Arlington cycle - School woods and Loxhore loop 11km
Devon
This gravel/MTB route starts from the main car park, taking in Withy's Down, Loxhore, Webber's Wood and Deer Park Wood.
Start point
Arlington Court car park, grid ref: SS611408Trail information
Difficulty
ChallengingFull trail
DistanceMiles: 7 (km: 11.2)Please note
This route includes sections on minor roads at the user’s own risk.
Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Arlington Court car park, grid ref: SS611408
Stage 1
Pull out from the visitor’s car park, opposite the main entrance to Arlington, turn left and cycle up the quiet road, passing several houses and a clutch of cottages. Meeting a junction after 200 metres, ignore the entrance to the property along bridleway going right, and instead continue along the road as it bends left, following a fingerpost sign pointing towards Loxhore. Pedal along the bracken-lined lane for 250 metres, until you see the Old School building straight ahead, on the left.
Stage 2
Turn left along the lane just before the Old School. Pass a National Trust sign for Arlington and follow a fingerpost for Arlington Beccott, pedalling on a permissive bridleway that leads into the verdant treescape of Withy’s Down.
Stage 3
When the track forks, go right and ride uphill, passing through a gate. Ride a spectacular section of singletrack through School Woods, rolling beneath sweet chestnut, oak, holly and sycamore. The trail arcs right, crosses a gushing stream and then elbows left. All too soon arrive at a double set of wooden gates.
Stage 4
Go through the gates and turn right along Lock Lane. Cycle along this quiet country road, which wends and bends past farm fields and several gates, steadily climbing until you reach a T-junction with a road.
Stage 5
Turn right, following the road sign for Arlington, Loxhore and Barnstable. Descend along the road for 500 metres, slowing down as you pass Besshill Farm Shop.
Stage 6
After a further 50 metres, directly opposite Brinscombe Farm, turn right along a signed public bridleway. Cycle past Lane End House and continue along a wide gravel track. This quickly narrows and becomes a dirt trail, which snakes through woods and spits you out at a T-junction. (You can shortcut back to the start by going right here, but you will miss some sensational cycling through Deer Park Wood.)
Stage 7
Turn left and cycle along the quiet country lane. At the next junction (where you meet back up with the road you were riding earlier), turn right, again following signs for Loxhore and Barnstable. Keep going straight and enjoy a fast downhill stretch on sealed surface for a mile, slowing down as you pass the Loxhore village sign. Just beyond this point, turn right along a cul-de-sac, following a sign for Loxhore Church.
Stage 8
Ride along the lane, which twists and turns, passing a farm, and the Old Rectory and Coach House. At a large barn, turn left and follow a public bridleway fingerpost past a National Trust Arlington sign. Go through a gate and cycle along a grassy track (which can be very soft under your tyres). Pass through second gate and ride across a field, enjoying great views over the Yeo Valley as you descend towards a smaller gate, which leads into Webber’s wood.
Stage 9
Cycle along a fantastic stretch of singletrack, which drops through Webber and Deer Park woods. Keep to main trail as you descend, ignoring little trails that tempt on either side. When you meet a major intersection, go right, following a fingerpost for Arlington along a track that drops steeply. Ignore another fingerpost pointing right, along a permissive bridleway, and at the intersection immediately after that, go straight ahead, following blue bridleway arrows and a fingerpost for Arlington Court (not Arlington Court via Combeshead). The trail bends left, crosses a stream and starts to climb out of the woods. This is a stern but rewarding section, which might require you to hit your granny gears, but the bridleway is well marked and obvious.
Stage 10
Keep going along a twisty section of singletrack to a gate. Go through, bear right then turn left through another gate. Keep following Bridleway arrows as the singletrack trail skirts around the edge of fields (on your right), with meadows dropping down into the river on your left. It’s quite a steep climb, but look out for the obelisk (Jubilee Cairn) on your left, beyond which you will see the main house and voluptuous valley views. Descend to a gate, pass through and trace the obvious bridleway up the side of a field.
Stage 11
Follow waymarkers and turn left through another gate. After passing through a small woodland you emerge by the National Trust rangers office (the Sawmill). Turn left here and then either go left again at the next junction (to visit the café and toilets) or bear right and cycle past the rear of the Carriage Museum and St James’s church to a T- junction, where a left turn will take you back to the car park (450 metres down the road).
End point
Arlington Court car park, grid ref: SS611408
Trail map
Arlington cycle - School woods and Loxhore loop 11km | © Ordinance Survey
