500 km of restorative cycling centred in Somerset naturally takes in Exmoor at some point: today was my Exmoor day.

As yesterday, the constraints I’d placed on my route led me to roads that were new to me. I can recommend my loop up onto and down off Exmoor. From South Molton through North Molton to The Sportsman’s Inn is a stiff ascent but a pleasant one. From here, the descent into Withypool, shown in the photo, is beautiful and exhilarating. Then, it’s another climb and another fast descent leading to Dulverton.

The entire stretch is much more inspiring than the drag from Simonsbath to Wheddon Cross favoured by most of the sportives that pass across Exmoor.

I’d planned to get lunch in my favoutite farm shop/tea room but unfortunately it was closed so I pressed on. The return to South Molton was largely identical to a segment of a…