Ride for Life Training Rides in Devon

Topsham to Venice in Aid of Cancer Research

The Mamhead Figure of 8

Mamhead, the highest point on the Haldon Hills west of Topsham (279 metres above sea level), is our most challenging local hill, and provides the core for much of our hard hill training. This 48 mile route climbs the bugger twice (excuse my language, but it's the only way to describe it), so it is definitely for masochists. The "Double" is definitely reserved for days when we feel like a really decent ride, but either route up Mamhead (back via either Dawlish or Longdown) is a respectable ride in itself (mileage for the single routes are about 32 and 34 miles respectively).

Distance: 48 miles
Terrain: Moderate (easy except for the Mamhead hill itself which is no more than 15 minutes of purgatory each time)
Refreshments: In Dawlish.
Route Description: From Topsham, head out of town on the Exeter Road, and at the Countess Wear roundabout, turn left to cross the river and the canal. Turn left again along the Dawlish Road that follows the river down towards the sea. This is a nice, easy ride that we always find provides us with a good half an hour or so of gentle warnup. Take the turn off left to the Powderham Estate, a detour that brings you back down to the river again and passes through this lovely country house where herds of deer roam in the ample and well kept grounds. Rejoin the Dawlish Road at Starcross, and, in the centre of the village, where the road narrows to one lane, turn right to head away from the village and the start of the Mamhead climb.

The climb takes about 25 minutes in total, but the first half is very gentle. Midway up, by a small lodge on the left, the road steepens considerably, and begins to snake its way up to the hill. Take courage, for the early stretch is definitely the steepest: after that, you simply get stuck into whichever gear you are most comfortable in (usually the lowest!) and grind your way to the top. We've belted up it in less than ten minutes, but a sane and respectable time from the lodge to the crossroads at the top is 13 or 14 minutes.

At the top of the hill, pause and reward yourself with a drink, then carry on straight until you reach the dual carriageway. Turn left for a short stretch on this fast, busy road, then take the first exit signposted to Teignmouth. You can carry along this to Teignmouth, then climb out from the river town and back along the coast to Dawlish: we usually however find a turning left at the top of the hill down to Dawlish, an always busy (but rather tacky) seaside resort. If you are close to bonking, you can always pick up some bananas or a Mars here. Then carry out of town back towards Exeter, but make a detour right to Dawlish Warren, and so return to Starcross.

At Starcross, you guessed, it's up Mamhead once more. But this time, at the crossroads at the top, turn right and follow this ridge for a glorious eight miles or so. On a clear day, there are great views across to Dartmoor on the left, and down over the Exe Valley and the hills of East Devon to the right. At the first fork, take the left (do not descend to Dunchideock), to stay along the ridge, then find a fork right signposted to Longdown. There are one or two steep climbs and descents through this little stretch, before you emerge at Longdown and the top of the ridge. You are now rewarded with an exhilarating and magnificent, fast, but straight and safe descent down to the outskirts of Exeter. Return to Topsham by way of the Marsh Barton Trading Estate.

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