Start your morning with a relaxed pedal along the riverside paths to Exeter Quay, stopping for coffee at The Ship Inn or a riverside café while watching boats pass; then continue to explore the historic heart by parking bikes and strolling around Exeter Cathedral Green to admire its Gothic façade and the tranquil cloister. Finish with a short circular ride through the leafy lanes to Rougemont Gardens for a picnic on the castle ramparts and panoramic views over the city before a gentle return to your accommodation to check in or freshen up.
Cycle out from the quay toward the historic heart and follow traffic-calmed lanes to Exeter Phoenix for a coffee and a browse of the local arts and exhibition space, then pedal on to the peaceful riverside stretch past Southernhay Gardens to enjoy tree-lined paths and Georgian townhouses. Continue with a gentle loop to The Underground Passages area (viewing from above if you prefer to keep bikes) before finishing at Gandy Street for an early dinner at a local bistro or gastropub and people-watching on this lively stretch.
As daylight softens, take a relaxed cycle to Princesshay for some shopping or window-browsing, then continue along the riverbank to Cathedral Yard where outdoor seating and evening lights create a pleasant atmosphere for an aperitif. Finish with a short spin to Quay House or Locke's Bistro near the water for a riverside dinner, listening to local chatter and reflecting on the day's easy explorations before a gentle ride back to your accommodation.
Leave Exeter early and take the train or a spirited pedal to Exmouth Railway Station, then follow the flat, signed route along the Exe Estuary Trail toward Maer Rocks where wide sands and kite-surfers provide a lively coastal scene-stop for breakfast at The Empire Café with sea views. Continue the gentle ride to Orcombe Point to see the UNESCO geopark interpretive sculptures and panoramic views across Lyme Bay, pausing to explore the shoreline and birdlife at the Exe Estuary Nature Reserve before a mid-morning coffee at The Saltyard overlooking the estuary.
Cycle inland from the estuary along quiet country lanes to Lympstone Village, pause to stroll the pretty high street and enjoy a light lunch at The Cider Press with views of tidal creeks; then continue toward Powderham Castle where you can lock bikes and take a short guided walk through the deer park and riverside grounds for history and wildlife spotting. Finish the afternoon with a gentle pedal to Dawlish Warren Bird Observatory to scan the mudflats for waders and seals while the late light softens over the estuary.
As the sun lowers after a day on the coast, pedal back toward the sheltered waters of the estuary and stop at Cockwood Harbour to watch local fishermen bring in their catch while you sip a cider on the quay. Continue with a gentle ride to Topsham's Strand for riverside seating, sample seafood at The Ship Inn (Topsham) or a riverside café, then stroll the historic quay and independent shops before a calm cycle return along quiet lanes to your base.
Head out early from your base and climb quiet country lanes toward the edge of Dartmoor, pausing for breakfast and a pastry at The Old Inn at Widecombe before tackling a scenic loop; the route takes you through mosaic farmland to the windswept tors, with a photo stop at Haytor Rocks for sweeping views over the moor. Continue along grit-surfaced bridleways to the evocative ruins of Hound Tor, where you can lock your bikes and wander among medieval settlements, then descend via lane to a riverside picnic by Worthy Brook before the midday heat sets in.
After the morning tors and picnic, take a relaxed spin down to the wooded valley of the River Dart and follow quiet lanes to the picturesque village of Buckland-in-the-Moor, where you can tie up and explore the thatched cottages and the historic St. Andrew's Church. Continue on a gentle loop toward Buckfastleigh, pausing at The House of Marbles for an intriguing tour and a coffee, then ride the scenic lane alongside the Dart Valley Railway for mellow riverside views before returning to your base as the afternoon light softens.
As dusk falls, take a gentle pedal down valley lanes toward the honey-coloured village of South Brent and enjoy a pint or local ale at The Two Bridges Inn while swapping stories of the day's rides; the pub garden is a good spot to watch swifts and the last light on the moor. Afterward, follow the quiet road beside the River Avon for a short riverside spin to Buckland Bridge, where riverside seating and a riverside café make a calm setting for a warm drink before returning to your base under starry Dartmoor skies.