Okehampton & Meldon Viaduct Circular Walk

by Alice Parry
2 years ago
Near Okehampton, GB

254 views

From Okehampton station, go past the YHA and turn left up the road. Continue up to the track signposted ‘footpath’ and head through a gate next to Heathfield House.
Bear left to the iron fence at the top and alongside the A30 to the footbridge.

Cross over the byfass and at the far side, turn right alongside the fence.

After around 100m, on reaching the gorse bushes, follow the path left and uphill to reach Camp Road.

Continue up Camp Road and keep an eye out for a granite cross, Fice’s Well, on the right. It marks the site of an old spring where young people would come at Easter to discover the likelihood of marriage in the coming year.

Keep left of the Army Camp as you descend to a cattle grid. It is still an active base for live firing, with red flags and lamps indicating if this is happening. Please take care and stay on the described route.

Cross the cattle grid and turn right along the surfaced track. To your left are the two highest points on Dartmoor; Yes Tor and just behind it, High Willhays.

Where the track bears left away from the wall, take the unsurfaced track bearing to the right, to continue alongside the stone wall.

Where this in turn bears left towards a hilltop, leave it and keep ahead, next to the stone wall. The area over the wall on the right is the site of scattered farms and fields of medieval times. There are no visible remains.

Follow the wall ahead until it descends to the second right angle. Meldon Quarry sits to the right.

Leave the wall at the second sharp bend and continue straight ahead down the grassy path into the valley in front. Note the spoil heaps and other remains of a 19th century copper mine next to the stream.

At the bottom follow the track to the right, alongside the stream (Red-a-Ven Brook) and continue downhill to the old quarry buildings. (This is a private track, but access is allowed by kind permission of the Parish Council).

On reaching the old quarry buildings, head straight over the track on a grassy path downhill. Fork right after around 100m to follow a grassy path towards the Viaduct. Follow the grassy path through an area of gorse and over a stream, then on to a wooden gate. Note the lime kiln next to the gate here - lime from here was probably used to fertilise the soil.

Turn left at the quarry access road, under the viaduct. After 100m, turn right on a woodland path (signed Public Bridlepath).

Follow the path to its end ignoring signs to Meldon Reservoir.

Where the path reaches the road, bear right to cross the bridge over the A30, then bear right at the first track (signed Public Bridlepath). From here, the route follows the waymarked West Devon Way to Okehampton.

Follow the track, bearing right and following signs through the farmyard to a gate. Through the gate, keep to the left side of the fields.

At the end of the fields, pass through a metal gate, and cross a stream to reach the golf course. Keep ahead, next to the bushes, following a faint path, which becomes a clearer track and then leads to a road. Take care here - beware of golf balls, and be respectful of golfers.

Continue ahead on reaching the road.

Follow the road for around 350m, then fork left into the woods following the West Devon Way signs.

These woods are part of Old Town Park Local Nature Reserve. On emerging at a grassy area, bear right past a bridge, along a boardwalk to a gate.
To visit Okehampton Castle cross the footbridge and stile here, and bear left along the road - the Castle is 100m to your left.

To continue on the route, pass through the gate and follow the riverside path. At the end of the path, continue along Castle Road ahead to its end.

At the roads end, turn left for the town centre, or to continue on the route, turn right. Pass Station Road then bear right into Simmons Park.
Keep to the main path alongside the East Okement River.

At the end climb the steps back to the right then turn left up the steps at the junction. Keep climbing to the top then continue up the path ahead to the road. Turn left to the station.

To reach the starting point, pass under the bridge and turn left.