and ride round the back of Easter Hill and
down an overgrown track into the back of
Westwood. Cockwood was a bit of a
revelation, with the tide in, a little harbour lay
before me, a couple of pubs nestling in the arc
of the inlet, boats bobbing on the morning tide,
all looking very inviting and I mentally made a
note for a visit on another day.
arrived in Dawlish Warren, though I did not
have time to mooch around the dunes or enjoy
the view across the estuary to Exmouth. The
A379 took me through the centre of Dawlish
past the repaired railway line devastated by the
storms 18 months ago. I detoured a mile or so
inland to ride a lovely lane past Westbrook
Farm across a small stream and up through a
copse and into the back of Teignmouth. Riding
a bike through Teignmouth is ideal as it's
always a busy place with no bypass so filtering
move. However, being on my own, the sun on
my back, I was in no hurry as I crossed the
Teign Estuary to Shalden, the tide almost in, the
fishing boats and yachts slack on their
moorings on the shimmering blue water. I could
have spent the whole day riding lanes around
Shalden which range from easy farm tracks to
horrible narrow, steep washed out steps. Being
on a mission, I turned off the A379 and rode
up a UCR to the Beacon 169 metres above sea
level affording a gorgeous view down across
farm land into the Teign Valley and Dartmoor
providing a stunning backdrop. The lanes are
wide and sweeping here, with red Devonian
sandstone earth and summer plants like willow
herb and foxgloves brightening up the
hedgerows. I reflected that it certainly beats
working as I snapped another postcard view!
described by its website as "a chocolate box
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