Devon Grit

Our gravel event returns for a sixth year. It’s ideal for gravel bikes, MTBs, cyclocross bikes & ebikes & takes in the best gravel trails of East Devon. This year we’ve had to move the start from Bicton College to the Imperial Recreation Ground in Exmouth. This just adds a few flat, traffic free miles along the excellent and very scenic Exe Estuary Trail to the Extreme, Full, Standard & Mini routes. nb the Full is only 12K longer than the Standard but they are twelve very tough kilometres including Core Hill which is the toughest climb of the whole ride!

All routes take in some of the best sections of Woodbury Common. Highlights include Woodbury Castle & some great single track on the common, a section of the Exe Estuary path, a climb up for views of the sea at the top of Beacon Hill and also Mutter Moor.

The routes are designed to be ridden on a gravel bike but a cyclocross bike or a lightweight XC mountain bike will be almost as quick. E-mountain bikes are also welcome. The ride is not suitable for road bikes & we recommend a minimum tyre width of 35mm and 40mm+ will be best. For 2024 the Mini route is fully marked. The Mini includes all the Woodbury Common sections of the course where it is easiest to miss a turn.

For the three longer routes you will need a Garmin, Wahoo or phone for navigation purposes. Don’t underestimate these rides! You need to add at least 50 percent onto the distances to get the ‘road’ equivalent in time & energy required to take them on.