The West Devon Way starts from Plymouth. It was part of the Devon and Tavistock Railway which was opened in 1859. It was originally a broad gauge line but a third rail was later added to make it a dual purpose mixed gauge. It eventually was converted to Standard gauge. The line closed in 1962 to passengers. Freight continued a little longer. There’s now a short section of heritage railway, the Plym Valley Railway. For this reason we are advising that it is ridden from Plym Bridge at the north end of the preserved railway where there is a car park. The railway line is now part of the Sustrans 27 route and follows the edge of Dartmoor National Park. At Clearbrook, the Sustrans route changes direction away from the railway line. The railway continues on to Yelverton but is not shown as on the West Devon Way. We are unsure if there is continued access to horses to Yelverton from Hoo Meavy on the line – a footpath is shown on the OS map running parallel. If there is not then there are minor country lanes that will take you there. The total distance along the railway line is approximately 6.16 miles.

Grid ref: SX 523 586 Plym Bridge Car park close by. Grid ref: SX 52 65 Hoo Meavy. Grid ref: SX 20 67 Yelverton

http://www.oldplymouth.uk/Railways- South%20Devon%20and%20Tavistock%20Railway%20Company.htm https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=W est+Devon+Way