Location details: Woodbury Common is common land that’s also used as a training ground by the Royal Marines, so don’t enter areas where/when a red flag is flying. The area is predominantly heathland, with a band of trees around the outskirts, all of which provides some excellent riding, and the land managers welcome thoughtful cyclists.

Start/finish: Four Firs car park (grid ref SY 032/864, postcode EX5 1JL).

How to get there: Woodbury Common is near Exmouth, just south-east of Exeter, at the end of the M5. Follow signs for Exmouth, along the A376, and then join the B3179. Go straight over the crossroads with the B3180 and the Four Firs car park is immediately on your right.

Facilities: There are no refreshments on the route, unless you’re lucky enough to find an ice cream van. The Saint George and Dragon pub in Clyst Saint George, where the B3179 comes off the A376, does food and accommodation (01392 876121). There’s a choices of places to stay in Exmouth – contact the Tourist Information Centre for details (www.exmouth-guide.co.uk, 01395 830550). Knobblies Bike Shop in Exmouth is very good, and offers guided rides and bike hire (www.knobbliesbikes.co.uk, 01395 270182).

Directions: Exit the car park and cross the road (B3179). Bear left, crossing the B3180, to join a doubletrack trail, uphill. Keep right to and cross the road. Keep left, joining a wide track that heads north, out into the open

Keep following this track as it bears right. Keep ahead at a clump of trees (on the left), then join a section of singletrack to the left that runs parallel to the doubletrack. Go left at the track crossing, downhill to another track crossing at the bottom. Go right on a wide track here, downhill to the bottom. Then go left on a footpath into the trees.

After 1km turn right by a signpost, up a steep singletrack climb. Go left at the top/track, through the trees and then immediately left down some steep singletrack. Go right on the singletrack at the bottom, uphill and over a wide track. Follow the bridleway ahead/right through trees on the edge of the common.

Head downhill along the edge of the woods. Go right at the T-junction, then bear left off the main track, staying on the bridleway until you reach another T-junction (marker post 17). Turn left here, on the singletrack to the right of (and parallel to) the main track. Keep ahead through a pine wood and ford, then go right and left on some singletrack along the edge of the trees.

Go left at the doubletrack, then right. Keep left by the barrier to follow the edge of the wood on some tight singletrack (Crook Plantation). Follow a vague downhill to some doubletrack. Turn right and then first left to head up a steep hill on a wide track. Shortly afterwards go left, along the edge of the woods.

Go right on the doubletrack at the end, then left to/over the road and right at a T-junction. Go left at the top (car park to your right), downhill. Pass the water dips at the bottom and head uphill. Bear to the left of the steps and keep left to descend into the trees. Keep right, following the stream on a vague track to the edge/fence. Go right here, uphill.

Follow the track to the left, through a gate and over the road. Cross another road and keep left along the edge of the wood. Turn right on Shortwood Lane. Take a sharp right on a right-hand bend to head downhill to the road. Go right here, uphill, then right onto a track. Keep ahead/right to a road.

Go right on the road, then left by the car park. Follow the edge of the wood, joining some singletrack. Cross the road and, at the track crossing, go right on a bridleway. Follow this along the edge of the quarry (on left). Go left after a gate, then right, uphill, away from the quarry.

Bear left in the open, then right at the T-junction. At the major junction, with trees ahead, turn left. Keep ahead/right to head steeply uphill. Go right, through the trees, then left at the fork (pink arrow). Keep ahead back to the car park.

Woodbury Common, Devon, Medium