Devon and Cornwall; March 2026
Gallery
Ride
After the never ending rain we’ve had during the winter of 2025/2026 I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go for a ride when the forecast predicted nice weather for a few days beginning with Wednesday18th March 2026. I had a route planned for the South West so with the sun shining on Wednesday morning I booked a hotel on the Lizard Peninsula and took off for a couple of days.
My route took in a few places on the Carpe Diem 2026 challenge and some of my favourite roads through Devon and Cornwall. First stop was Wasp Motorcycles at Dunkeswell. From Dorchester I took the A356 to Crewkerne and then the A30 to Chard and most of the way to Dunkeswell. The A356 is a favourite, not too much traffic and, fast and flowing. I often take it in preference to the A35 when I'm going west.
After popping into Teignmouth I went to The Jolly Roger at Bovey Tracey. What a place that is with its life sized models and motorcycle collection? From there I crossed Dartmoor to get to Plymouth and Cap’n Jaspers on the Barbican. Now I’m a native Plymouthian born and bred but I can’t say I enjoyed my ride through Plymouth. Like all big cities the traffic systems are complex, traffic lights abound and the traffic is intense. At one point, while I’m stuck in a queue a strangely dressed guy comes up beside me riding a bicycle with very wide handlebars onto which are mounted speakers blaring out AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. I tried to get away but he’s quick and nimble in the traffic. Eventually we’re side-by-side stopped behind a car at traffic lights.The lights go green, the car doesn't move off, it then hesitantly advances a bit before stopping halfway across the stop line blocking matey on his bicycle and me. Matey lets go with a stream of obscenities at the car and the front passenger leans out the car window and retorts “do you want some?” I manage to get by and go through on orange leaving them to it. Luckily my Garmin is kind to me and quickly gets me out of the city via the Torpoint ferry. Crossing the Tamar from Devon to Cornwall brought back memories of riding my old Lambretta to Whitsand Bay when I was a lad.
I made it a point to avoid the A30 while I was in Cornwall. It’s a good road but it has no soul. My first stop in Cornwall was Helston to meet up with some old friends from my Uni days. I stayed on the A390 and went through St Austell. The day had been lovely but it soon chilled down in the evening and after leaving my friends it was a chilly twilight ride from Helston to my hotel at The Lizard. I stayed at the Housel Bay Hotel where I had a meal in the restaurant. A nice hotel with lovely views over the bay and I spent a comfortable night there.
On Thursday morning I left the hotel and had a very enjoyable ride to Hell’s Mouth on Cornwall’s north coast. From there I rode to Bude, mostly on the Atlantic Highway but I have to admit to taking a bit of the A30 (which had roadworks). The Atlantic Highway was a nice ride as it’s a fast and flowing road and there was little traffic at the time of year. At Bude I turned east and took the A3072 to Holsworthy and Hatherleigh where petrol was £1.38.9 and £1.37.9 respectively. The cheapest fuel prices I came across in this time of Trump’s war on Iran. Now the A3072 is one of my favourite roads but it’s in a bit of a state at the moment with numerous and huge potholes. The B roads in general were in quite poor condition so it was necessary to keep your eyes on the road surface. From Hatherleigh there was some nice riding (keeping your eyes open for potholes) to South Molton. From there I took A roads to Taunton and Yeovil, and then home to Wimborne via Sherborne and Sturminster Newton. I had to stop at the old mill at Sturminster Newton because of my aching back, arms and shoulders.
My South West route totalled 500 miles and took me through 8 Carpe Diems. I have a nice 2025 NT1100A but I opted to ride my old Blackbird. The Blackbird is a really nice bike to ride with its liquid smooth powerful inline four cylinder motor but these days its riding position is hard on my back, arms and shoulders. After about 100 miles all were starting to ache and by the end of each day’s 250 mile ride I had had enough. In contrast, I recently rode a 260 mile day on the NT1100A and felt fine (but maybe not so satisfied). I bought the Blackbird new back in 2005 so this year I’ll have had her for 21 years. She goes as well as she ever did which is more than I can say for me!