Quantocks, Exmoor, Dartmoor
South west mountain biking written by Nick Cotton & Tom Fenton covers the Quantocks, Exmoor and Dartmoor, I have the second edition of this book and what follows are my thoughts and views on how this guide shapes up based on using it to go on real rides. Currently these thoughts are only bas on two rides as the weather and time has been against us this year and I have only had one weekend to sample the delights that the southwest has to off mountain bikers.
Dartmoor, Exmoor, Quantocks
This is the second book in the series that I have purchased the first being Cotswold Mountain Biking, it follows a similar format although rather than splitting the rides into how long / challenging they are they are split into areas as this book covers a larger area than the Cotswolds.
Like the other books in this series the grading of the routes is interesting the overall grading is OK that kinda matches up with he hardness of the route. However the ascents and descent grading doesn't seem quite right, it's almost as if they are set a grade higher maybe to avoid any potential recompense?
I do find this book easier to use that the Cotswolds one because its is arranged by area so it's easier to pick a ride. The instructions are generally clear and concise although on occasion they could do with little more clarity at some of the trickier junctions, this is especially the case when you get up onto moorland, it's all too easy to stray from the intended route and have to back track or correct. Having said that I've yet to find a ride that it wasn't possible to navigate round using the book.
The book itself doesn't really hold up to the rigours of mountain biking, it really could do with being printed on paper that resists the rain that frequents this area. My copy was looking worse for wear after only one trip, it did rain rather heavily to be fair but these are standard conditions for the south west.
DARTMOOR ROUTES
Granite Way & Meldon Reservoir
Route Grade: easy. Distance 16km
The Military Road South of Okehampton
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 24km
Lydford & Mary Tavy Route
Route Grade: medium . Distance 17km
Princetown to Burrator Reservoir Route
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 21km
Two Bridges, Princetown & Hexworthy
Route Grade: easy. Distance 16km
Bellever & the Stepping Stones
Route Grade:hard. Distance 20km
Postbridge & Challacombe Down
Route Grade: easy . Distance 16km
Grimspound & Hound Tor
Route Grade: hard. Distance 30km
North Bovey & Foxworthy Route
Route Grade: easy. Distance 13km
Avon Dam & Scorrition Route
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 30km
EXMOOR ROUTES
Lynton & the Valley of the Rocks
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 22km
Brendon Common, the Doone Valley & the East Lyn River
Route Grade: moderate . Distance 21km
Porlock Weir & County Gate
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 22km
Porlock to Minehead Selworthy Beacon Route
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 25km
Horner Wood Route
Route Grade: hard. Distance 10km
Withypool & Sportsman’s Inn
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 22km
Winsford & Exford
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 30km
Dulverton & Winsford Route
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 20km
Winsford & Wheddon Cross
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 27km
Wimbleball Reservoir Route
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 22km
Carhampton & Croydon Hill
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 17km
Monksilver & Brompton Ralph
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 19km
QUANTOCKS ROUTES
Quantocks Quickiew - Holford & Sheppard's Combe
Route Grade: easy/moderate. Distance 12km
Quantocks Classic Singletrack
Route Grade: moderate. Distance 18km
Aisholt & the Southern Combes
Route Grade: medium . Distance 16km
Quantocks Killer Loop
Route Grade: hard. Distance 27km
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