Cyclists stop off at Thorncombe Village Shop and cafe during their latest ride

Axe Valley Pedallers (AVP) chose Thorncombe Village Shop as the destination for their latest Sunday outing. Some riders started from Seaton and others from as far away as Membury, but most were assembled in Axminster Square, ready to make their way eastwards up the hill to Cooks Lane. From there, the group took a hilly and circuitous route through the lanes, with occasional riders joining and others veering off down their favourite byways, resulting, eventually, in a total of 16 riders converging at midday on Thorncombe Village Shop, hungry for cake. The store and cafe - which serves various tasty delights, including homemade bread pudding and flapjacks - is a community enterprise maintained by the villagers, set in a secluded location near Forde Abbey, and staffed by friendly locals.

To join an AVP ride, check Axevalleypedallers.org.uk, see Facebook, or the club’s noticeboard in The Kings Arms, Seaton.

To find out more about Thorncombe Village Shop and cafe, visit the website at www.thorncombe-stores.co.uk