BUSINESS REPLY SERVICE Licence No. EX. 70 Two Castles Trail Two Castles Trail Meander through rolling countryside full of Meander through rolling countryside full of 2 history on this 24 mile waymarked walking history on this 24 mile waymarked walking route between Okehampton and route between Okehampton and Launceston Castles Launceston Castles COUNTRYSIDE TEAM DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL LUCOMBE HOUSE COUNTY HALL Passing Okehampton Castle, TOPSHAM ROAD the route climbs onto the north- EXETER western corner of Dartmoor EX2 4QW before bearing away past a number of historic settlements The Two Castles Trail is a dating back to the Bronze Age, recreational route for Iron Age and the Normans. walkers of 24 miles, running Sites of defensive historic hill from Okehampton Castle in forts are near to the route, as is the east to Launceston the site of a battle between the Castle in the west. Fold here and secure Saxons and the Celts. The route includes a number of using sticky tape The area is far quieter now, and climbs and descents and before posting offers a great opportunity to crosses a variety of terrain enjoy a range of landscapes and including stretches of road, a sense of walking deep in the woodland tracks, paths through countryside away from the fields, and open crossings of beaten track. moor and downs. The route is divided into 4 stages, and there are a number of opportunities to link to buses along the route. This document can be made available in large print, This is printed on 100% recycled paper. tape format or in other When you have finished with it please recycle languages upon request. and help the environment. www.devon.gov.uk/walking The details in this brochure are believed to be correct. Devon County Council will not accept responsibility for losses arising due to www.dartmoor.co.uk inaccuracies or omissions within the publication. Published by Devon County Council, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QW. Tel: 01392 382000 West Devon Borough www.visitdevon.co.uk Design by www.graphicwords.com 2010/15K Council Two Castles Trail Meander through rolling countryside full of history on Burley Down this 24 mile waymarked walking route between Okehampton and Along with the waymarking, this booklet makes the route easy to Launceston Castles follow, though extra care should be The Two Castles Trail takes you taken across the Sourton section of through beautiful and peaceful moorland where waymarking is not countryside - from the edge of possible. While additional maps should Dartmoor, past historic battlegrounds not be necessary for the main route, to the ancient capital of Cornwall - the Explorer OL28 (Dartmoor) and linking the Castles of Okehampton in Explorer 112 (Launceston) the east and Launceston in the west. Ordnance Survey maps will show further walking opportunities near to At a glance the route, and the villages which are 24 miles in total within walking distance of the route. Divided into 4 stages Some points of interest along the Easy to follow, waymarked trail route are highlighted in boxes within the route description. Good bus links to Okehampton and Launceston The waymarks contain Route can be followed in both the text 'Two Castles directions Trail' in burgundy on a white background, along This booklet describes the westbound with two historic walkers route (Okehampton to Launceston) on carrying their provisions pages 4 - 11; and the eastbound in a kit bag tied to a stick (bindle route (Launceston to Okehampton) on sticks), with the route directions pages 12 - 19. indicated by black arrows. The route includes a number of climbs Most of the trail between Okehampton and descents and crosses a variety of and Bridestowe is shown by waymarks terrain including stretches of road, for the West Devon Way, (below), woodland tracks, field paths and open which follows the same route. crossings of moor and downs. In the n W vo a summer the route is likely to be dry, e y D t however during the winter, woodland s e tracks, fields and parts of the moors W can be particularly muddy. 2 Two Castles Trail Route of the OKEHAMPTON Two Castles Trail Bridestowe Lewdown LAUNCESTON Lifton Scale:0 1 2 3 4 5 10km N The 4 stages © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License No: 100023302 Published 2010 Okehampton to Bridestowe: Sustainable Travel 7 miles (11.25km) The route has been divided into four Bridestowe to Lewdown: stages, all accessible at each end by public transport. Since car parking is 7 miles (11.25km) limited along the route, the use of Lewdown to Lifton: public transport (see page 23) is 5 miles (8km) recommended, although frequency of buses vary according to the day of Lifton to Launceston: the week and location. For up to date 5 miles (8km) bus times call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.org.uk or Key to symbols used on www.journeydevon.com route maps on following pages Two Castles Trail There are car parks (paying) in Alternative routes/ loops Okehampton and Launceston. Public 1 toilets, shops, and pubs are indicated See directions in text on the maps throughout the booklet. A Points of interest BUS Bus services For walkers staying in the area, details i Tourist Information Centre of local accommodation can be found Refreshments at the Okehampton or Launceston Tourist Information Centres or from Pub the visitor websites detailed on page Public toilets 22 of this booklet. S Shops P Parking 3 Two Castles Trail - Westbound Stage 1: Okehampton to Bridestowe A Okehampton Castle was built Distance: 7 miles (11.25 km) shortly after the Norman conquest, and has stood in ruins since 1538 Surfaces: Uneven surfaces, including when Henry VIII ordered it to be fields, grassy lanes and woodland tracks. demolished as a punishment for its Some muddy stretches after heavy rain. owner's treason. Today, English Road section into Bridestowe. Heritage open the grounds to the Gradients: A steep climb away from public over the summer months. Visit the West Okement River below Meldon www.english-heritage.org.uk for more Viaduct. Fairly steep descent to Sourton. information. Otherwise gentle gradients. Obstacles: A few gates. Two foot- along the path. Leave the golf course bridges with steps. Many stiles south of at a metal gate, and follow the right Sourton (alternative route available). edge of the field ahead. Follow the 'path' signs through a metal gate and Until the Two Castles Trail diverges from through a farmyard, to join a the West Devon Way at point 8, remember surfaced lane beyond the farm. When to follow the waymarking discs for the you reach the road turn left across West Devon Way out from Okehampton. the A30 road bridge. 1 The Two Castles Trail begins in the 4 Take the path to the rear of the centre of Okehampton. When open, parking area on the right, beside the start by passing through a gated A30. At a junction where a path goes courtyard by the Museum of Dartmoor to your right under the A30, keep Life and Tourist Information Centre, straight ahead on the path towards following a path to the right hand side the river. Continue alongside the West of the Museum, through the car park Okement, cross the footbridge and onto Jacobs Pool, where you turn left. climb the hill on the path bearing left. When closed, walk up George Street, Pass through a gate, turn right onto a to the left of the White Hart Hotel. track past Meldon Farm, and turn left Follow George Street and turn right when you reach the road. into Castle Road. Where the road 5 Pass under the railway bridge and bends right across the West Okement continue ahead, as the road soon river, continue straight ahead on becomes an unsurfaced green lane. the path alongside the left bank of the river. Passing through a gate, the lane widens out, then reaches the open 2 Pass through a gate into Old Town moor through another gate with Park Local Nature Reserve, bearing Sourton Tors ahead. left to climb the middle path through the woods, keeping left at two path Scenic Detour: Meldon Reservoir junctions. Turn right along a surfaced A number of scenic local walks can be bridleway shared with traffic. reached by following the road on your 3 On reaching the golf course, take left signed to Meldon Reservoir at the path ahead across the golf course, point 5 . To find out more about taking care as you proceed. After walks in the Meldon and Okehampton 200m, as the gravel track turns to the area ask at the Okehampton Tourist right sharply, continue straight ahead Information Centre (see page 22). 4 Two Castles Trail - Westbound 6 Follow the stone wall on the left, then bear away past an old granite gate post. As you climb the hill, after 45m, look out for the route along a grass path to the right, running parallel with 1 i an old stone wall for most of its length. Follow this path straight across a junction of routes until you reach a shallow OKEHAMPTON S P cutting on your right between two stone walls. BUS With Sourton Church ahead of you, take this path down A between two parallel walls, leaving the moor and 2 3 crossing the Granite Way on a track leading into the small village of Sourton. 7 From Sourton, follow the footpath alongside the main road heading south 4 N towards Tavistock. At the end of the village, 30m past the bus stop, cross the road carefully and take the 5 R© Crown copyright. path next to the tall house, O P All rights between two stone barns.