Synopsis: A cycle ride over Haldon, which was a tough climb. Visited Merry Pool and the embankments of a hill fort. Then dropped down into Dawlish for a brief stroll before cycling the Estuary Trail home.
(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)
As so often seems to be the case, I had no specific plans for today on waking this morning. I knew the weather looked promising, so I sat at my laptop and browsed for things of interest. There were a few things on Haldon that I decided I’d like to investigate, so I quickly mapped out a cycle route, prepared some sandwiches, oiled my bike, and was on my way.
There is a fairly quick route to Kennford from my home, and although not the most pleasant of cycles, as it follows some very busy roads, it gets the job done efficiently enough. At Kennford I picked up the lane to Kenn, and at this point I could leave the noise and smog of traffic far behind me. I passed my old school in Kennford before cycling on to Kenn. I stopped for a few minutes respite beneath a tree by the war memorial in the grounds of St Andrew’s Church.
The lane from Kenn is particularly quiet, as it is not a through road, merely a road that serves the small number of farms and houses along its length. It’s beautiful countryside, with many lovely views. The last stretch was a dirt track connecting with a public bridleway which is an old hollow lane that leads up onto Haldon. I’ve come this way a number of times before. It starts reasonably easy enough, and, although narrow, can be cycled without too much trouble. The last section however becomes very rough and steep, and I always have to push my bike to the top, which I was very glad to reach.
I then cycled a track through what is described as a ‘huskies training area’. I’ve never known what exactly that is, nor have I ever seen any huskies in the vicinity.
I eventually crossed a road and was hoping to continue along a forest track only to discover my way barred by a notice on the gate. Apparently there were forest workings ahead, and there was no access permitted to this section of Haldon Forest. I often ignore such signs at weekends, as no work takes place then, but the notice said cameras were in operation, so I decided to abide by the warning.
I cycled on towards another entry point to the part of Haldon Forest that I wished to go, at a gate near to the parking for the obelisk. There were no warning notices at this point, and I was fairly confident I would be able to reconnect with my planned route from this track. As it was nearly 13:30, I settled upon having some lunch first. I picked out a shady picnic bench in the nearby car park, next to the path to the obelisk, at which to stop for lunch.
On setting off after lunch, it wasn’t long before, as I hoped would be the case, I connected once again with my intended route. A little way down this track I broke off right to pick up a field boundary, which I followed, gradually dropping off the hillside till I reached a road. On crossing the road a public footpath sign pointed my way forward, down a not too promising green lane, quite overgrown with vegetation. This way is named Oakpark Lane on the OS map. I put my tracksuit bottoms on, to avoid getting stung and scratched. As it happens, a little way along this path the situation improved, and the going became a lot easier.
I was finally jettisoned onto another road, by the war memorial that stands just outside the boundary of the village of Ashdown. I must have come this way before, as I instantly recognised it. Nearby was a view up the valley towards Mamhead, with, I think, Mamhead House just visible in the distance.
After having lost a lot of height over the last 1 km, now began the task of regaining that height. I began the long hard haul back up the lane opposite, sometimes cycling, sometimes pushing. Eventually the lane levelled out, not far from a place marked Ashcombe Tower on the map. I wasn’t sure what this would be. I was greeted at the side of the lane by the sight of an imposing set of gate piers and a well closed high gate. I perched myself on a fence opposite, and this was the best, rather nosey, view I could get. It seems to be a rather splendid house.
Cycling on, I approached the site of Merry Pool, which I’d marked on my GPS. I decided I’d like to visit Merry Pool after seeing ‘Merry Pool near Castle Dyke’ on Geograph. I padlocked my bike to a tree and set off along a well defined path into the woods. I was only a short distance in when I reached the pool. To be honest, today, it was less a pool, more a slick, a slick of mud. The hot dry summer had obviously taken its toll. Ah well, it was still worth seeing.
As I approached the furthest point I on Haldon to which I intended to cycle, I also approached the final item of interest noted by me for exploration. On the map it is labelled as ‘Castle Dyke’, and is shown as a large circular embankment. I wasn’t disappointed. What can be seen today is the earthwork circle of what must have been an early fortification. It is quite distinct in the landscape. I didn’t walk all the way around it, but what I saw of it I thought was really quite impressive.
Now for some speed. Back on my bicycle, the lane from here dropped steeply towards Dawlish, and I shot along it. I glanced through the trees to my right to see if I could see anything of Luscombe Castle and Gardens, but nothing can be seen from the road, and there is no available access, what with it being private. It’s rather a shame, as I note that Luscombe Castle is Grade I Listed under Parks and Gardens.
I arrived in Dawlish in no time at all. Dawlish, as might be expected on a hot summer’s day in August, was packed with holiday makers. The fair was in town too. I walked the route I have walked countless times before, following the stream with its ducks and swans, all the way down to the sea.
I found a place to sit under the shade of the railway bridge, facing out to sea. I stopped for a biscuit, apple and a drink to refresh me. Then I padlocked my bike and took a brief stroll in the direction of Coryton Beach. It was now 17:00, time to be headed home, so I returned to my bike for the final leg of my journey, the ride home along the Exe Estuary Trail.
It had been a wonderful day’s cycling. It had been physically quite hard at times, but it felt good to have made the effort, leaving me feeling well exercised after my day in the saddle.
Cycle Statistics:
Total Distance: 51.2 km / 31.8 miles
Moving Time: 5hrs 17min
Stopped Time: 1hr 15min
Total Ascent: 708 metres
Maximum Elevation: 267 metres
Buses: (none)
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