This is a lovely peaceful cycle route, often along the towpath, beside this tranquil stretch of water way through the heart of Devon between Tiverton and the Somerset border. The Grand Western Canal forms part of the West Country Way (NCN3) Cycle Route which runs from Padstow in Cornwall to Bristol.

This is a flat, easy, mainly off-road route, and ideal for families with children. There are open views of superb landscape on the way, varying between sheltered woodland and sweeping views of the Blackdown Hills.

The Canal was built at the end of the 19th century, and it was speedier and more convenient commercially to make it as flat as possible. This makes it ideal cycling territory. The Canal was closed as a commercial waterway in 1925, as the railways took over commercial transport. Restored as a Country Park in 1971, it is now enjoyed by walkers, anglers, cyclists and passengers on boats and a horse-drawn barge run by the Grand Western Horseboat Company. There are picnic areas and pubs along the way.

Starting points and directions:

1) Tiverton Parkway Station. Leave the station along the access road and follow the NCN Route 3 signs until you join the canal towpath. Turn westwards (left) and head for Tiverton via Sampford Peverell and Halberton. Turn eastwards (right) and head towards the quieter stretches leading to Lower Brinscott and the Somerset border.

2) Tiverton town centre. (Car parking: in the main car park adjacent to the Tourist Information Office by Phoenix Lane). At the north end of Phoenix Lane is Fore Street. Turn right into Fore Street. It’s a short distance (pushing your bicycle) to Gold Street and then a few metres to the junction with Barrington Street on your left. You will now see signs for the West Country Way – NCN Route 3 – pointing out of the town centre (be sure you are heading east out of town and not north towards Bampton). Follow the NCN Route 3 signs and turn left into Blundells Road. The signs will take you along Blundells Road to where you cross the busy roundabout via a purpose built safe cycle crossing with signals and a cycle path link to the old railway, heading towards the Grand Western Canal, Halberton and Sampford Peverell.

3) Willand – There is a traffic free link from Willand to Tiverton Parkway station that crosses both the M5 and main railway line via cycle / pedestrian bridges. Follow the NCN Route 3 signs to Tiverton Parkway and thence to the Grand Western Canal. The canal towpath is also accessible from all roadbridges in Halberton, Sampford Peverell and Burlescombe.

Grand Western Canal

The main purpose of the Tiverton branch of the Canal was to convey limestone from the Canonsleigh quarries near Holcombe Rogus, to be burnt with coal brought from Taunton in order to produce the lime needed for agriculture. From Tiverton heading east along the tow path, you soon come to an aqueduct. Built in 1847 it was constructed as part of the Bristol and Exeter railway branch from Tiverton Junction to Tiverton. The path passes under two road bridges, the Change Path Bridge carrying a by-road to Lower Town Halberton, and Tiverton Road Bridge.

At Milestone III the canal takes a sharp bend and makes a loop of nearly a mile to follow the contour above the shallow valley leading down to Halberton, passing through some pleasant wooded country.

Near Halberton village, the path goes under Greenway Bridge and soon crosses a small valley and runs through some old sandstone quarries. Just past Rock Bridge you can see Rock House, built in the first part of the 19th century for Captain John Twisden, the engineer who succeeded James Green in extending the Canal to Taunton in the 1830s.

The next stretch of the Canal has good distant views eastwards to the Blackdown Hills. At the Battens Bridge, notice the design of the brick courses, which make the bridge much wider at the base than at the top, a very common shape in canal bridges.

The canal then cuts through the middle of Sampford Peverell village, and terminates at Lower Brinscott by the Lock Cottage where there are clear traces of the lock which took it down to a lower level on its way to Taunton. The lock could take three tub boats at once and lowered them three and a half feet.

FACTS AND FEATURES

Route Distances:
Tiverton to Sampford Peverell 4 miles/7km
Sampford Peverell to Tiverton Parkway 1mile / 2km
Tiverton Parkway to Willand 3 miles/ 5km
• The West Country Way route map (DP73)
• Tiverton to Culm Valley Cycle Routes leaflet (DP85)

O.S. Maps:
• Explorer (1:25,000)
No. 114 Exeter and the Exe Valley
No. 128 Taunton, Blackdown Hills
• Landranger (1:50,000)
No. 181 Minehead and the Brendon Hills
N. 192 Exeter, Sidmouth

Places to Visit:
• Knightshayes Court (National Trust – reduced entry for those arriving by bicycle)
• Museum of Mid Devon Life, Tiverton
• Tiverton Castle
• Grand Western Horseboat Company, Tiverton
• Diggerland, Willand

Facilities:
• Refreshments available at Tiverton, Sampford Peverell, Tiverton Parkway, Willand
• Cycle hire and shop at Tiverton; cycle hire at Tiverton Parkway