Cycling The Jurassic Coast From Budleigh Salterton

The existing cycle paths on the coast at Budleigh Have now been extended with a brand new walk/cycle path, meaning you can get quite a distance and enjoy beautiful views of the Exmouth estuary as you go.

We've used Google Maps to provide the locations of the the cycle path as it leaves Budleigh and then briefly rejoins the road at Exmouth before heading off again. You can click the 'View Larger Map' links under each map to see the area in Google Maps and zoom in or out to help plan your trip.

The cycle path from Budleigh Salterton starts at the top of the town at Bear Lane, winding its way on old disused railway tracks towards Exmouth:

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The path is sheltered with dappled shade initially with a very slight incline (barely noticable unless you are coming the other way, at which point you can go quite a distance without peddaling!), and then breaks out into beautiful open fields and a sandy track for the latter half of the trip.

You arrive into a quiet residential area of Exmouth called Littleham:

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Turn right out of that culdesac and pick up the track again on the other side of the road to follow it past a field of allotments, over another small road and up to the main Salterton road. Cross over this road and down the hill briefly before rejoining the cycle route again down a steep incline and past the edge of Phear Park:

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Upon emerging you need to follow the hill down, right at the roundabout and turn left down Lyndhurst Road, then left again. At this point you can either turn left again down towards the town centre and the beach, or you can follow the main road for another 100 metres or so until the new cycle path begins.

The New Jurassic Coast Walk/Cycle Way The new walkway starts along Marine Way in Exmouth:

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Once on this path is takes you along the side of the estuary, with stunning views and a nice spacious walkway shared by walkers, joggers and cyclists alike. The walkway goes through Lympstone and then Exton, small villages along the estuary.

At these villages and at Topsham you will be taking small routes through the village lanes or through houses, and often if the cycle path is not evident you may have to ask directions from locals. Everyone is very friendly though, and will no doubt be happy to point you in the right direction!

If you follow the walkway as far as it goes you can get all the way up to Exeter, but you may decide just to stop at Topsham and head down to the quay and enjoy a drink at any of the cosy pubs in the area. Just before Topsham the route also takes you past Dart's Farm, a collection of shops including Cotswold outdoor clothing and Dart's Farm foods, well worth a browse and with a nice tea-room for some refreshment, plus outdoor benches to enjoy the sun and some pigs and other animals for the kids to visit!

We'd recommend the cycle route from Budleigh Salterton to Exmouth, and then from Exmouth to Lymstone and Topsham - both routes are beautiful and have lots of oppurtunities for stops with views or pubs and cafes for breaks along the way. If you are staying at Hansard House and want a pointer to the start of the cycle route, or advice on any part of the route, just ask, we'll be happy to help.

For further information on cycle routes in the Devon area, you may find the Cycle-Route website helpful.