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Grand Western Canal

23.6 miles (38 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This splendid waterside walk takes you from Tiverton in Devon to Taunton in Somerset.
The first section of the walk takes you from Tiverton to Greenham along the towpath through the Grand Western Canal Country Park. At Greenham you join the West Deane Way and the walk changes as you start following the dry bed of the canal.
However, the waterside aspect continues as you also join the River Tone which takes you through Bradford on Tone and then onto the finish point in Taunton.
To continue your waterside walking in the Tiverton area you can pick up the Exe Valley Way which runs through the town. You could follow the riverside path south to Brampford Speke and Bickleigh where you'll find the 18th century Bickleigh Mill.

Postcode

EX16 4HX - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Grand Western Canal OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Grand Western Canal Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

At the Tiverton end, in the country park, there's The Canal Tea Rooms & Garden to visit. They're in a lovely location and have a delightful garden area next to the canal. They have a good menu with a particularly delicious cream tea option.
At the other end of the route in Taunton there's The Ring of Bells. They serve good quality food and have a large sunny garden for summer days. You can find them at 16-17 St James Street with postcode TA1 1JS for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The towpath is a nice place to walk your dog. The tea rooms and pub mentioned above are also dog friendly.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

The Grand Western Canal - geograph.org.uk - 2160403

The Grand Western Canal near Tiverton

The Grand Western Canal by Ayshford Court - geograph.org.uk - 2227638

By Ayshford Court

The Grand Western Canal from Greenway Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 2173646

The canal from Greenway Bridge

Grand Western Canal at Manley Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1765089

Manley Bridge. With the towpath it forms part of the Grand Western Canal Country Park and provides an 11-mile walking route from Lowdwells to Tiverton, plus a further section into Somerset where the canal no longer holds water.

Ayshford Chapel and Court - geograph.org.uk - 1767824

Ayshford Chapel and Court

Field by the Grand Western Canal - geograph.org.uk - 1969217

Field by the Canal at Sampford Peverell.

Burlescombe, Grand Western Canal - geograph.org.uk - 68669

Burlescombe. Behind the camera the canal has crossed a shallow valley on embankment running east-south-east; it turns to run north-north-east and in the distance is Burlescombe church. Had the original main line to Exeter been built, this is where it would have junctioned with the Tiverton branch. The Taunton-Exeter railway, which eclipsed the canal, runs nearby

Moorings on the Grand Western Canal - geograph.org.uk - 1117181

Moorings. Cruisers moored along the canal east of East Manley bridge. These are the only permanent moorings along this short 11 mile stretch of the canal, although visiting boats can moor overnight away from the horseboat route. The canal originally was extended to Taunton to join the Bridgewater Canal, but it was financially unprofitable and the centre part was abandoned after the canal was purchased in 1865 by the Bristol & Exeter Railway (the GWR).

Elevation Profile

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Grand Western Canal.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Grand Western Canal.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)