Follow this quiet lane as far as a Other Walks 5 Bude Valley Walks sharp left bend, where the access track to Lower Tamar Lake leaves on 2 The Aqueduct Trail A range of walks, of varying lengths, exist in the Bude Valley based on the Bude the right. Follow this track to the A continuation of this walk, car park. canal. A small book is available, following the line of the Aqueduct containing information and For those who started at Upper to the crossing of the Tamar and suggested routes, price £2.99. Canal Trails Tamar Lake, go to the lakeside path back. A leaflet describes a circular and turn left, retracing your walk, combining the Aqueduct with outward steps back to the car park. country lanes. Long (about 10 Bude Canal System ... around Tamar Lakes on the Virworthy Wharf miles/16 km) but level and easy. and border Launceston), Blagdonmoor (near Leaflet available price 70p. OS maps for this walk. Holsworthy) and to a new water • Explorer No.126 Clovelly and feeder reservoir on the Tamar near 3 The Planekeepers Path Tamar Explore a length of the historic Bude Canal and 4 4 Lakes Hartland (1:25,000) Virworthy. scenic Tamar Lakes on a short circular walk in the A circular walk following the route 1 Virworthy of the canal from Bude to the South WWeestst Wharf • Landranger No.190 Bude and The branch to the reservoir had Coast Path quiet countryside where Devon meets Cornwall. inclined plane at Hobbacott, Bude Clovelly (1:50,000) originally been planned purely as a Canal returning on country footpaths and 2 Aqueduct water feeder for the canal system. National quiet lanes, via the ancient town of Nature However, a wharf was built at Sea Bude Stratton. Long (about 10 miles/16 Reserve Virworthy and the branch was used, Wharf Inclined Plane History km) but mostly level and easy Main Line like the rest of the system, to bring Barge 5 although there is one steep climb on Canal During the “canal boom” of the late sea-sand from Bude to fertilise the 3 Inclined Holsworthy an inclined plane. Leaflet available Wharf Plane Branch 1700s, ambitious plans were soil and to take agricultural produce Helebridge Inclined price 70p. Plane conceived for a canal to link Bude to out. Nevertheless, because of the the south coast via the Tamar. These South WWeestst Launceston original purpose as a water feeder, 4 Canal and Coast Walk Coast Path Branch failed to materialise, but in 1817 this branch was always known as the work started on a more modest Bude Aqueduct. Links Upper Tamar Lake with the Key proposal. This comprised a 2 mile/3 South West Coast Path north of Bude Canal Network Except for the 2 mile length from County Boundary km length navigable by barge from Bude. A very scenic walk with much Bude, the canal network was used 1 Tamar Lakes Walks Bude to Helebridge, adjacent to the of historic interest to see. Mostly by wheeled “tub boats”. These 2 Aqueduct Trail modern A39. Beyond this length, a fairly level but with some stiles. 3 Planekeepers Path were drawn by horses then winched total of some 40 miles/65 km of Some lengths may be muddy after 4 Canal and Coast Walk over the hills on a system of 1 1 narrow tub-boat canal was rain. About 6 ⁄ 2 miles/10 ⁄ 2 km one 5 BudeValley Walks “inclined planes”. The combination Historic & Other Features constructed with three main way. Leaflet available price 70p. of inclined planes, the sea lock at branches to Druxton (near © Crown copyright.All rights reserved. 100019783. 2007 Bude and other historic features These three walks are all comprehensively signed and This map shows the historic line of most of Boating on Tamar Lakes make the Bude Canal very important the canal system. Not all of the system or waymarked. in heritage terms. its features are available for public access. The canal closed in 1901 following the arrival of the railway in Bude and the consequent loss in trade. For visitor information go to However, the reservoir and the www.discoverdevon.com Aqueduct continued to play a role in local water supply until the second or call the Discover Devon Holiday Line half of the 20th Century. 0870 608 5531

JN122525 – Devon Design & Print 01392 383276 © Crown copyright.All rights reserved. 100019783. 2007 At the bottom of the slope on the Lower Tamar Lake This walk explores an inland Path near Virworthy far side bear left. section of the Bude Canal on the Devon- At this point will be seen one of the Cornwall border. Follow this short markers for the canal, indicating the 1 circular walk of about a mile (1 ⁄ 2 km) – original land ownership boundary. 3 this may be shortened to about ⁄ 4 mile Tamar Lakes Walk Map This one is metal and has the 1 (1 ⁄ 4 km) by doing a simple “there and inscription Bude Aqueduct. 1 back” walk. Or perhaps try a slightly longer walk of some 2 ⁄ 2 miles This part of the canal is referred to (4 km) which passes more of the Tamar Lakes. as the Bude Aqueduct as it was lived. Today, the old store is owned Starting and finishing at Lower originally constructed purely to carry by the Bude Canal Trust. It is open The Walk Upper Tamar Lake Tamar Lake Upper water to supply the rest of the to the public and contains TTaamarmar Lake Getting There: The shorter walks network. The canal (or aqueduct) information about the history of the Starting and Walk up to the information board Car Park are based at the car park at Lower then appears almost immediately on canal. finishing at at the end of the dam. The walk Tamar Lake on the Devon- from the upper lake is joined here. the left, emerging from the culvert Cornwall border. The slighter Upper Tamar which originally carried water from Notice also the longer one starts at the Upper Lake The Bude Canal element of the walk the lake. boundstone on the wharf, here Tamar Lake car park. Both car The walk starts begins here. Lower Tamar Lake was Follow the attractive grassy path inscribed BHC parks are accessed along country at the main car constructed in the 1820s by until it arrives at Virworthy Wharf. (for Bude lanes, and are reached by park at Upper damming the . It was Harbour and following brown signs from Tamar Lake, just on the Cornish side built by the Bude Canal Company to Just before the road is the end of Canal Company). Holsworthy (via Chilsworthy) or of the county boundary. supply the Bude Canal with water. Lower what was the navigable part of the Kilkhampton. There is no public In more recent times it has, in TTaamarmar Lake canal. The wider section of canal There are other transport to the lakes, the nearest From the car park walk back along conjunction with the upper lake, Car Park here enabled barges to be turned. metal markers the entrance track to the road. been used for water supply to local Distance marker next to the canal bus route being at Kilkhampton, Cross the road and have a look 1 settlements. Both lakes are nearby, one a distance marker approximately 2 ⁄ 2 miles (4 km) Before leaving, take the time to around the wharf area. from the car parks. have a look at the very scenic lake. managed by the South West Lakes indicating 13 miles to Bude. It was constructed in 1977 to help Trust. The wharf buildings were used to To return to the car parks, one way Walk Length: There are a variety Bideford store coal, sand and manure, the 3 provide water supplies for the area. is to retrace steps back along the of options ranging between ⁄ 4 main goods moved on the canal. 1 1 Today, as well as a water sports Location Map canal. For an attractive circular mile (1 ⁄ 4 km) and 2 ⁄ 2 miles (4 km). VViirworthyrworthy There was also a wharfinger’s centre and angling facilities there is A39 route return to the road from the The walk links to much longer Main Road Wharf cottage, where the person who walks as set out on the back of a path around the entire perimeter. Access Road wharf and turn left, i.e. downhill, TTaamarmar A388 looked after the wharf would have the leaflet. The walks are At the road cross over and follow away from the cottages. Kilkhampton Lakes completely level and there are no the Lakeside path to Lower Tamar A little way down the road the stiles. Lake. Walk across the dam. At the far end Tamar is crossed and with it the A3072 cross the footbridge over the Facilities: Upper Tamar Lake has Whereas the upper lake is used for Bude A3072 county boundary, into Cornwall. For Holsworthy car park, toilets, information quiet recreational pursuits, the spillway. much of its length, the aqueduct section of the canal was parallel to centre, seasonal café, plus water lower lake is maintained as a bird A3079 The spillway takes the water of the the Tamar on the Devon side. Some sports and angling facilities. and wildlife resource. Look out for A388 Tamar out of the lake, enabling the A39 five miles/eight km downstream it Lower Tamar Lake has car park, the bird hide just off the path. Okehampton river to continue on its course to the A30 crossed the river on a “real” bird watching facilities and sea at Plymouth. The original course Follow the path to arrive next to the aqueduct. This route, as far as the information and seasonal toilets. Launceston of the river would have been where small car park at Lower Tamar Lake. river crossing, can be followed on the dam now stands. A30 Virworthy Wharf the Aqueduct Trail.

Bodmin © Crown copyright.All rights reserved. 100019783. 2007 continued...