Nun’s Cross Trail cycle route overall rating:
(Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of)
Nun’s Cross Trail runs from Norsworthy Bridge, Burrator to Princetown, 4.5 miles away. It is graded as a Red route, because there is a stretch where you’ll be riding uphill, over loose rocks, some of which are the size of bowling balls.
This route can be combined with the Princetown Railway for a 12.5 loop, starting and ending in Princetown.
Surface of Nun’s Cross Trail
The surface varies considerably. In places it is quite firm, though unsealed throughout. In other places, it can be surprisingly sandy, and for a significant stretch it is full of loose rocks.
Along much of the route the surface can be quite loose.
Bikes
You’ll need a gravel bike, a sturdy hybrid or ideally a mountain bike.
Refreshments
If you’re lucky, there’d be an ice-cream van at Norsworthy Bridge. Other than that, the only other place is in Princetown itself.
Toilets
There are toilets available in Princetown only.
Hilliness
Topping out at 9%, on a bumpy, off-road surface, you’ll soon discover this route goes uphill from the start.
Safety from traffic
There are no cars on this route.
Points of Interest
The route passes very close to Crazywell Pool (do read about the legend!) and takes its name from Nun’s Cross Farm, which it passes close to.
Routes in Devon
- Tarka Trail – Barnstaple to Braunton
- Tarka Trail – Ilfracombe to Willingcott
- Dart Valley Cycleway
- Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton
- The Exe Estuary cycle route to Exmouth
- Nun’s Cross Trail cycle route
- Princetown Railway traffic-free cycle route
- Saltram Loop traffic-free cycle route
- DayCycle – Tarka Trail
- Family-friendly Cycling On The Granite Way
- DayCycle – A Redlake adventure
- DayCycle – Grand Western Canal
- DayCycle – Stover Trail & Wray Valley Trail
- DayCycle – Dawlish to Exeter St Davids
- Family-friendly Cycling on Drake’s Trail
Barriers
There are no barriers along the route, but there is a single gate, just as you enter Princetown.
Child friendliness
This route is not child friendly.
Social safety
For most of the route you will be very isolated.
Ratings
Forecast for Nun’s Cross Trail
What Nun’s Cross Trail looks like
Getting to Nun’s Cross Trail
Sadly, your only options of getting there is to either cycle there, or drive there. Parking is free by Norsworthy Bridge, and there’s a pay and display car park in Princetown, as well as free on-road parking in places.
More Routes
To find more routes, click this link.
DayCycle
DayCycle routes are routes can can easily be cycled by most people in a day, or part of a day. Do have a look at all the other DayCycle routes available on WillCycle.
Interactive map for Nun’s Cross Trail
You can download the GPX file from the map below, simply by clicking the GPX button. Hovering over the elevation profile will show the elevation for that point along the route, in both metres and feet. It will also show the gradient.
And finally…
If this route guide was of use to you, it will be of use to others, too. Don’t keep it secret! Share it with everyone, on social media, in Facebook Groups, on chat forums, and elsewhere.