Peak Hill and Mutter's Moor — Exeter gravel routes

Starting from Clyst St Mary, a village on the River Clyst to the east of Exeter, this circular Tour reaches above the popular seaside town of Sidmouth, taking in several heathland landscapes as well as woodlands and disused railway lines along the way. The village is easily accessed from Exeter thanks to the city’s growing network of cycle lanes, and also has free parking if you’re coming from further afield.

Start the Tour with a lengthy warm up as you climb the long Oil Mill Lane to Woodbury Salterton, then up some more to the edge of Woodbury Common. Peel off to the right for a brilliant doubletrack bridleway climb which takes you right up to Woodbury Castle.

You’ll head south on common bridleway gravel roads, heading straight through Blackhill Quarry, through the Frying Pans car park and onto Hayeswood Lane, descending off the common onto a mucky farm track. Follow more farm roads to Kersbrook, crossing the main East Budleigh Road to reach the River Otter.

Take the cycleway on the high ground alongside the River Otter heading north, enjoying this traffic-free way to the very quaint village of Otterton. There’s more climbing up next, heading up the well-known Peak Hill climb to Sidmouth, but turning off to the left just before the last, most gruelling stint. This bridleway, named Seven Lane, leads you up to Mutter’s Moor, a beautiful hilltop moorland quite similar to Woodbury Common.

Over the common, descend the singletrack bridleway to the golf course, then take a series of farm tracks to Bowd. Here you can pick up the brilliant disused railway bridleway through Harpford Woods to Tipton St John, and start to climb past Venn Ottery Common . From Aylesbeare, follow a series of back lanes through the countryside to complete the loop back to Clyst St Mary.