LEJOG Day3 Topsham to Bridge Inn Yatton

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">During the planning stage it look me ages to find satisfactory routes in and out of Exeter. I don't like using cycle paths by main roads which are interrupted by every side road. It's often preferable to remain on the main road though sometimes the only safe option is to follow the cycle path however inconvenient. Initially Exeter may appear to be a cycle friendly city, there are lots of cyclepaths and there's a map available on the Internet. However, traffic planning seems to have been based on segregating the cyclist and facilitating the flow of motor vehicles. All's well if there's a cyclepath available but if none the cyclist is left to mix it with speeding motor vehicles. I feel far safer with traffic lights than roundabouts of which Exeter has many.</span>

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">I wanted to avoid the A38 if possible so routed through Uffculme and Nicholashane.. It involves a bit of climbing but it's pleasant and relatively traffic free. I didn't enjoy cycling through Taunton either. It's busy and complicated for the cyclist. Beforehand I read several accounts of people getting lost in Bridgewater, therefore I planned an alternative. On East Reach (A38) I dismounted and walked across the road at the traffic lights onto South Street. I had to walk down South Street until it became two-way. For South Street a alternative would be to use the pedestrian crossing situated a few yards before the traffic lights. I continued through Henlade then dismounted to cross the busy A358 dual carriageway. It is then just a short distance to the left turns for North Curry. North of Chedzoy I cycled on the new Stop Line Cycleway to Bawdrip. Then other cyclepaths make crossing of the Polden Hills and the Mendips easy.<br /></span>