South Hams Mountain Biking

CSSH Mountain Biking

Riders in Kingsbridge and the South Hams have access to some amazing mountain biking, from dedicated trail centres and groomed downhill runs to proper wilderness riding on nearby Dartmoor and Exmoor. On this page, you'll find a few ideas for routes and locations worth a bit of research.

Burrator Reservoir

This is a great route in all conditions. Recently resurfaced, it offers great views across the moors, with the options of starting out from abundant parking at Princetown or Burrator reservoir. The descent from Nun's Cross is fast and challenging, but by using the granite way the route becomes rideable on a gravel bike or hybrid.

Avon Dam and Scorriton

Starting out from South Brent, this route follows a series of country roads through Shipley Bridge, and reaches the tarmac access road to the Avon Dam. From this point onwards, the route becomes increasingly wild, crossing open moorland for some cracking descents, taking in a clapper bridge and a long road climb on the way. This is a route requiring a good level of fitness and some technical ability.

Postbridge and Challacombe Down

An enjoyable route that winds through ancient farmland, an abandoned hamlet and with rolling views across Dartmoor. This route is best avoided in the wet, when low-lying sections of the trail become shallow streams and bog crossing is inevitable. In the dry, there is ongoing interest but few technical difficulties.

Plymbridge woods/Cann woods

Also located further to the West, plymbridge and Cann woods offer plenty of options. Plymbridge woods offers two groomed trails - one easy blue, one more technical red. These routes are accessed using the plym valley trail, easily accessed via the Coypool car park.

Cann woods offers a few wide fire roads linking a local’s paradise of emerging trails. The area is owned by the forestry commission, who have removed several trails over the past few years, but there are still plenty of shorter runs to choose from. Be warned - a number of the well-used trails require a good level of technical skill; always ride with others and within your ability.

Anything else?

When mountain biking, it is important to be prepared for some eventualities. Weather can change very quickly, particularly when on the moors, so an extra layer is important, as well as food and the ability to fix some of the more common mechanical issues you might encounter. A GPS is a helpful tool, but phone signal is unreliable in Devon generally, so should not be solely relied upon to guide you. There are plenty of guides available, either online or as traditional printed guidebooks, including Nick Cotton’s excellent guidebook: South West Mountain Biking : Quantocks, Exmoor and Dartmoor.

We do not currently currently organise any mountain bike rides specifically for riders under 18 years old but there are a couple of Mountain Biking organisations in Plymouth that do.

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