The best traffic-free bike rides around Great Haldon

There are over a dozen dedicated traffic-free gravel bike trails around Great Haldon, offering a variety of distances and difficulty levels. You'll find routes ranging from moderate to difficult, ensuring options for different skill sets.

The gravel trails in Great Haldon, particularly within Haldon Forest Park, feature a mix of packed gravel with berms for fast sections, as well as more challenging routes with varied terrain. You can expect dense pine forests, open moorlands, and undulating paths, with some segments requiring good fitness and advanced riding skills.

While many routes are rated moderate to difficult, Haldon Forest Park offers a network of trails, including some that are wide, surfaced, and mostly level, suitable for beginners. For a moderate challenge, consider the Haldon Forest MTB Skills Park – Kiddens Trail loop from Kenn, which covers about 25 km with manageable elevation.

Many trails in Great Haldon offer stunning vistas. The area is perched high on Haldon Ridge, providing panoramic views over Exeter, Dartmoor, and the Teign Estuary. Routes like the Haldon, Mamhead and Dawlish — Exeter gravel routes or the Haldon Belvedere and the Estuary — Exeter gravel routes will lead you to incredible viewpoints across the Exe Estuary to Exmouth and its harbor, especially around the Mamhead Obelisk.

Yes, many of the gravel routes in Great Haldon are designed as loops, allowing you to start and finish at the same point. For example, the challenging Rixdale Road – Haldon Forest MTB Skills Park loop from Haldon Forest Park is a circular route covering over 46 km.

Haldon Forest Park is well-equipped for cyclists. You'll find bike hire services, including e-bikes and adaptive cycles, available at Forest Cycle Hire Haldon Forest Park. There are also toilets, picnic areas, a cafe, and bike wash facilities, making it a convenient base for your ride.

Absolutely! Beyond the natural beauty, you can encounter several points of interest. The Castle Drogo and Fingle Bridge — Exeter gravel routes, for instance, takes you past historic sites. Within Haldon Forest Park itself, you might pass by areas like the Haldon Forest MTB Skills Park or the challenging Kiddens Trail, which are popular with riders.

Yes, Haldon Forest Park is a great destination for families. While some gravel routes are challenging, the park also features easy-access trails that are wide, surfaced, and mostly level, making them suitable for families with children or those looking for a more relaxed ride. Bike hire, including adaptive cycles, is available on-site.

The komoot community highly rates the gravel biking experience in Great Haldon, with an average score of 4.4 stars. Reviewers often praise the diverse forest environment, the extensive network of traffic-free trails, and the panoramic views over Exeter, Dartmoor, and the Teign Estuary. The well-maintained facilities at Haldon Forest Park are also frequently highlighted.

Yes, Haldon Forest Park, a central hub for many gravel trails, offers ample parking facilities. It's conveniently located just 15 minutes from Exeter and Newton Abbot, off the A38, making it easily accessible by car.

Great Haldon offers enjoyable gravel biking throughout much of the year. The diverse forest environment provides shade in summer and a beautiful display of colors in autumn. While trails are generally well-maintained, it's always a good idea to check local weather conditions, especially during winter, as some sections can become muddy or slippery.