The Dartmoor Way is a wonderful, 90-mile cycle route around the national park's hilly perimeter. It has everything from lanes and gorges to freely roaming sheep and rushing waterfalls.

As my partner was making a rare work visit to Sidmouth, I hatched a plan. Forget work, I'd start the bank holiday weekend doubly early and spend Thursday afternoon riding to Sidmouth and catch a lift home.This route follows the NCR 2 and large sections are traffic free and, as I discovered, freshly tarmacked.

Haldon Hill looms on my horizon, blocks me from exploring immediately west and I can see it from my home. Given that we can't drive anywhere unnecessary during lockdown, it seemed like a perfect time to take on this behemoth.

With two national parks, a handful of AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and two coastlines, I thought I'd plot a route that took us away from all of those things.There was endless empty lanes, lots of ascents, lots of descents, lots of lambs (in November!) and a hefty dose of mud. It was blissful.

This video covers my ride from Exeter Quay, along National Cycle Route 2 and the Exe Estuary Trail down to Exmouth. While there wasn't much sunshine about, at least I got to see some daylight!

If you need some light entertainment, here's my first(ish) YouTube video! Pedalling my way along part of the Exe Estuary Trail in inclement weather.