Devon and Cornwall; March 2025
Gallery
Ride
The weather was predicted to be pretty good for a 3 day period, 23rd to 25th March, so I thought I would get my biking season off to an early start with a ride around Devon and Cornwall. I planned a route which took account of my favourite roads and also allowed me to visit 5 of the 2025 Carpe Diem locations. I took my Yamaha Tracer 900 GT.
Day 1: Wimborne to Truro
For my ride to Crediton, I had wanted to avoid taking the busier main east west roads, e.g. M5 and A303, so I took the A356 from just outside Dorchester to Crewkerne and from there I took the A30 to Chard. I then kept to minor roads crossing the A303 just after Chard amd the M5 around Culmstock. I passed through Tiverton to arrive at Crediton and my first Carpe Diem, Union Road Moto Velo. It was quite a nice leg to ride on engaging roads. Crediton on the other hand was very busy so I didn’t hang around there.
After Crediton, I rode north to Great Torrington and my second Carpe Diem, Torrington Bike Meet. It was a bit bleak there. Although it stayed dry the predicted good weather hadn’t materialised and it was cold. The bike meet consisted of a small number of aged bikers (me included) trying to keep warm and an old burger van. I didn’t stay long there either.
From Great Torrington I rode the A388 to Holsworthy and then the A3072 to Bude which was another enjoyable leg of the ride. After Bude I took the A39 “Atlantic Highway” to Indian Queens and my third Carpe Diem, SYLV’s Chapter 1 Diner. It was closed along with the motorcycle dealership next to it. I wasn’t having much luck with the Carpe Diems. It was a short hop from there to a run down Truro Premier Inn where I spent the night.
Day 2: Truro to Plymouth via Land’s End and Helston
From Truro I rode to St Ives to pick up one of my favourite roads, the B3306, along the coast passing through Zennor, Pendeen, St Just and passing by Land’s End Airport. Land’s End was my fourth Carpe Diem. (It’s a tacky place in my opinion.) After Land’s End I rode to Helston to spend a few hours catching up with some old friends and then it was onwards to my fifth Carpe Diem at Calstock, Valenti’s Tamar Valley Ice Cream Shop. (Which was also closed.) Unfortunately I backed into a concrete bollard scratching my RHS pannier while positioning the bike to take a photo of it. I was not happy about it but I was happy to get to my brother’s at Plymouth where I spent the night.
Day 3: Plymouth to Wimborne
After lunch I left Plymouth and took the well trodden route home arriving around 5 pm. I had ridden around 500 miles over the 3 days. I was a bit deflated by the ride. I guess being from the region I’m just too familiar with the roads and I’ve never found the Cornish roads that exciting. (I confess a bias here as I’m from Devon,) I wouldn’t say that the 5 Carpe Diems were that exciting either. On top of that, a persistent mist meant that it was fairly cold, way below the forecast temperatures. I was thankful for the Tracer’s heated grips.