On a crisp, chilly morning, I departed from Exeter aboard my Specialized Tarmac S-Works, pedaling along a scenic stretch of the River Exe cycle trail toward Exminster. The roads glistened with moisture, and the rural lanes were slick with mud and dotted by expansive puddles. I cruised through the picturesque village of Kenn, taking in the charm of its quaint cottages, before climbing toward Haldon. From there, I tentatively ventured onto a bustling 70 mph dual carriageway—a nerve-wracking choice at first, but I quickly settled in and savored the thrilling, speedy descent into Chudleigh. Pushing onward, I tackled a series of rolling hills en route to the seaside town of Dawlish, then looped back home, invigorated by the adventure.
Overview of the A38 Devon Expressway and Haldon Hill Section
The A38 is a major trunk road in the UK, stretching from Bodmin in Cornwall to M25 in Greater London. In Devon, the section between Plymouth and Exeter is officially known as the Devon Expressway. This 42-mile (68 km) dual carriageway serves as the primary route linking Plymouth to the rest of the UK’s motorway network, functioning as a southward extension of the M5 motorway. It forms the southern boundary of Dartmoor National Park and was largely completed in the early 1970s, with the full Plymouth-to-Exeter stretch opening by 1977.
The Devon Expressway is predominantly a two-lane dual carriageway, with several grade-separated junctions for local access. It includes bypasses around towns like Ivybridge (opened 1973) and South Brent (1974), and features like the Tamar Bridge crossing into Cornwall. The road is managed by National Highways and handles significant traffic volumes, connecting to the M5 at junction 31 near Kennford, south of Exeter.
Focus on Haldon Hill
Haldon Hill is a prominent and challenging section of the Devon Expressway, located about 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Exeter. This stretch marks a key transition point where the A38 climbs from the coastal plains into the higher moorland terrain of Haldon Forest. Key characteristics include:
Route and Design: Just after the junction with the A380 (at Splatford Split, also called the Haldon Hill Junction), the A38 becomes a dual two-lane carriageway. A third “crawler” lane immediately appears for uphill traffic to ease the ascent. The hill rises over approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) with an average gradient of 1 in 20 (5%) and a maximum of around 1 in 10 (10%). This is similar to the nearby A380’s Telegraph Hill climb. The extra lane disappears at the summit, transitioning into the older Harcombe bends—a sharply curved original dual carriageway section built earlier than much of the expressway.
Junction and Access: The Haldon Hill Junction (grid reference SX 885 820) is a partial interchange with slip roads for the A380, leading to Torquay and Newton Abbot. It includes some turn restrictions and no on-site services, but nearby amenities include the Exeter Racecourse (with a turn-off) and Haldon Forest Park, popular for walking, cycling, and wildlife.
Historical Context: The Haldon Hill area has hosted service stations since the 1970s, including the former Kennford South Little Chef (now the independent Haldon Forest Diner) on the southbound side near Kennford. This site was part of early Welcome Break developments and retains retro features from its Happy Eater days.
Traffic, Safety, and Incidents
The steep gradients and bends on Haldon Hill contribute to occasional disruptions, particularly for heavy vehicles. It’s a notorious spot for queues during peak hours or bad weather due to its elevation (up to 250 meters/820 feet above sea level.
My observations are the subject of this ride.
So come along and enjoy another great cycling adventure.
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14 Comments
First and last time? 🫣😅
my m8 did take me on part of the a57 where no cyclist are supposed to go going into sheffield got there fast but i was shitting bricks all the way in. never again. ride safe m8.. that was before parallel cycle paths was put in
30 zones are bad enough where I live
Not on my mountain bikes 😂
On the basis there are many, many miles of less busy roads in the UK, I'd prefer to take an alternative route.
Looked scary 🙂 But then I remembered that people go past me at 80 on country roads sometimes. A continuous stream of very fast cars seems worse though.
That was being stoopid just to prove a point for a video. Extremely dangerous road to be on even riding a fast bicycle. Although you were certainly doing a cracking pace it appears.
It just takes one driver messing around with his car's touchscreen infotainment system or something else for that little bit too long to get wiped out.
Being morally dead right when you're dead wouldn't have proven anything.
I can't believe only one driver honked his horn at you and no one passed too close! Drivers in the UK must be more patient and understanding of cyclists rights than USA drivers. I'm glad you made it safely and I hope you never do it again!
If you take the first left past the cafe at 1:06 in the vid, there's a lovely quiet back road down via Harcombe to Chudleigh. But to be honest i'm too scared of the A38 to even do the 100m to get to that road! I go through the woods behind the racecourse. 😂
There are certain roads where the hair rises on your neck, they are just not worth the risk. There was a film years ago called water ship down ( cartoon I think) and the rabbits would always refer to the big road near there burrow as the ‘River of Death’ I’ve always remembered that when I see roads like this.
Just one bell end on his phone and he is on you in a flash – I wouldn't
Bigger balls than me 😅 I drive this way everyday for work and you say 70mph but that’s only when they reach the speed camera at the top 😂 More like 90mph oh F**k best slow down for the average speed check 😂 quality vids mate absolutely loving the content! I’m sure we will cross paths cycling one day I’m only in Dawlish warren 👍
Yep, rode on similar roads but not very enjoyable. Not something I do often, though!
I live in South Wales on the edge of the Brecon Beacons. It's a no win situation here, if I ride on the road it's Russian roulette and if I ride on the Beacons trails I get side swiped by youths on motorbikes. I've reported the motorbikes to the police but because they have no number plates there's nothing can be done. My home town is in West Dorset, seemed a good idea at the time to buy a house in Wales 😀