Electric bike cycling holiday in Devon
Highlights
Lymington Arms | Halsdon Nature Reserve | Duke of York at Iddesleigh | River Taw | River Torridge | Belstone | The Tors pub at Belstone | Honeychurch | Hatherleigh | Dartmoor | Broadwood Kelly | Ingleigh Green | Winkleigh Cider Factory | Torrington | Braunton Burrows | North Devon Biosphere Reserve | off road Tarka Trail | Barnstaple |Description of Electric bike cycling holiday in Devon
There’s nothing nicer than a pedal around Devon with well-deserved clotted cream teas or pints of local cider always best devoured during or at the end of a day’s cycling to truly appreciate both experiences.The UNESCO North Devon Biosphere reserve, in particular, is well worth investigating further and promises mile upon mile of sand dunes as well as peaceful rural lanes, free from cars, interspersed with traditional thatched pubs and tucked away cafes, that only the locals frequent.
The thing about Devon’s beautiful rolling hills and longer stretches of coastline is that they can be a bit of a slog for casual cyclists which might mean you’re too tired to enjoy yourself out of the saddle. One way to take the pressure off the pedals on some of the steeper hillsides and over the longer distances is to embark on a tour by electric bike.
Remember when you were learning and someone ran alongside giving you a push? That’s what an electric bike feels like. On steep hills you might even be tempted to wear your underwear over your trousers!
This one week self-guided electric bike cycling holiday in Devon will suit moderately fit adults, and includes: self catering accommodation, a full orientation, bike hire with safety equipment, route notes, maps, rescue back up and the full benefit of carefully researched local knowledge.
Prices are per person but based on two people sharing at our multi-award winning farm accommodation near Winkleigh for one week between April- mid July and September through to mid October. (Excludes extras like pub lunches and taking bikes on the train, please enquire for single prices.)
You can also tailor the itinerary to suit a short break or long weekend (enquire for prices) and swap days around. And you’re in charge of the distances. Most of the days can be shortened and still take you to fun places - linger over that lunch!
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comDeparture information
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
Wildlife: Your stay helps finance of our long term conservation project, which manages our 21 acres for Devon wildlife and looks after our nationally-recognised site of special scientific interest, Popehouse Moor. This is the core of our philosophy, the bottom line, the one thing against which we measure our success. It gives us a subtly different starting point to most tourism and farming businesses. Put bluntly, your holidays are our 'cash cows'. So you are an essential part of what we do, and we thank you!Energy: Our farm has won numerous awards for sustainable tourism. We've cut our energy use by over 75% compared to the previous owner, and our wind turbine and solar panels generate enough power to run the business. Even on a windless cloudy day you'll be staying green, with a 100% renewable grid tariff.
The Impacts of this Trip
Local Community and Culture: This holiday is based around exploring the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Initially focusing on the fabulous dune system at Braunton Burrows, the reserve was later extended to encompass the whole of the Taw and Torridge River catchments in recognition that the entire system, from watershed to seashore, is inter-dependent. We've designed this itinerary to take you through the landscape from moorland stream to seashore at a pace where you can appreciate the changing scenery and soak up the local culture in this rural corner of England.
Friends and neighbours: When the journey is part of the fun there's time to stop at local shops and pubs - we'll give you the local tips. And when you spend money locally most of it stays local. But it's not just about going out. We can help you self cater with food from a local grocer, with meat from a neighbouring farm shop, and drinks from the local independent wine and beer merchant.
Wildlife: Your stay helps finance of our long term conservation project, which manages our 21 acres for Devon wildlife and looks after our nationally-recognised site of special scientific interest, Popehouse Moor. This is the core of our philosophy, the bottom line, the one thing against which we measure our success. It gives us a subtly different starting point to most tourism and farming businesses. Put bluntly, your holidays are our 'cash cows'. So you are an essential part of what we do, and we thank you!Energy: Our farm has won numerous awards for sustainable tourism. We've cut our energy use by over 75% compared to the previous owner, and our wind turbine and solar panels generate enough power to run the business. Even on a windless cloudy day you'll be staying green, with a 100% renewable grid tariff.
The Impacts of this Trip
Local Community and Culture: This holiday is based around exploring the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Initially focusing on the fabulous dune system at Braunton Burrows, the reserve was later extended to encompass the whole of the Taw and Torridge River catchments in recognition that the entire system, from watershed to seashore, is inter-dependent. We've designed this itinerary to take you through the landscape from moorland stream to seashore at a pace where you can appreciate the changing scenery and soak up the local culture in this rural corner of England.
Friends and neighbours: When the journey is part of the fun there's time to stop at local shops and pubs - we'll give you the local tips. And when you spend money locally most of it stays local. But it's not just about going out. We can help you self cater with food from a local grocer, with meat from a neighbouring farm shop, and drinks from the local independent wine and beer merchant.
2 Reviews of Electric bike cycling holiday in Devon
Reviewed on 14 Jul 2019 by Hilary Mayne
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The beauty and peace of the environment, the meadow we looked out on, and the challenging cycling up and down steep Devon Hills. The owners have made an organic and natural habitat for insects, birds and butterflies and the fact there are only 3 lodges and 2 other residencies on 25 acres made this specially peaceful which is why we had our holiday in term time. The hired electric bikes were very important for exploring the lovely countryside for us 70 + year olds!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Relax, recycle and enjoy the wildlife and glorious countryside, consider hiring an electric bike so you dont have to use your car at all!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We used the local village to buy our newspaper and basics, but we mainly bought our own food. A farm shop 3 minutes bike ride away sold local meat, eggs etc and were very helpful and made sandwiches for us when we ran out of bread. Our holiday costs were to go to the continuing improvements on the farm...we saw the straw house converted from a barn and may be stables will be used in the future for ? carers for the disabled, as there is access in the straw house.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
My husband has Parkinsons and the onset of dementia, so as he still cycles this was for me as his carer, a simple way to refresh my soul and rest together away from demands at home. Ian and Maggie made us feel at home and were very helpful and available should we need anything we hadnt thought of, even suppplying us with notes as we explored different circular routes. We cycled 20 miles a day. The cool weather helped I must say.
Reviewed on 25 Jun 2017 by Mary Hughes
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The owners boundless enthusiasm, inventiveness and helpfulness.
Gliding up Devon hills effortlessly!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Buy some gel knickers!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely. The owner is a keen recycler himself and in enabling his visitors to do the same
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent, apart from a few battery issues with one of the bikes.
Read the operator's response here:
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