Grand Western Canal Paddle Trail

6-11 hours

Duration

22 miles

Distance

Out and Back

Moderate

Difficulty

EX16 4HX

Start Postcode

EX16 4HX

End Postcode

A. Setting off from the canal basin you will paddle through the houses of Tiverton for your first mile before heading into open countryside.

B. At 1.6 miles you will pass a memorial to two airmen who lost their lives by the canal, when their Canberra Bomber crashed here in 1961.

C. Just before reaching Halberton, at around 3.7 miles, there is free parking where the canal swings around the golf course in an area known as the swan’s neck.

D. Sampford Peverell, at 6.5 miles, is an attractive village with access over a small field to the canal bank. There are public toilets here and a pub on the bank serving food.

E. A little past here, just before a main road bridge, is a new landing area, approached via an access toll road from the Minnows Caravan and Camp Site.

F. At 7.6 miles you will spot Ayshford Chapel on your left. This Grade 1 listed building was the former private chapel of the Ayshford family and has been recently renovated.

G. The scenery becomes more wooded and prettier near to Westleigh (on the left bank). The Fossend bridge carries the road from Westleigh to Burlescombe.

H. At Burlescombe, just over 9.5 miles into your trip, there is an obvious old wharf with parking. There are old quarries on the hill to your left.

I. After this point the canal is in a deep cutting and can be overgrown in summer, making your journey and quite hidden from the public. Spotting the canal and accessing it from the road is difficult, hence the advice to paddle from Tiverton.

J. On the west bank you might notice an overgrown chute where quarried stone was let down to canal level.

K. Now the canal narrows and enters the Waytown Tunnel, which carries it underneath the Hokcombe Rogus to Wellington road. This area often gets blocked with fallen trees but in normal circumstances it is possible to paddle through the tunnel.

L. The canal comes to an abrupt end, at just under 11.5 miles, at Lowdwells. There is some free parking here but please beware to not obstruct the entrance to private wharf house.

M. If you are doing the full out and back trip you can now turn and retrace your steps, through the peaceful countryside, to your start point.

Discover More

The Grand Western Canal was born of an idea to link the Bristol and English Channels. Never completed, it was instead used to supply limestone and coal to lime kilns.

Although spring-fed, there is no noticeable current, but it is exposed in places and can catch the wind. The water is shallow in some places, especially towards the tunnel area, and there is heavy annual growth of weed, which can make paddling difficult in the hot summer months.

The canal was built for good-sized barges. Broad and once deep, the Grand Western swings through the red earth of the Devon countryside as if it belongs there.

The canal is now designated as a Country Park and is owned by Devon County Council, and its horse-drawn barges are a popular attraction.

Tiverton is a lovely market town, with many pubs, restaurants, and a local museum. It is the tourism centre for South Devon and the Exe Valley.

Further information can be found on the following websites:

Licence Information

Licences: The waterways in this trail are managed by Devon County Council and require paddlers to hold a permit. Paddle UK membership does not include a licence for this waterway. You can purchase a permit from: https://new.devon.gov.uk/grandwesterncanal/activities/boating

Safety Information

We want you to have fun and a safe paddle! Here are some helpful tips to ensure you paddle responsibly and stay safe on your journey. Please take a moment to review these important safety tips:

– Always wear a correctly sized buoyancy aid

– Carry a mobile phone – in a waterproof case

– Tell Someone Where You’re Going

– Check the weather and conditions

– Know your limits

Check out some useful blogs and e-learnings on how to keep safe

Environment

Wherever and however you paddle, our Paddlers’ Code helps to ensure we can all enjoy and share the water safely and protect our precious environment.

Don’t get sick doing what you love. We know water quality is a concern for many paddlers. Click here for some simple advice on water quality and how to protect yourself.

Get informed, stay safe and make good decisions by checking the National Storm Overflow Map

Paddlers can play a vital role in keeping our waters free of harmful non-native species. It is crucial you Check, Clean and Dry you boat and equipment to prevent the spread. Click here for more information on Invasive Non-Native Species.

For more environmental advice and guidance, see our Blue Space Blogs section on the Paddle UK website.