DayCycle – The Granite Way

The Granite Way cycle route overall rating:
(Colour explanation: blue = good, yellow indicates some warning, and red indicates issues to be aware of)

The Granite Way is a traffic-free shared path that follows a disused railway. Skirting the high moor, it runs for 9 miles, from Okehampton to Lydford. It also forms part of the Devon Coast To Coast route.

Built on the track bed of the old London And South Western Railway (LSWR), much of the route showcases extreme Victorian ingenuity, none more so than the stunning Meldon Viaduct.

When you get to an odd arrangement of railway sleepers to the right, you will be at the site of the old Meldon Junction, where the long-lost branch line to Bude, Cornwall, used to veer off. The Granite Way continues along the old track bed that used to run all the way, through Tavistock, to Plymouth.

Surface on the Granite Way

The surface is very good, except for a short (around 300 metres) permissive path in the middle, where suddenly it becomes a rough single-track.

Refreshments


Your options for refreshments are limited to the café at Okehampton station, Devon Cycle Hire, and the Castle Inn, in Lydford.

Bikes


Most bikes can use the route, but trikes and most cargo bikes will struggle. If you’re happy to turn back at the rough, single-track section, trikes will be fine, provided you accessed the Granite Way from Sourton. Doing so means you will avoid the gates and sharp turns at either end of the tunnel under the A30.

Toilets


There are toilets at Okehampton train station, and again in Lydford. In between, you’d need to leave the trail if you wanted to access toilets, and the Pump and Pedal, in Sourton.

Hilliness


The route is mostly flat.

Safety from traffic


Except for a very short on-road section at the start, and a longer on-road section through the village of Lydford, the route is completely traffic-free.

The grading system I use is explained here.

Points of Interest

Okehampton Castle is worth visiting, as is The Highwayman Inn (slightly off-trail) – supposedly England’s most haunted pub, and certainly extremely unusual. To get to the Highwayman, turn right on the lane leading off by the church. It is well worth the diversion!
Of course, Lydford Castle (and the ruins behind it) is worth a visit, too.

Routes in Devon

Barriers


There are no barriers along the route, but there are several gates. Also, the single-track section in the middle would likely prevent trikes or most cargo bikes from getting through.

Cycle Hire

You can hire bicycles from Devon Cycle Hire, Sourton, or from Granite Way Cycle Hire, opposite Okehampton station.

Child friendliness


Even very young children will enjoy almost all of the Granite Way.

Social safety


Much of the route is very remote and isolated. However, during summer, especially over weekends, the route can be fairly busy with people.

Weather forecast for the 

What the looks like

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Getting to the Granite Way

Ordinarily, cycling the Granite Way meant either living in the area, cycling out that way, or driving there, then cycling the route. However, thanks to the Dartmoor Line, between Exeter and Okehampton, re-opening to regular passenger trains, you can get yourself and your bike to Okehampton by train. Just be sure to read my Bikes and Trains post first!

Parking near the Granite Way

There is a pay and display car park at Okehampton train station, and a single electric charging point at the Granite Way Cycles building (The Goods Shed, The Youth Hostel, Klondyke Rd, Okehampton EX20 1EW), opposite the tracks from the train station.
Additionally, you can park in Sourton, at Devon Cycle Hire (Sourton Down, EX20 4HR), or in Lydford (School Rd, Lydford, EX20 4AT)

More Routes

To find more routes, click this link.

DayCycle

DayCycle routes are routes that can can easily be cycled by most people in a day, or part of a day. Do have a look at all the other DayCycle routes available on WillCycle.

The Granite Way interactive map

And finally…

If this route guide was of use to you, it will be of use to others, too. Don’t keep it secret! Share it with everyone, on social media, in Facebook Groups, on chat forums, and elsewhere.

1 thought on “DayCycle – The Granite Way”

  1. I was on my bike every yard of the way. No need for me to ride it again. Lovley and accurate.

    Thank you.

    Reply

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