiful Stover Country Park and will eventually extend towards Lustleigh and Moretonhampstead in Dartmoor National Park, with a bridge across the A38 dual carriageway to allow for safe crossing.

This offers very different, but equalling stunning scenery and views across South Devon.

Torbay Velopark

The Torbay Velopark one-mile circuit is the only outdoor closed road circuit in Devon and Cornwall, located in Paignton, and can accommodate amateur and professional cycling and a range of other sporting activities. With an on-site café and toilet facilities, this is perfect if you have youngsters still wishing to gain confidence, or even remove those stabilizers!  Bike and helmet hire on site for just £4.50 a session, baby trailers are also available.

They do generally have a lane system in place so you can choose to go in the fast or slow lane, making it safe and suitable for all abilities. The Velopark also offers a dog-free activity area too!

If you are looking for alternative, purpose-build bikes areas then you have a couple of options. Parkfield Adventure Centre is an international standard BMX track which is part of the Parkfield facility. The track is free to use (outside of organised events) and is available to access all year round.

Scadson Woods is the place to go if you’re looking for purpose-built mountain bike trails for all abilities in South Devon. Near Cockington, in Torquay, and built into 13 acres of expansive woodland; they are fast, progressive trails designed to test the rider’s ability and leave the heart pounding with excitement! There are 3 single track trails with optional challenging features for those who want to take their riding to the next level.

Car parking, toilets and a cafe are all conveniently located at Occombe Farm, a stone's throw from the entrance to Scadson Woods. A two-day membership will cost you only £5, and that includes unlimited fun for those two days. Looking to stay longer with your bike? Then annual passes are available through the British cycling website.

Torbay ‘Geotrail’  takes you on a circuit of Torbay’s new ‘Geotrail’ around Occombe and Cockington. It’s a 5-mile circular route on mostly traffic free gravel track overlooking the glorious views of Torbay. The route is suitable for mountain or hybrid bikes (off road tyres) but not road bikes.

Download a Torbay Cycle Map today.

Accommodation for Cyclists

If you are taking your bike on holiday, you like to know that you will be able to store it somewhere safe overnight, or on days when you perhaps don’t want to take your bike with you.

The Trefoil Guest House in Brixham is a 4 star rated (VisitEngland) B&B a short walk from the harbour, with six en-suite rooms, which include two single rooms, with space for safe bike storage.

Newton House in Torquay is 4 star AA rated guest house accommodation, with special provisions for cyclists, which include a locked yard for bikes and cycling gear.