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Main Instructor:

Click to View: Bruce Perkins Instructor Page

Walk Description:

Meet at the FREE car park adjacent to the Puffing Billy Café, Great Torrington. Post code EX388JD

We’ll kick start our senses (and our body) with a warm up in the shelter of the road bridge before setting off along the pathway leading to the Covety Sacred Spring where we will take time out to remember not only those that gave their all for today's freedom but to remember family, friends and loved ones who sadly are no longer with us.

From here we will continue down the hill until we cross the stone bridge and pick up the main track running through the common and begin our climb up to Rice Point via the golf course. The climb is well worth the effort as the views are breath-taking.

Once we catch our breath we will begin our descent through the Clinton Devon Estate (who have granted permission to use the pathway as it is not a right of way). Here we remain undercover of the woods canopy and can marvel at natures ever changing seasons. The pathway is very well used and is quite distinctive, running up and down various contours until eventually reaching the Rolle Canal at The Roving Bridge crossover point and learn more of this historic construction.

We have two options open to us:

Option 1 We can begin our historic journey along the old Rolle Canal tow path. Whilst most of the canal is now heavily overgrown there are still signs and Stop Boards along the way to remind us of what it once was:

A hand-built canal approximately 6 feet wide stretching some 7 miles linking Great Torrington to the river Torridge 3 miles above Bideford; taking 300 workers 2.5 years to construct (it was officially opened in February 1827 and closed in 1871) at a personal cost to John, Lord Rolle the equivalent to more than £3million at today’s costs!! We will follow the tree covered uneven but well-trodden tow path with the remains of the canal on our left and the river Torridge slowly meandering its way back to the sea way down to our right.  

Option 2 We can drop down to and follow the Tarka trail (hopefully glimpsing the heron at the weir) before making our way back to the Puffing Billy where light refreshments await us.

Location Notes:

Start point for Learn2 & Rolle Canal walks