Granite Way
| Granite Way | |
|---|---|
 The Meldon Viaduct is a scheduled monument and forms part of the trail, near to Okehampton | |
| Length | 11 mi (18 km) |
| Location | Devon, England |
| Designation | Rail trail |
| Trailheads | Okehampton – Lydford |
| Use | |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Season | All-year round |
The Granite Way is a rail trail of 11 miles (17.7 km) between Okehampton and Lydford, in Devon, England; much of it lies within Dartmoor National Park. Formerly the route of the Devon and Cornwall Railway, the trackbed was converted to a shared-use path by Devon County Council and was opened in May 2002.[1]
Description
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The trail is maintained jointly by Devon County Council and Sustrans.[2] It forms part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 27 Devon Coast to Coast between Ilfracombe and Plymouth.[3]
It is supported by services on the Dartmoor Line at Okehampton station, which provides generally hourly trains to nearby Exeter St Davids, operated by Great Western Railway.[4]
The Granite Way was featured in The Guardian's 2016 article entitled Five of the best scenic bike rides in Devon.[5]
Route
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The Granite Way largely follows the course of the former Devon and Cornwall Railway.[6] It starts at Okehampton station and continues to Meldon Viaduct. It then follows quiet lanes to the former Bridestowe station and continues off-road for another 1.2 mi (2 km) to Lydford.[2]
The route includes notable features, such as crossing the Meldon and Lake Viaducts,[7][8] both of which were formerly railway bridges and are of historical interest.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Rail firm wins cycling award". BBC News. 21 October 2002. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- 1 2 3 "Okehampton to Lydford: The Granite Way". BBC Devon. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ "NCN Route 27". Sustrans. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ↑ "Train Times". Great Western Railway. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
- ↑ "Five of the best scenic bike rides in Devon". The Guardian. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- ↑ "The Granite Way". Explore Devon. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ↑ "Lake Viaduct". Waymarking.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ↑ "Film clip of Lake Viaduct". Devon Cycle Hire. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
External links
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- The Granite Way - Cycle Route – Dartmoor Tourism