Exmouth by Bicycle

Today I put to the test my new cycling and fitness regime - a long bike ride to Exmouth, 13 miles from Cowley Bridge.

The bike is clapped out but the will is there. I take the normal route to work, at Clyst St Mary, only it's bank holiday Monday. Continue to Woodbury Salterton, past the Digger's Rest, and on to Woodbury, the lovely village with the old, pre-war style garage.

The Maltsters pub looks inviting, I've never been inside, and I'm thirsty after 45 minutes cycling. Inside, I bump into Rita and Ulla, two people I haven't seen for years, friends of my mother's.

To avoid the traffic - and armed with my Ordnance Survey 'Explorer' touring map (1:25,000) - I take a detour down a tiny country lane via Woodmanton. This road has a great grass a mud strip down the middle, sandwiched on either side by fading, crumbling tarmac. I pass Lower Mallock and Higher Mallock farms, both displayed to some detail on the map.

They have enormous brick farmhouses and courtyards (19th century), the sort where you expect to see a stray dog yapping away. Now, however, they've been turned into modern, all mod-cons habitations for the modern professional. Going for about 1 million.

On to Dalditch Lane, down to Dalditch Common and then to Knowle and into Budleigh Salterton, one of my favourate places.

Back via the old railway line cycle route, which enables me for the first time to go over the giant railway bridge/viaduct that I have passed under so many times. That's after a pint at the Feathers pub in the High Street, and a tea down on the superb beach, Steamer Steps, kiosk.