20.4 Mile Cycle Trail (Inc 17.0, 15.4 & 14.1 options) The granite way

DIRECTIONS TO the granite way

Distance Marker Point General Information From the Ashbury Hotel reception head west to the end 0.0 Miles ① Ashbury Hotel of the driveway. At the Ashbury Driveway Entrance, turn left and head 0.4 Miles ② TURN LEFT towards the A3079. ③ 0.86 Miles TURN RIGHT Turn right on to Holsworthy Road (A3079). ④ 1.21 Miles TURN LEFT Head southwest and follow for 1.6 miles. ⑤ 2.4 Miles STRAIGHT ON Through Pittsworthy Farm on your right-hand side. ⑥ 2.7 Miles TURN RIGHT At the sign post for Week (1/2 Mile). ⑦ 3.1 Miles STRAIGHT ON Under the bridge for the A30.

TURN RIGHT At the bottom of the hill turn right at the Junction signposted Bridestowe (1/2 mile). 4.2 Miles ⑧ * TURN LEFT FOR THE 14.1 MILE OPTION! * * TURN LEFT * Further directions will follow for this route On to Pool Hill, this will bring you into the village of 4.6 Miles ⑨ TURN LEFT Bridestowe. * TURN LEFT * * TURN LEFT ON TO RECTORY ROAD FOR THE 15.4 ⑩ 4.75 Miles MILE OPTION, HEADING TOWARDS LAKE! * BEAR RIGHT Bear slight right on to Fore Street for the main route! Carry on through Bridestowe, past the village pub, 4.8 Miles ⑪ STRAIGHT ON shops and church and continue on to Station Road. TURN RIGHT Following the hill out of Bridestowe you will see a ⑫ 5.6 Miles signpost for Corytown (5 miles), turn right here. * STRAIGHT ON * * CARRY STRAIGHT ON FOR THE 17.0 MILE OPTION! * As you approach the bottom of the hill stay right on the 5.9 Miles ⑬ SLIGHT RIGHT tarmac road. ⑭ 6.3 Miles STRAIGHT ON Into the hamlet of Watergate Turn left at the Watergate Cross Junction towards 6.6 Miles ⑮ TURN LEFT Lydford. ⑯ 6.8 Miles STRAIGHT ON Carry straight past Cooper Beech Farm. ⑰ 8.1 Miles TURN LEFT Turn left into Lydford. ⑱ 8.2 Miles TURN LEFT Turn left on to School Road. Towards the top of the hill turn left on to the cycle path ⑲ 8.4 Miles TURN LEFT (signposted), this is the entrance to the Granite Way! CONGRATULATIONS STAGE ONE COMPLETE!

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, , . EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

DIRECTIONS TO the granite way

ASHBURY HOTEL – WEEK – BRIDESTOWE – LYDFORD – GRANITE WAY

TURN LEFT AT ⑧ FOR 0.8 MILES THEN TURN RIGHT TOWARDS FORDA AND 14.1 MILE ROUTE = PASS THROUGH THIS HAMLET TO JOIN THE GRANITE WAY AT SOURTON BY THE HIGHWAYMAN INN. TAKE CARE CROSSING THE A386!

TURN LEFT AT ⑩ FOLLOWING RECTORY ROAD TO JOIN THE GRANITE WAY = 15.4 MILE ROUTE AT LAKE, BY THE BEARSLAKE INN. TAKE CARE CROSSING THE A386!

CARRY STRAIGHT ON AT ⑫ TO JOIN THE GRANITE WAY JUST SOUTH OF = 17.0 MILE ROUTE THE FOX & HOUNDS PUBLIC HOUSE.

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

Route Information at a Glance for the Way to the Start of the Granite Way (Lydford)

Distance 8.370 miles Total Ascent 875 feet

Lowest Point 488 feet (at 6.65 miles) Highest Point 856 feet (at 0.62 miles)

Uphill 3.08 miles (36.7%) Downhill 3.09 miles (37.0%)

Flat 2.20 miles (26.3%) Max. Height Gain 367 feet

Steepest Uphill +13.3% (at 6.99 miles) Steepest Downhill -13.3% (at 6.23 miles)

Longest Uphill 0.80 miles (at 4.72 miles) Longest Downhill 0.82 miles (at 1.23 miles)

The Castle Inn, Lydford

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

POINTS OF INTEREST Distance Point of Interest General Information

The Parish of Bridestowe is quite picturesque, encompassing over 5000 acres it homes approximately 1600 individuals. “The holy place of St Bridget” is the literal meaning of Bridestowe and this reflects the 4.4 Miles Bridestowe dedication of the local church to St Brigidia. It is the home of a very good local pub, The White Hart, and distinctive shop and cafe, The Riverside Stores both of which offer an ideal opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquillity of rural Devon. The historical significance of the village of Lydford cannot be understated. The first record dates to 997 when it was a stronghold for the monarch of Wessex against the Vikings. Later to become a mint for coins producing the Lydford Silver Penny the village was once taxed to the same scale as London due to its huge Parish which covered above 50,000 acres! Within the village boundaries historical buildings still stand to this day, The Church dedicated to St Petrock dating to the 13th Century and the Castle dating to 1132AD. Interestingly the castle was later to become a Prison, of reputable dour conditions which housed political opponents of Sir Richard Grenville and then Hanging Judge Jeffries. 8.0 Miles Lydford Now home to a modest population of approximately 500 people the village and its Parish has changed dramatically from those Hedonistic days. The beauty of Lydford Gorge is renowned, while the castle is an English Heritage site.

Lydford is also home to the Castle Inn, offering good food and drink for all cyclists and walkers using the village as a portal onto . The hamlet of Lake is rumoured to have an interesting history and reasoning for its name, it certainly isn’t to do with a body of water! During the Civil War two local villages, Bridestowe and Sourton were on opposing sides, one Royalist, one Parliamentarian. During 1693 it is believed that these two armies met and many lives were lost, the location was about half way between the two villages. The site was Lake which was named after the amount of blood spilled that day! 10.5 Miles Lake Currently the hamlet is far more civilised, homing the beautiful Devon Long House of the Bearslake Inn. Originally a farmstead where the livestock inhabited the same living space as the farmers, The Bearslake Inn became a public house in 1953. The beautifully renovated building is Grade 2 listed and worth a visit as you cycle the Granite Way! The Highwayman Inn is a pub with a difference. The outside itself holds many unusual features with a Giant Size Boot and a stage coach being sculptured into the outside of the building. As you enter into the The Highwayman main bar you realise that the stage coach is actually authentic! 11.5 Miles Inn The galleon bar was taken from a ship, wooden clad with a vibe of nostalgia this feature certainly gets your attention. Needless to say the other eclectic features within its walls could keep you there for a few more hours! The Okehampton Railway station was commissioned for use in 1871, and serviced a route to Plymouth which it was a junction for the Bude – Padstow Line. Prestigious carriages such as the Devon Belle and the Atlantic Coast Express used the route to transport its users to Plymouth and potentially their Okehampton luxurious cruise liners. 16.0 Miles Railway Station Sadly public use of the line was stopped after 1971 when it became more of a service line for Meldon Quarry which was producing 300,000 tonnes of Railway Ballast per year. At present the station is used during the summer months to help commuters gain access to Exeter and tourists gain access to the stunning scenery at Meldon Viaduct. The Polar Express also runs from here leading up to Christmas. The market town of Okehampton services the surrounding community with the main selection of shops available for 15 miles. The town itself offers a plethora of cafes, restaurants and public houses to choose from, along with the more familiar Supermarkets and Pharmacies.

The town dates back to 980AD, when its name was Ocmundtude, which means Settlement by the Ockment, which is the river that runs through it. The original settlement is marked by the still present All Saints Church which now stands alone atop of the current town.

With the encumbrance of the Saxons the town was relocated into the valley, and originally wedged 16.6 Miles Okehampton between the rivers, and eventually a new chapel was built. This was named St James Chapel and was completed solely due to the distance between the town and the existing church. Sadly all that remains of the original chapel is the granite tower; the rest was burnt to the ground in 1842.

The Castle, which is visible from the Granite Way dates to 1086 (although building started in 1068). Through the years it was expanded and eventually changed its usage from a fort into a fashionable hunting lodge for its then occupants the Courtenay’s. By 1539, with the Castle still in a good state of repair it was confiscated by King Henry VII after the execution of William Courtenay, from that time it has mainly been left to ruin. Today it is an English Heritage Site.

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

THE GRANITE WAY

Route Information at a Glance for the Granite Way

Distance 8.053 miles Total Ascent 643 feet

Lowest Point 708 feet (at 8.05 miles) Highest Point 971 feet (at 4.73 miles)

Uphill 2.59 miles (32.2%) Downhill 2.70 miles (33.6%)

Flat 2.76 miles (34.3%) Max. Height Gain 262 feet

Steepest Uphill +20.0% (at 5.89 miles) Steepest Downhill -16.7% (at 5.76 miles)

Longest Uphill 0.58 miles (at 4.21 miles) Longest Downhill 0.58 miles (at 4.85 miles)

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

THE GRANITE WAY

This excellent, traffic-free cycle/walkway between Lydford and Okehampton is part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) route number 27 ‘Devon Coast to Coast’ between Ilfracombe and Plymouth. Much of the Way is within Dartmoor National Park. The trail is ideal for families and those new to regular cycling. The Granite Way is mostly built along the course of the former Southern Region railway line.

From Lydford, the trail is on level ground with superb views across Fernworthy Down before emerging at Lake Viaduct, built of local stone and offering spectacular views of the Moor and the surrounding countryside. Leaving the viaduct behind you, head towards Sourton where the church and views along this section may warrant a stop on the granite seats to truly take in the scenery. Please ensure you close the gates behind you when passing through the short permissive section between Lake Viaduct and Sourton village.

Continuing along the railway line the trail passes the highest point on the railway in a deep cutting before emerging at the gates where the lane leads to the water treatment works at Prewley. Crossing this lane by the cattle grid, the trail continues east towards Meldon Viaduct. The dramatically craggy features of Sourton Tors are clearly visible to the south, and further west in the far distance is Brentor church on a distinctive knoll. Although along a former railway path, the trail has been built to meander to and fro, offering a more attractive cycle ride or walk.

At Meldon Viaduct there is a railway station, visitor centre and café in the former buffet carriage, all run by . Trains run from here to Okehampton Station. . To the north there are superb views with Okehampton’s motte and bailey castle (English Heritage) in the valley below. To the south rises Dartmoor with High Willhays, the highest point on the Moor at 621 metres (2038 feet), not far away. The trail runs parallel to the railway line which takes passenger trains and used to carry aggregate from Meldon Quarry.

Meldon Viaduct was built in 1874, three years after the London and South West railway reached Okehampton. Spanning 341 feet (165 metres) the steel viaduct looks down upon a complex area of industrial archaeology. Meldon Dam can be seen to the south west and Exmoor 20 miles away to the north east. In the valley to the south is Meldon Pool, the remains of mineral mining, such as copper and arsenic, and quarrying including limestone in the 18th and 19th centuries, with two lime kilns. An embryonic glass industry based on the naturally occurring aplite essential in glass manufacturing was started in the early 1920s but didn’t flourish. Until recently, quarrying continued with Aggregate Industries extracting railway ballast, road stone and other industrial aggregates which were taken out by rail through Okehampton Station and on to the mainline at Exeter.

A few hundred metres west along the trail from Meldon Viaduct is a turning, by a Sustrans milepost, that gives access along a lane – a few minutes by bicycle – to Meldon Dam and Reservoir. The dam was built in 1972 in the West Ockment valley and has a span of 660 feet (201 metres) and is 145 feet (45 metres) high. It used to be possible to walk around the reservoir using a permissive path and access land to admire the magnificent views of the Dartmoor scenery, although currently this has been rescinded.

Lake Viaduct Meldon Viaduct towards the Loco Yard

Okehampton Castle Okehampton Station

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

PUB / TEA ROOM OPENING TIMES ETC

Area Place Name Information Sunday Monday - Thursday Friday Saturday

12pm - 3pm 12pm - 3pm Opening 12pm - 11pm 12pm - 11pm The White Hart 6pm - 11pm 6pm - 11pm 01837 861318 12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm Bridestowe Food Served 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm Riverside Stores Opening 9am - 4pm 8am - 6pm 8am - 6pm 8am - 6pm 01837 861321 Opening 12pm - 10.30pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm The Castle Inn 12pm - 3pm 12pm - 3pm 12pm - 3pm 12pm - 3pm 01822 820241 Food Served Lydford 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm

The Fox & Opening 12pm - 10.30pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm Hounds 01822 820206 Food Served 12pm - 10pm 12pm - 10pm 12pm - 10pm 12pm - 10pm Opening 12pm - 10.30pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm The Bearslake Lake Inn 12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm 01837 861334 Food Served 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm 6pm - 9pm

12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm 12pm - 2.30pm Opening The 7pm - 10.30pm 6pm - 10.30pm 6pm - 10.30pm 6pm - 10.30pm Sourton Highwayman 01837 861243 12pm - 2pm 12pm - 2pm 12pm - 2pm 12pm - 2pm Food Served 7pm - 8.30pm 6pm - 8.30pm 6pm - 8.30pm 6pm - 8.30pm

Opening Seasonal Meldon The Carriages Food Served Seasonal

Okehampton Opening 9am - 4pm CLOSED 10am - 4pm 9am - 4pm Railway Station 01837 55667 Food Served 9am - 4pm CLOSED 10am - 4pm 9am - 4pm

The Fountain Opening 12am - 11pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm Inn 01837 53532 12pm - 2.45pm 12pm - 2.45pm Food Served 12pm - 9pm 12pm - 9pm 5.30pm - 9pm 5.30pm - 9pm Okehampton The London Inn Opening 12pm - 12am 12pm - 12am 12pm - 12am 12pm - 12am 01837 54655 Food Served 12pm - 9pm 12pm - 9pm 12pm - 9pm 12pm - 9pm

Opening 11am - 11pm 11am - 11pm 11am - 12am 11am - 12am The Plymouth Inn 01837 53633 11am - 2.30pm 11am - 2.30pm 11am - 2.30pm Food Served 11am - 3pm 5.30pm - 9pm 5.30pm - 9pm 5.30pm - 9pm

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

Route Information at a Glance for Way Back to Ashbury Hotel

Distance 4.026 miles Total Ascent 580 feet

Lowest Point 501 feet (at 0.63 miles) Highest Point 836 feet (at 1.99 miles)

Uphill 1.58 miles (39.4%) Downhill 1.58 miles (39.4%)

Flat 0.86 miles (21.3%) Max. Height Gain 334 feet

Steepest Uphill +16.7% (at 0.75 miles) Steepest Downhill -16.7% (at 3.43 miles)

Longest Uphill 0.56 miles (at 0.67 miles) Longest Downhill 0.78 miles (at 2.20 miles)

Meldon Dam from Meldon Viaduct

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

DIRECTIONS BACK TO ASHBURY

GRANITE WAY – OKEHAMPTON STATION – OKEHAMPTON – SOUTHCOTT – ASHBURY HOTEL

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

DIRECTIONS back to ashbury

Distance Marker Point General Information

At the end of the Granite Way, turn right on Parklands and ① 0.0 Miles TURN RIGHT travel to the end of the road.

0.06 Following Station Road down the hill, bearing right at the TURN LEFT ② Miles monument and continuing down the hill to the bottom. 0.52 At the junction at the bottom of the hill, turn left on to Mill TURN LEFT Road and follow this road as it bears right and becomes ③ Miles George Street. Passing the Post Office on your left. 0.628 At the traffic lights, turn left on to Fore Street (B3260) and TURN LEFT ④ Miles follow the road as it merges to become West Street.

0.706 Just past the London Inn on your right, turn right and go up TURN RIGHT ⑤ Miles High Street straight in front of you – follow this incline.

0.848 TURN RIGHT Where High Street bears left, you carry straight on up the hill ⑥ Miles (STRAIGHT ON) on to Old Road (Technically turning right). 0.943 Follow this road up and take the second turning on your right SECOND RIGHT in to Church Lane. (If you reach O’Connor’s Campers, you’ve ⑦ Miles gone too far). 1.047 Take the first left on to Stoney Park Lane and follow this road TURN LEFT ⑧ Miles until the junction.

1.664 Turn right at the junction with Beacon Down Hill and follow TURN RIGHT ⑨ Miles this road up taking the next right. 2.05 FIRST RIGHT Take the first right off Beacon Down Hill towards Northlew. ⑩ Miles 2.204 At the crossroads with Narratons Road (A386) turn left and TURN LEFT 2.266 then almost immediately right on to Dry Lane. (There is a ⑪ THEN RIGHT sign saying “No Access to Ashbury Hotel” but there is for Miles cyclists.

3.248 Follow Dry Lane until you come to a turning on your left, just TURN LEFT ⑫ Miles past a White Cottage, and take this left-hand turn. Stay on this road, past a farm on your right and at the brow STRAIGHT ON of the hill you’ll have a wonderful view of the Oakwood ⑬ course. (Nearly there)! 3.956 FOLLOW THIS Follow down the hill taking great care, and up the other side ⑭ Miles ROAD and you’ll soon be relaxing back at ASHBURY HOTEL. 4.026 HOME YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR DESTINATION! ⑮ Miles

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453

ASHBURY – GRANITE WAY LOOP

THE ASHBURY HOTEL, HIGHER MADDAFORD, SOUTHCOTT, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON. EX20 4NL – 01837 55453