Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers

An easy 5-mile walk around the Walkham Valley with David Simkins of Tavistock Ramblers.

The walk starts on the edge of Tavistock in the Anderton lay-by on the A386 (SX487723).

The route starts on the old GWR railway track, which is now a multi-use trail known as Drake’s Trail. After the old railway tunnel, the path passes close to the magnificent Gem Bridge before following the River Walkham down to Double Waters - where better for a picnic?

1. From the Plymouth-bound lay-by walk back towards Tavistock and turn immediately right down a lane that is signposted to Whitchurch.

2. At the bottom of the hill turn right on to the cycle track. Soon you will go through a tunnel built in 1859 for Brunel’s South Devon and Tavistock Railway. It now forms part of Drake’s Trail and was purchased by Devon County Council from British Rail for £1. You may need a hat as the tunnel drips relentlessly even in the summer.

3. As the track emerges from the tunnel you will pass Grenofen Manor on the right. After a further 300m or so go through a gate in the fence on the right into the woodland. (If you stay on the cycle track you will reach Gem Bridge in less than 5 minutes which is well worth a visit). Follow the track downhill and then through a meadow to reach a road.

4. Cross the road on to the wide track which skirts around a house and then follows the River Walkham. You soon pass a huge vertical rock wall on your right, the top of which formed a platform for stonemasons to carve and fashion the soft elvan rock quarried close by. Shortly afterwards you will see the remains of old mine workings. There were two in this part of the valley, West Down, and a bit further on, Sortridge and Bedford Mine. These mines exploited the rich copper lodes that are found in the area and date from about 1865.

5. When the path eventually climbs away from the river, you walk past a house and then reach a junction. Turn left on the concrete track which goes downhill to the river. After about 5 minutes, you will walk through a narrow gap known as Goat Rock to emerge at Double Waters, where the River Tavy and River Walkham meet – a most picturesque picnic location.

6. Retrace your steps to the track junction and now continue uphill. The effort is worth it as the views open up over the open moorland to reach West Down.

When the track levels out and before reaching a gate, turn right to walk alongside a boundary wall for about 250m.

7 Go through the next gate on to a road where there are splendid views across Dartmoor. When you reach a crossroads, go straight across and then downhill through Woodtown. Turn left at the bottom of the hill and carefully cross the A386 back to the start.  

Tavistock Ramblers will be doing lots more walks in the area in the next few weeks. Have a look on their website www.tavistockramblers.org.uk for details of their summer programme with walks between 3 miles and up to 12 miles or longer.