TAVISTOCK VIADUCT WALK
This walk takes in two viaducts which carried the London and South West Railway trains from Exeter around the north western fringes of Dartmoor. The line closed in the late 1960s.
Splendid views of Tavistock across to the tors of Dartmoor can be taken in from the viaduct. The entire walk is 3 miles in length but you can cut the walk short once you first come off the railway line by turning left down into to the town.
The route starts in the town centre and up Market Street. Take the narrow and steep path called Madge Lane on the left after the Union Inn and turn right onto Watts Road. Continue until you reach the entrance to the railway footpath.
Once off the viaduct, where the road sharply bends to the right, take an almost hidden footpath on your left which skirts the old railway station. Continue along the foot/cyclepath until it loops back onto itself and joins a residential Road.
For the complete route, turn right and follow the road until you come to a sign for Cycle Route N27 through a gate to the right. Rejoin the railway line, across Wilminstone Viaduct until you are directed to exit once again back onto Old Exeter Road.
Here take a right, down the hill, right again underneath the viaduct towards Kestrel Kennels. At the car park for Kestrel Kennels, bear left along a track until you come to a cottage. Go left over the bridge, through a gate and up a steep field.
The route takes you around the edge of another field until you reach a bridleway. Follow this back to the main road.
Retrace your steps but, instead of joining the railway line again at the bridge, carry on down Old Exeter Road until you come to steps on your left down into Paddon’s Row.
