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Home , Avocet Line, Barnstaple, Bere Ferrers, Copplestone, Dawlish, Dawlish railway station

Notices and Credits

This leaflet has been part funded by the Designated Community Rail Development Fund which is backed by the Department for Transport and ACoRP, the Association of Community Rail Partnerships. www.acorp.uk.com Great Scenic Railways This leaflet has been produced by the Devon and Rail Partnership. All information is supplied in good faith. Details may change without notice. No responsibility can be accepted for any changes, errors or omissions. April 2016. Images © Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, English Riviera Tourism, Matt Jessop, Chris Slack, Tony Cobley, Sealman, Antony Christie, Stephen Tolfrey and . Email: railpart@.ac.uk www.greatscenicrailways.com www.dcrp.org.uk

Teignmouth FCN 351044/01 Your guide to exploring

Devon by train Glorious beaches, estuaries, wooded valleys – soak up the views on your way to beloved coastal destinations. 1

1 Central – Barnstaple

2 Exeter Central – B 3 Exeter St Davids – 5 4 Plymouth – Gunnislake Exeter 5 West of Line 3 Exeter – – Waterloo V Exmouth 2 PSTW Gunnislake WT BBT

Liskeard Three BestRW Scenic Views Paignton Newquayfrom the train 4 Par Plymouth Riviera Line Looe If you can, sit on the left hand side of the train when you get on at Exeter St Davids. The views out across the sea wall at are fantastic! St Ives St Erth Tarka Line It ’s all Look for the small church on the hill near about the Penzance , lovely,Falmouth rolling Docks Devon scenery particularly between Eggesford and journey .

Tamar Valley Line The highlight is when the train travels over the Calstock Viaduct which links Devon and Cornwall.

2 3 TExeterhe CentralTarka - Barnstaple Line

Barnstaple

The line Exeter Central Exeter St Davids Beautiful scenic journey through lush Devon countryside; excellent walks from stations along the line; wealth of independent shops in Barnstaple; country to explore; cycle link along the . Highlights … Barnstaple shopping and its historic Morchard Rd and Butchers’ Row … Hire a bike and cycle the traffic free Tarka Trail from Barnstaple station Eggesford Three Best Walks … Shopping, museums and the Cathedral in Exeter Kings Nympton Access to the beautiful Coast via the Yeoford Circular … Portsmouth Arms (see page 16) Great walks from Tarka Line stations Umberleigh to … via Begin your journey… in Exeter (EX4 4NT). Chapelton Exton to Topsham How long does it take? Just over an hour. Barnstaple Great value tickets £10 adult, £5 child. Find out more, look up train times and plan your trip here The Tarka Line runs 7 days a week, all year round except greatscenicrailways.co.uk/explore-tarka-line Christmas and Boxing Day.

4 5 ExeterThe CentralRiviera - Paignton Line

Dawlish Paignton

Iconic journey along the sea wall at Dawlish; seaside towns of Dawlish and Teignmouth; the beaches and coastline of the English Riviera. Highlights … The journey! … Te i g n m o u t h s e a f r o n t a n d V i c t o r i a n P i e r Trail The line … Exeter Central … Beaches in and Paignton … Exeter St Davids Begin your journey… in Exeter (EX4 4NT). Exeter St Thomas How long does it take? Approx. 45 minutes. Great Value tickets £6.70 adult, £3.35 child. Dawlish Teignmouth Three Best Find out more, look up train Beaches by train times and plan your trip greatscenicrailways.co.uk/ Torre Teignmouth explore-riviera-line Torquay Torquay The Riviera Line runs 7 days Exmouth a week, all year round except Paignton Teignmouth Christmas and Boxing Day.

6 7 TheExeter StAvocet Davids - ExmouthLine

Topsham

Highlights … The historic port town of Topsham for its independent shops (and The Bridge Inn!) … Two miles of golden sands in Exmouth … E xe E s t u a r y T ra i l … Access to the

The line Begin your journey… Exeter St Davids in Exeter (EX4 4NT). Scenic journey along the Exe Estuary; historic Topsham, Exeter Central How long does it take? Approx. 30 minutes. Exmouth’s golden sands; links to the Exe Estuary trail. St James Park Great value tickets Polsloe Bridge £4.30 adult, £2.15 child. Digby & Find out more, look up train Three Best Spots for Newcourt times and plan your trip greatscenicrailways.co.uk/ watching wildlife Topsham The Avocet Line - Birds explore-avocet-line Exton The Tarka Line - Deer, buzzards The Avocet Line runs 7 and otter if you’re lucky Commando days a week, all year round except Christmas and Teignmouth/Dawlish - Birds Lympstone Village Boxing Day. Exmouth

8 9 TPlymouthhe Tamar - Gunnislake Valley Line

Calstock

Unspoilt area of outstanding natural beauty; tranquil riverside villages of Calstock and ; car free access to Cotehele; Mining Heritage around Calstock and Gunnislake. Highlights The train journey, particularly as it crosses from Devon … Plymouth to Cornwall over the spectacular Calstock Viaduct … Calstock village for walks, picnics and pubs … Bere Ferrers village for rural festivals and cosy Begin your journey… riverside in Plymouth (PL4 6NB). The line Plymouth … Pretty walk to Cotehele from Calstock station How long does it take? 45 minutes. Devonport Great Value Tickets Dockyard £5.60 adult, £2.80 child. Keyham Three Best Pubs Find out more, look up train times and plan your trip for a meal Victoria Road greatscenicrailways.co.uk/ Old Plough - Bere Ferrers explore-tamar-valley Bere Ferrers Rising Sun - Umberleigh The Tamar Valley Line runs Redwing Bar & Dining 7 days a week, all year round Calstock - Lympstone except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Gunnislake

10 11 There are direct trains from London The line Waterloo and Exeter to Axminster TheExeter -West Axminster of - LondonEngland Waterloo Line Exeter St Davids and Honiton hourly through the day, throughout the week. The passes through some lovely Exeter Central The journey time from Waterloo to Devon countryside as it heads out from Exeter through Axminster and Honiton is around Cranbrook, Honiton and Axminster on its way to Cranbrook three hours, the journey time from and London Waterloo. Exeter Central is 27 minutes to Axminster and Honiton are Honiton, 39 minutes to Axminster. interesting market towns The West of England Line runs 7 to explore and both are a Honiton days a week, all year round except gateway to the Jurassic Coast. Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Regular buses link Honiton Axminster Find out more, look up train times station with and Salisbury and plan your trip Axminster station with Lyme London Waterloo www.southwesttrains.co.uk Regis, Seaton and West Bay Bridport (where much of the Axminster TV series Broadchurch was filmed). Devon Highlights … G a t e w ay t o t h e J u r a s s i c C o a s t … G o o d b u s l i n k s w i t h L y m e R e g i s , S e a t o n a n d S i d m o u t h … Shopping, museums and the Cathedral in Exeter

Lyme Regis 12 13 Torquay

EventsDevon

Nearest station Date Exmouth Festival Exmouth 27 May- 5 June 2016 www.exmouthfestival.org.uk/ Lemonfest Newton Abbot Saturday 4 June 2016 www.lemonfest.co.uk/ Teignmouth Folk Festival Teignmouth 17-19 June 2016 www.teignmouthfolk.co.uk/ Crediton Food Festival Crediton 18-19 June 2016 www.creditonfoodfestival.co.uk/ Exeter Regatta Exeter Central Saturday 9 July 2016 www.exeter-regatta.co.uk/ Pilton Green Man Festival Barnstaple Saturday 16 July 2016 www.piltonfestival.co.uk/ Teignmouth Regatta Teignmouth 30 July- 7 August 2016 www.teignmouthregatta.co.uk/ North Devon Show Umberleigh Weds 3 August 2016 www.northdevonshow.com Honiton Show Honiton Thurs 4 August 2016 www.honitonshow.co.uk Children's Week Paignton 15-20 August 2016 childrensweek.co.uk/ Torbay Royal Regatta Torquay 19-24 August 2016 torbayroyalregatta.co.uk/ Exmouth Kite Festival Exmouth 27-28 August 2016 exmouthrotaryclub.co.uk/ www.barnstapletowncouncil.co.uk/ Barnstaple Fair Barnstaple 14-17 September 2016 barnstaple-fair.asp Festival Torquay 14-18 September 2016 www.agathachristiefestival.com/ Taste of the Teign Teignmouth 19-25 September 2016 tasteoftheteign.org.uk/ Bere Ferrers Apple Fest Bere Ferrers Sat 1 October 2016 www.tavyapples.org.uk/ North Devon Food Fest Barnstaple Sun 16 October 2016 northdevon.com/events Exmouth Christmas Cracker Exmouth Sat 6 December 2016 www.exmouth.gov.uk

14 15 right, ignore the footpath sign and continue ahead along an unsigned oak-bordered track. After 0.2 miles at an intersection turn right away from the YeofordThe Tarka Circular WalkLine bridleway and continue for a further 0.5 miles along a Starts at Yeoford station. Distance - 5.8 miles. second unsigned track. Above you stands Castle Down, an Leave the station and turn right over the River Troney and old Iron Age fort. Follow the track until it reaches a lane. past the pub. At the junction bear right, signposted Crediton Turn left passing Demmitts Linhay and continue to a T & Exeter, and ascend a lane following this for about a mile, junction. Here turn right, following the road downhill and keeping ahead at an unsigned crossroads, to reach Marks taking time to enjoy the wonderful views. Tree Cross. Bear right here and continue for 0.4 miles to Just beyond Frankland Farm at Norsworthy Grave, the Gunstone Cross. road divides. Stay left, signposted Yeoford, to reach Lower Turn right (signposted Posbury) downhill passing the Neopardy Cross and continue ahead, re-crossing the railway entrances to Gunstone House and Dickers Farm to cross the and river; into Neopardy. Immediately beyond the wall- railway and the River Yeo. mounted letter box, turn left along a signed footpath. At the sharp bend immediately beyond the river bridge, turn This initially follows an left along a signed footpath which passes through the yard ancient way before heading of Gunstone Mill and climbs along two field edges. clockwise around a large Halfway up the hill the footpath merges with a track and the field to join a second track ascent continues. leading uphill to a road. After 0.6 miles the track reaches a quiet lane and the views Turn left and follow the of the peaceful Culvery Valley are beautiful from this point. road back to Yeoford. Turn right along the lane for 150 yards to the point where a drive leads down to Posbury St Francis. From “Tarka Line Just beyond the entrance to the house, where the lane bends Walks” by Peter Craske. For information about this and other walks from local stations, visit www.greatscenicrailways.com/walks

16 17 VisitThe Rising a SunCountry at Umberleigh Pub

What could be better than a trip along the scenic Tarka Line and stopping off for lunch in a rural pub along the way? With open fires in the winter and a glorious terrace in the summer, the 13th century Rising Sun Inn at Umberleigh is a pub for all seasons offering real ales and an excellent local food menu. The pub has access to fishing beats on the and offers Bed and Breakfast accommodation. For more details www.risingsuninnumberleigh.co.uk Directions From Umberleigh station, turn left and cross the river bridge to the main road. The pub is right by the junction with main road. Walking time between five and ten minutes.

The Beer Engine at Newton St Cyres is another great rural Three Best Tarka Line pub. Opposite Newton St Cyres station, this Traditional Pubs pub is a microbrewery, with a range including Rail Ale and Piston Bitter, and also has an excellent menu. Beer Engine - Newton St Cyres The Mare and Foal at Yeoford, opposite Yeoford station, is a popular stop as is The Cross at Copplestone, about ten The Bridge Inn - Topsham minutes walk from Copplestone station. Hole in the Wall - Torquay

18 19 few yards of meadow to another kissing gate and left onto a track with the former Lympstone Mill to your right. As the track dips towards a ford, re-cross the brook by the adjacent LympstoneThe Avocet Village LineCircular Walk footbridge into a lane which meets Long Meadow Road at a A 2 mile gentle walk through this charming T junction. riverside village. Turn right and, where the road bears sharply right, pass Go down the hill from the station to the Swan Inn. two thatched cottages; beyond, a footpath appearing to lead Immediately past the pub, take the lane to the right, to a house named ‘Heathfield’ branches to the right and which leads to the harbour. then turns left immediately in front of this house. The path At the end of the lane, turn right, climbing a steep driveway crosses the brook again and continues to steps opposite which curves to the left and reaches a kissing gate into Cliff a waterfall. Walk down the steps and turn left to reach the Field. Walk around the edge of the field, with fine views road after a few moments. of the estuary, to reach another kissing gate leading to a Turn right, and right again after about 100 yards, onto a footbridge over the railway and the Exe Estuary Trail. Follow bridleway called Clay Lane – part of the Way. the path down to the left to reach a railway arch to the river Keep on down to Sowden Lane and turn right; a gentle at Parsonage Stile. descent leads to a railway bridge where the Exe Estuary Take the path on the right to reach the road; turn right and, Trail emerges from the left. after almost 100 yards, left onto a path leading (via a gate) After a few more yards to Candy’s Meadow. Keeping to the right of the field, go Sowden Lane turns sharp past the play area to a short track and then a road, with the right as it reaches the river. school on your right and the Village Hall and church on your Continue along the lane, left; descend and turn left in front of the church. which becomes The Strand, After nursery buildings turn right onto a footpath beside back to the Swan and the a house called ‘Meadowgate’. Ahead, a footbridge crosses station. Wotton Brook where you turn left to a kissing gate, cross a For information about other walks from local stations, visit www.greatscenicrailways.com/walks

20 21 Exeter Rail Information The city of Exeter dates from Roman times and contains Fares history at almost every turn. The city centre is a few The ticket prices quoted in this leaflet are for Off Peak Day minutes’ walk from Exeter Central station. Return fares, correct at time of going to print (April 2016). These fares are available all year round from Monday Highlights to Friday after the morning peak period and anytime at weekends and Bank Holidays. You can buy Off Peak Day … The impressive Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture Return tickets between any two stations in Devon. … Explore Exeter underground with a tour of the 14th GroupSave GroupSave allows groups of three to nine century Underground Passages people to travel together and receive a third off adult off peak fares on Great Western Railway and … Walk to the historic quayside; the ideal place to browse antique shops, walk or find a good place to eat services. Children’s Discounts … Enjoy some retail therapy in Exeter’s many high street and independent shops Under 5s travel free, 5-15 year-olds half price. www.visitexeter.co.uk Dogs and bikes go free You can take up to two dogs (on leads) free of charge on the train. Two bikes are allowed on the smaller local trains on Three Best Spots a first come, first served basis. Bike spaces on High Speed for retail therapy Trains need to be booked in advance via Great Western Barnstaple Railway on 03457 000 125 or at www.gwr.com Exeter Britrail Passes International visitors can use their BritRail Topsham Pass on all the lines mentioned in this leaflet.

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