Drake’s Trail is supposedly a cycle and walking path linking Tavistock with Clearbrook. Oh, alright! If you want to be pedantic, there are also several cycling and walking spurs. In fact, looking at the “official” site, you’d notice almost nothing about the actual route between Tavistock and Clearbrook. Instead, the site seems to be all … Read more
I’ve been either blessed, or cursed, with an inquisitive nature. Add to this a sense that all people essentially are (or should be!) equal and it becomes obvious that it is easy for me to support the Occupy movement, as well as their values of social justice. Taking things further, when looking at how cyclists are being … Read more
Thought ‘d post this photo as a teaser. It was taken from part of the deck that was being laid on top of the bridge and shows the 500-tonne crane dropping the main 35-tonne span in place. And before you ask, no, I wasn’t fortunate enough to take this picture. It was sent to me … Read more
In Plymouth we have suffered some 18 months of severe disruption due to the construction of what is called the East End Transport Scheme. Despite the great inconvenience the roadworks have caused, most people have accepted that it was necessary, especially in the light of the extra traffic a proposed new town to the east … Read more
Recently I cycled part of the famous Camel Trail, specifically the bit between Wadebridge and Padstow. Now the Camel Trail is decribed by Cornwall County Council as “arguably the most successful recreational multi use trail in the UK” and I would certainly describe the estuary part as surrounded by stunning scenery. They go on to … Read more
Recently I cycled out to check on how the clever people were getting with building the bridge. As per usual, I cycled up the Plym Valley Trail, and opted to cycle on the road, up the really steep hill near Clearbrook. It was actually quite misty and the view from some vantage points along … Read more
The past 18 months were a mixture of utter traffic chaos, severe disruption and, seemingly at times, sheer madness.This was due to the East End Transport Scheme being built in Plymouth’s East End. Broadly speaking, the scheme would improve traffic flow (for motorised traffic, of course) throughout the area, and crucially prepare creaking transport links to … Read more
I’ve posted several times before about NCN 27, which is also known as the Devon Coast to Coast route, and I have some detailed writings about parts of the route, specifically the Plym Valley Trail and Drake’s Trail. However, there is a second NCN route through Plymouth: NCN 2. Here’s what Sustrans has to say … Read more
It takes a lot to run a city the size of Plymouth, and there is at any point in time huge scope for things to go wrong. Everything needs maintaining and demands on budgets are made all the time from all directions. In a commercial environment this would be hard enough, but throw elected officials … Read more
Gem Bridge, I’m happy to say, is progressing brilliantly! I had the opportunity to visit the site, and take some photos. I wasn’t allowed right down into the valley at the time, as they were still securing a segment of the bridge that had been lifted in place just a while before I took the … Read more
No, this isn’t going to be a long, detailed write-up telling you about every little pebble along the way, but rather on overview. As you may know, I cycled the Devon Coast 2 Coast route (NCN 27) from lfracombe to Plymouth, over two days, to fundraise for Myeloma UK. They’re a charity that focuses exclusively … Read more
On Saturday I’m travelling up to Ilfracombe to start cycling the Devon Coast to Coast route (NCN 27). I’m doing this as a charity fundraiser for Myeloma UK – they provide finance for research, and support for people living with myeloma, and a whole lot more. Myeloma is quite a rare type of blood cancer, … Read more
Just on the eastern edge of Plymouth is a gorgeous area known as Plymbridge. The name originated from the bridge over the river Plym, which for a very long time was the bridge nearest to the river’s mouth. For a while, the South Devon and Tavistock railway ran through the area, as it followed the … Read more
You know the feeling: there you are, happily pedalling along when suddenly a vehicle passes so close it almost scrapes the paint of your bike. We’ve all had near-misses and we’ve all had our lives flash before our eyes, just because some driver cut you up, overtook with millimetres to spare or done something else that nearly … Read more
Yesterday I cycled to West Hoe park with my youngest, who wanted to go on the tag-along, as there are uphills her little legs don’t like too much.When we eventually left the park, we decided to cycle up Hoe road, on Plymouth’s foreshore. Hoe road is a one-way against us, but there is a contra-flow … Read more