Taunton Flyer Sportive

The 37 mile Spitfire distance takes riders up 2500ft of climbing. Perfect for new sportive riders, the route starts from the RAF Upottery Airfield (Smeatharpe) and will take riders past the Heritage Centre and RAF Culmhead (Now a Business Centre) before descending from the Blackdown Hills to Taunton.

Here you split from the longer Wellington Route to head back into the Blackdown Hills through Corfe and Hemyock to reach Dunkeswell Airfield. From here riders will have a nice flat ride to the finish back at Smeatharpe Airfield.

The 63 mile Dakota distance takes riders up 4000ft of climbing. This middle distance is the most popular route among riders, and starts from Smeatharpe Airfield, past the Heritage Centre and RAF Culmhead (Now a Business Centre) before decending from the Blackdown Hills to Taunton Racecourse. Here, riders split from the longer Wellington Route to head back into the Blackdown Hills through Corfe and Hemyock to reach Dunkeswell Airfield.

From here riders will descend to the village of Feniton where they will loop around through beautiful country lanes into Cullompton. From here riders will head back through the Culm Valley to make the final climb into the Blackdown Hills, finishing back at Smeatharpe Airfield.

The 101 mile Wellington distance takes riders up 5500ft of climbing. The toughest of the three distances, this course starts from Smeatharpe Airfield, and takes riders past the Heritage Centre and RAF Culmhead (Now a Business Centre) before descending on to the Somerset Levels.

Here, riders will pass RNAS Merryfield (Ilton) and RAF Westonzoyland before returning to the Blackdown Hills, climbing up from Hemyock to reach Dunkeswell Airfield. Next, riders will descend to the village of Feniton where they will loop around through beautiful country lanes into Cullompton.

From here riders will head back through the Culm Valley to make your final climb into the Blackdown Hills to return to Smeatharpe Airfield.