The best road cycling routes around Parracombe

The beach here is closed to dogs from 1 May to 30 Sept

In season, open between Tuesday and Saturday, 11 til last orders at 3.30. Great for cream teas.

Get in touch with Lee Abbey before arriving to ensure they can welcome you and give you a passport to stamp.

Pick up your passport at reception. If you're in time for 8am you can join community prayers and be blessed as you go! Grab a leaflet about Lee Abbey, year round courses and retreats are offered.

Almost nothing reliable is known about the life of Saint George, to whom this church was dedicated, but veneration of him stretches back to early Christianity. A martyr identified with George is said to have lived in the third century. The legend of Saint George as the dragon slayer, however, is quite well known and widespread; he is often depicted—in paintings or statues—as the conqueror of the monster, often as a knight on horseback. The feast day of the very popular Saint George in the calendar of saints is celebrated on April 23rd in both the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. Among other things, he is the patron saint of the English kingdom, and some of the orders and decorations awarded there bear his name.

Lynmouth Hill from Lynmouth is a brutally steep Exmoor ascent, averaging 13% with savage ramps up to 25%. The narrow, twisting road climbs sharply through thick woodland, with smooth tarmac but little let-up in gradient. Start in your easiest gear and stay seated to maintain traction—there’s no warm-up, and the climb hits hard from the first pedal stroke. Watch for sharp bends and limited visibility if traffic is around. It’s a short, intense effort that will leave your legs burning and your heart pounding. Launching straight out of Lynmouth harbour eastwards on the A39, prepare for an immediate and ferocious battle with gravity up Lynmouth Hill. There's no gentle introduction; the road kicks skywards instantly and relentlessly, averaging a punishing 12-13% for the entire ascent. Experience the sustained, intense effort required right from the first pedal stroke, engaging your lowest gears as you fight your way up through the wooded lower slopes. You'll wrestle the bike around tight hairpin bends where the gradient peaks at a formidable 25%, especially on the inside lines. Feel the village shrink rapidly below as, you glimpse the stunning coastal views opening up over the bay. Be mindful of other traffic likely sharing your struggle on this notoriously steep Exmoor A-road. The intense effort only truly relents as you finally reach the slightly gentler ground near Countisbury at the top.

Tackling Porlock Hill westwards from the village on the A39, prepare for an immediate, brutal ascent. The climb bites hard almost instantly, throwing its infamous 25% ramps at you very early, particularly around the tight hairpins. Experience the intense effort required in your lowest gears, feeling the steepness challenge every pedal stroke. As you winch yourself upwards through the woods, glance back (when safe!) at the rapidly unfolding, stunning views over Porlock Bay. Be aware you'll be sharing this famously steep A-road with other vehicles. After battling the steepest sections, the gradient lessens slightly, but the climb persists relentlessly until you emerge onto the exposed Exmoor moorland at the summit and breathtaking views over the Bristol Channel.

View over Barnstaple.