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Tavistock River Walk

0.9 miles (1.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Enjoy an easy stroll along the River Tavy on this short walk in the town of Tavistock. It's a lovely, surfaced path running along a rushing weir with old bridges to see on the way. The walk runs for about 1 mile along both sides of the river, from Abbey Bridge in the north to West Bridge in the south.
To continue your walking in the town head to the Tavistock Viaduct where you can enjoy a walk along the old train line with views over the rooftops from the elevated position of the viaduct.
The Tavistock Canal also runs parallel to the river so you can easily continue your waterside walking along the towpath.

Tavistock River Walk OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Tavistock River Walk Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

In the town you can pick up with the 22 mile Drakes Trail. It starts in Tavistock and visits the Tavistock Canal and Grenofen Bridge before linking up with the popular Plym Valley Trail. The shared cycling and walking route is named after the explorer Sir Francis Drake who was born in Tavistock and has a statue at the other end of the route in Plymouth.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Weir on the river Tavy - geograph.org.uk - 1353725

Weir on the river Tavy. Just below Abbey Bridge.The water was fairly low on this day.

Tavistock, River Tavy and Abbey Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1027419

 River Tavy and Abbey Bridge. Quoting from the Devon County Council's plaque on Abbey Bridge:-
"A mediaeval bridge here served Tavistock Abbey. It was replaced in 1763 to accommodate the new turnpike road system. This bridge was widened in 1860 to carry increased traffic following the opening of the Great Western Railway station nearby."

Riverside and bridge - geograph.org.uk - 762697

Riverside and bridge. Today it carries the A386 road to and from Okehampton into the town centre. On the left is the intake from the River Tavy that feeds the Tavistock Canal which has served Morwellham hydro power station since 1934. In 2008 a new automatic screening mechanism was installed (the green and grey shovel-like structure) that will prevent salmon smolts from entering the canal and becoming trapped, instead allowing them to swim down the Tavy to the sea.

River Tavy - geograph.org.uk - 143396

River Tavy - geograph.org.uk - 2441955

River Tavy, Tavistock - geograph.org.uk - 3462879

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Tavistock River Walk.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)