Cycle Route 4 (approx 17 miles)

Circular route from Kennford to Double Locks pub and Exeter Quay

Other than the climb in and out of the village, this is a level route (along the banks of the Exeter Canal). There are plenty of places to stop for refreshments including the Double Locks pub. The Welcome cafe is open Thursday to Saturday for light lunches, tea and great cakes!

Map: refer to the Exe Estuary Trail map, which you will find in the Information pack.

Start point: Cherry Tree Cottage, Kennford

Directions

1. From the cottage head down the hill, passing the village post office on your right and continuing, ignoring the junction at Pyes Corner, and head out of the village (with Partridge Cycles on your left).

2. Cross the A38 road bridge, which swings left, and turn immediately right, signed for Exeter to briefly join the A379 (400m). This is a busy road at times so take care although there is a cycle path along part of the road.

3. At the petrol station, before the main road drops down, carefully cross the busy A379 and take the lane signed Little Silver. Follow this road (Days Pottle Lane), enjoying views down to the Estuary, for approximately 11⁄2 miles, passing Little Silver Cross, to arrive at the village of Exminster. 

4. At the junction in Exminster turn right to proceed past the Berrybrook Motors on your right and, after a small hill, the Royal Oak pub on your left. Continue straight on to reach a mini roundabout, at the A379 junction. From here go straight over to pick up the signed Exe Estuary route, which passes The Swan’s Nest pub and goes over a railway bridge. The lane continues through the nature reserve to meet a car park leading to the main Exeter to Dawlish Estuary trail. 

5. On arriving at the canal car park turn left (unsigned) and follow the route, passing the Topsham foot ferry, up to the swing bridge (main road junction) approx 2 miles. Cross the road at the pedestrian/cycle crossing and then look for the signs to Exeter and the Double Locks on the right hand bank. 

6. The Double Locks pub is soon found (approx 1⁄2 mile). Continue on in the same direction to meet the road bridge off to your left. Here turn right and follow the signs to Exeter and the Canal Basin. At the end cross the foot bridge (note Welcome Inn to your left) and shortly you will be at the Quay.

7. To return you can follow the opposite bank of the canal by crossing the Cricklepit Bridge to the old Warehouses Customs House and Prospect Pub. Along the canal on this side you pass the Port Royal pub. Continue past some houses, across a small footbridge to Trews Weir (passing Trews Weir Court). Then turn sharp right to rejoin the Exe Estuary trail via the Weir bridge. 

8. Follow the Exe Estuary trail signs back to the Double Locks Hotel (signed for Dawlish) and back to the swing bridge at the main road, which you cross to rejoin the Exe Estuary trail.

9. Retrace your wheels back to Exminster via the canal but this time take the first turning off the canal (unsigned) through a metal gate and through a car park, then up a metalled lane for 1 mile to bring you out to the A379 adjacent a vets and petrol station. Turn left along the footpath for 100m and then cross the road at the pedestrian/cycle crossing and cycle up through the village, past Tesco Metro on your right. You pass the post office on your left, then take the next right up Days Pottle Lane (signed Luccombs Fishery). 

10. Cycle for 2 miles up to the top of Days Pottle Lane to meet the A379 again at the garage. Turn left and head back down the hill to Kennford, where you turn right past Partridge Cycles to find the cottage on your left.