CYCLING is one of the best ways to fulfil a New Year resolution to get fit and lose some weight. Get on your bike to pedal off the pounds around one of the best natural gigs in the region, your very own North Devon countryside that's absolutely free to explore.

Watch the weight drop off and feel fitter either by using the bike instead of the car for regular short journeys, or make it this year's toy for weekend leisure around the country trails and lanes. Either choice saves money and reduces your carbon footprint. Pedalling a bike is also kinder upon the joints than running.

Devon as a whole boasts 150 miles of the mostly traffic-free National Cycle Network to enjoy. If you haven't a bike to dust off however, there are hire shops aplenty near the cycle trails offering great deals.

Torrington Cycle Hire is open most days all year round and located off the A386 at Station Hill, conveniently at a mid point along the popular Tarka Trail for contrasting terrain in each direction. The trail has been recycled from a railway line that dated back to the 1840s, leaving behind station platforms, tunnels, track, signals and a couple of signal boxes (that are sometimes open as mini museums) to park up the bike and enjoy.

Following the railway route means the trail conveniently cuts through and around hills that the roads have to overcome more steeply. Its south-east direction from the cycle hire shop therefore begins with a gentle leg warmer over the old railway bridge and along the forest-lined valley's smooth tarmac.

This section is adorned by mischievously humorous timber seated statues that appear to have been uprooted from a secret life within the forest itself. While surrounding woodland provides protection from any speed-sapping south-westerly wind, recent coppicing has cleared the views of grazing pastures and the lively rock-strewn stream of the River Torridge.

After crossing the B3227 at Watergate Bridge, the next forest clearing however has come at the price of adding to travellers' laundry bills. Wear waterproof shoes and clothing that can get muddy, because the vehicles used for clearing the woodland have reduced the next two-mile south-eastward ascent and beyond into a quagmire.

If you do wear the right gear, the weather, sludge and aromas add to the experience of the great outdoors that merely watching Countryfile or Springwatch on TV is not. Facial mud is also a cool badge of honour to wear at the café.

Starting a three-mile detour at the next gate refreshingly blows away any mental cobwebs still left over from life's routines. Take a right turn westward up the lane towards the exposed moorland pastures surrounding Berry Cross, where a left turn continues south-eastward to Peters Marland. Straight on to Winswell is another left turn that rolls the road north back to the trail at East Yarde.

If ever the going gets too tough, there's no shame in walking the bike up any of the hills that essentially shape North Devon into the beauty spot that wins all our hearts. Because the country lanes are virtually traffic-free, there are no spectators to disappoint except the grazing cattle or sheep.

Pushing the bike still provides a calorie-burning workout, justifying the refreshments to graze upon at the characterful and friendly Old Yarde Café. Reviving proper coffees are made here on an authentic Italian barista machine, fruits are freshly squeezed into energising juices and local brews are for sale to wash down healthy snacks.

Worth the wait is the café's summer menu of freshly made meals, music nights and movie shows. This is why many customers book into the overnight eco-accommodation comprising a 14-berth bunkhouse, three yurts sleeping as many guests and camping on the orchard site.

On Saturday, February 11, from 2pm, the café hosts entertaining presentations about the global travels of local cyclists with a live performance by acoustic-roots musician Baz Bix, who will be familiar to regulars of Sunday sessions at the Joiners Arms in Bideford. Baz himself has cycled across Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan.

"Cycling can be about so much more enjoyment than just riding from A to B," said café founder David Job, who has a tandem linked to a tow-bike for transporting his younger children.

"The accommodation here is available all through the year, so if you fancy an indulgent evening and a couple of ales by the woodburner, there's no need to cycle home in the dark."

For the return route of this ride, walk the bike safely across the road's curve to ascend the trail for less than half a mile to one of its three alluring mosaic-exotica bench sculptures. These, it would seem to me, have elements of the Gaudi-designed Park Guell in Barcelona, but depict local wildlife.

Just ahead through the trees is a section where I was previously buzzed over the helmet in a deathly-silent swoop on two separate occasions by a 120cm-wingspan buzzard. That's a four-feet wide projectile in old money, armed with flesh ripping beak and talons. No harm done on each occasion, my helmet merely offering entertaining target practice.

Take extra care however just concentrating on riding the two-mile descent back to Watergate Bridge because of the mud, before the gentle pine forest return along smooth tarmac to Torrington Cycle Hire. Simply hand over the hired bike without having to clean off any of the grime.

If you can enjoy riding such lumpy 12 miles during winter, cycling off the unwanted flab in the summer will be a breeze.

Torrington Cycle Hire is open in winter from Wednesdays to Sundays inc. Station Hill, Torrington EX38 8JD www.torringtoncyclehire.co.uk or e-mail info@TorringtonCycleHire.co.uk Tel: 01805 622633/07926 647946.

Old Yarde Café is open in winter on Saturdays and Sundays from 10.30am to 4pm. Weekday opening by arrangement for groups. East Yarde, Peters Marland, Torrington EX38 8QA. www.yarde-orchard.co.uk Tel: 01805 624007/07972 786306.

Joiners Arms acoustic-roots session by Baz Bix on Sundays 3pm to 6pm. 6 Market Place, Bideford EX39 2DR. Tel: 01237 472675.