Chagford and Doccombe from Okehampton — Dartmoor road rides

Explore lanes to the north of Dartmoor on this hilly ride visiting the upmarket town of Chagford and nearby Moretonhampstead, with a spectacular wooded descent into the Teign Valley from Doccombe.

Starting from Okehampton, a large market town that’s easily accessed by both road and now rail, head out following signs for the Dartmoor Way, which soon lead you onto a lane that climbs to Belstone.

After taking in the beautiful moorland view from the green outside The Tors Inn, continue to follow the cycle route. This leads you east beside the River Taw to descend to Sticklepath village, home to the National Trust’s Finch Foundry.

After a short stretch of more main road, you’re back onto high hedge-lined narrow lanes heading south to Throwleigh. After crossing the bridge over Blackaton Brook, there’s a more scenic open area of grazing land to ride through.

Continue to follow the Dartmoor Way signs through Throwleigh, past glorious thatch cottages and stone barns, as you make your way towards Chagford. It’s certainly hilly around here, and there’s a considerable descent to cross the River Teign before it ramps up into the village.

Thankfully, there are plenty of places for refreshments in the centre of Chagford, with The Birdcage Cafe, the bakery and the deli coming highly recommended.

While there are faster main roads that link Chagford to nearby Moretonhampstead, the Dartmoor Way provides a lovely scenic route along lanes that avoid the worst of the traffic. Moretonhampstead also boasts a couple of great cycling-friendly cafes, if you’re ready for a break.

There’s a real treat in store next, but you have to climb first to earn it. Head east out of Moretonhampstead, leaving the Dartmoor Way and passing the stone pillars of the old almshouses, and start your steady ascent of the road to Doccombe. There are some great views from up here, which help to distract from the hard work!

Start the descent before you reach the hamlet of Doccombe, with smooth tarmac leading you into the woodland on this fantastic twisting downhill to cross the River Teign at Steps Bridge. A rare taste of flat road at the bottom leads you to the charming village of Dunsford, where it’s time to change tack to head back towards Okehampton.

You’ll skirt the border of Dartmoor National Park for the return leg, starting with a steady but fairly long climb out of Dunsford. The lane plateaus a little before you reach Cheriton Bishop, where you turn left to join the more direct road heading west through the dip to Crockernwell.

The smooth tarmac leads you over the A30 on a bridge, steadily climbing on the old road that now follows parallel to this major road link. Cross back over again into Whiddon Down, taking lanes back to Sticklepath. For a little variation at the end of your ride, follow the lane heading out of the village rather than turning off onto the Dartmoor Way, which will lead you back into Okehampton along the main road.