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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 Tarka trail towards Bideford. 

We have two options open to us: Option 1 After Approx ½ mile we leave the Tarka Trail and enter into a wooded area and 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 right and the river Torridge slowly meandering its way back to the sea way down to our left until we arrive at The Roving Bridge crossover point and learn more of this historic construction.

Option 2 We can continue along the Tarka trail for Approx 1 mile (hopefully glimpsing the heron at the weir) before taking the steps that lead to the Roving Bridge crossover point of the old Rolle Canal.

We will follow the path up to the top of the bridge and start our climb 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 we begin the climb to the view point at the top of a steep incline.  The climb is well worth the effort as the views are breath-taking.

Following a brief respite we will make our way down the other side of the hill via the golf course until we reach the main track running through the common. We continue down the hill until we cross the stone bridge and begin our climb up to the top carpark (old bowling green) From here it's all downhill to the Puffing Billy for a warm down followed by some well-earned refreshments.

Location Notes:

Start point for Learn2 & Rolle Canal walks