A scenic and historic waymarked route for walkers linking ...

A scenic and historic waymarked route for walkerslinking Dartmoor and the south coast of Devon

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Templer Way Waymarkers

Introduction to the WalkUsing a mixture of rights of way, permissiveroutes and minor roads, the Templer Wayfollows as closely as possible the route of theTemplers’ ventures - the Haytor GraniteTramway and the Stover Canal - betweenHaytor and Newton Abbot. It then followsthe old exporting route down the TeignEstuary to the Templers’ New Quay atTeignmouth.

Except on the open moorland at HaytorDown, where the granite rails of thetramway can be followed, the route iswaymarked in both directions, and may betackled in short stretches or in one go.Circular walks have been developed for mostsections, including the Heritage Trail, a circuitaround the Templer Estate at Stover.

The waymarks are made up of the TemplerWay logo which is composed of a tramwaywheel and the tiller and rudder of a barge,

Sustainable Travel LinksFrequent and regular bus services operatenear to the route between Stages 1 and 6providing an opportunity to plan ‘Ride andStride’ options. Newton Abbot is veryaccessible with a main line train station.

For up to date bus times call Traveline on0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.org.uk

representing the tramway and the canal.There is also a series of information boardslocated along the route. Anyone wishing tocomplete the Templer Way in one day shouldallow up to 10 hours and should check tidetables before setting out.

Much of this route follows permissive pathswhere landowners have given permission foruse by walkers only. It cannot, therefore, berecommended for cyclists.

Walk North, or South - instages….Stage 1 4miles/6.4kmHaytor to Edgemoor

Stage 2 2miles/3.2kmEdgemoor to Great Plantation

Stage 3 4miles/6.5kmGreat Plantation to Locks Bridge

Stage 4 2miles/3.5kmLocks Bridge to Newton Abbot Town Quay

Stage 5 2.5miles/3.8kmNewton Abbot Town Quay to Coombe Cellars

Stage 6 3miles/4.5km

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Quayside FootbriadgeTempler Way

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Quayside FootbriadgeCar Park

Quayside FootbriadgeRefreshments

Quayside FootbriadgeInformation Board

Quayside FootbriadgeBus Stop

Quayside FootbriadgeBus Stop (limited services)

Quayside FootbriadgeToilets

Quayside FootbriadgeStart/end of Stage

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100019783. 2007

At A Glance• 18 miles (29km) in total

• Divided into 6 easy stages

• Easy to follow, waymarked trail

• Largely flat and level surface

• Stage 3 suitable for wheelchair usersand young families, see page 8.

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Stage 1

Haytor to EdgemoorDistance: 4 miles (6.3km)

This section of the route passes over theopen moorland of Haytor Down beforewinding downhill through enclosed farmlandto Yarner Wood which is part of the EastDartmoor Woods and Heaths NationalNature Reserve. Here the beautiful beechavenue lining the tramway was probablyplanted when the rails were laid down inabout 1820. The granite rails are still visiblein many places both here and higher up theroute, look out also for the milestones whichshow the number of miles to the StoverCanal. On leaving the woodland the routecontinues onwards along a permissive paththrough fields and apple orchards whichopened in 2007 as part of a Natural EnglandEnvironmental Stewardship agreement. Itjoins the main road close to the EdgemoorHotel. The orchards were planted in the1950s and contain local Devon applevarieties. As part of the Stewardship schemethe trees are undergoing careful restorativepruning to enhance their productivity andincrease wildlife.

From the open moorland section there arestunning views out over the whole route tothe coast at Teignmouth. The area alsosupports a rich diversity of wildlife – look outfor buzzards, ravens and a range of mossesand ferns as you drop down into YarnerWood and for lichens in the orchards below.To explore Yarner Wood further, follow thenature trail signs.

FacilitiesThere is a Dartmoor National Park InformationCentre and toilets close to the start of the route,a pub in nearby Haytor Vale and a hotel at thelower end of this section. A leaflet on the EastDartmoor Woods and Heaths nature trails isavailable in Yarner Wood car park. A seasonalbus service links Haytor with Bovey Tracey,Newton Abbot and beyond.

Route messagesPlease be aware that paths in this area canbecome muddy in wet weather and wear suitablefootwear.

Yarner Wood Loop6.8 miles (11km)This loop includes quiet road and bridlewaysections as well as woodland tracks. It offersstunning views out across the East DartmoorWoods and Heaths National Nature Reserve aswell as a chance to explore a range of habitatsincluding western oak woodland and moorland.

DirectionsFollow the Templer Way as far as the first road.Leave the Templer Way here, turning left alongthe road until you come to the top of YarnerWood on your right. Turn right down into thewood just before the house and follow the trackuntil the first side track comes in from your left.Turn sharp back left and follow this track as itcontours around the top of the valley. Cross thestream and continue to follow the track downhillalong the edge of the wood. When the naturetrail comes in from your right (look for the arrowsand numbered posts), turn right along it, bearingleft at the bottom of the first slope, and follow itdown to the main Yarner Wood car park. Walkthrough the car park and follow the drive out tothe road. Turn right and then right again up thebridleway leading to the Haytor Road. Look outfor the Templer Way where it crosses the trackand turn right uphill along it. Follow it throughthe top of Yarner Wood and onwards back toHaytor.

Alternative Route

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Haytor Quarry

The top of the Templer Way - Haytor and the Down

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Stage 2

Edgemoor to GreatPlantation2 miles (3.2km)

This section of the route starts along astretch of the original tramway through asmall deciduous woodland before followingminor roads and bridleways through Brimleyon the edge of Bovey Tracey. In some placesthe granite rails are still visible along with anoriginal milestone which gives the distanceto the Stover Canal.

Near Chapple the tramway crosses the BoveyPottery Leat, at its only surviving bridge. Ashort distance afterwards the route passesclose to Pottery Pond. The pond wasconstructed in the eighteenth century as aholding reservoir for the water supply thatpowered machinery in the nearby BoveyTracey potteries. It is now a small andpeaceful tree-fringed wildlife haven.Kingfishers, mallards, coot, moorhen, andvarious dragonflies are often seen here.

On leaving Pottery Pond the route followsminor roads to the edge of Great Plantationwhich was once part of the Templers’ StoverEstate and is now owned by the ForestryCommission.

FacilitiesThere is a hotel at the start of this section and anumber of places to eat close to the Pottery Roadlength of the route. Bovey Tracey also has arange of shops, pubs, cafes and a TIC. A regularbus service connects Brimley with Bovey Tracey,Newton Abbot and Exeter.

Pottery Pond Circular Walk5 miles (8km)This circular route follows quiet roads, bridlewaysand green lanes close to the outskirts of BoveyTracey. From the highest point there are stunningviews out over the Teign Estuary. It starts atPottery Pond which was constructed in theeighteenth century as a holding reservoir forwater that powered machinery in the localpotteries. It is now a popular small wildlife haven.

DirectionsFrom Pottery Pond follow the Templer Way southalong a minor road until you reach the edge ofthe Great Plantation. Turn right along thebridleway through Lookweep Farm and walkthrough to the next road. Turn right and thenafter a short distance take the second left up anunsurfaced track. Where the track divides keepright and then right again until you reach a minorroad. Turn right and walk along and then downinto Brimley. Where the road bends to the rightturn left along a bridleway between two houses.Follow this bridleway until you reach anotherminor road and pick up the Templer Way again.Turn right and follow the Templer Way through awoodland and out onto the minor road again.Look out for exposed sections of the tramwayboth in the woodland and alongside the road.Continue to follow the Templer Way back to yourstarting point at Pottery Pond.

Templer Way milestones along the route

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7Pottery Pond

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Stage 3

Great Plantation toLocks Bridge4 miles (6.5km)

This section of the Templer Way passes by aconifer plantation, meadow, woodland, lakeand river and rejoins the tramway atVentiford Basin. This is where the Templers’Stover Canal and Haytor Granite Tramwaymet. Granite was transferred onto barges tobe taken down the Canal and on toTeignmouth.

Stover Country Park sits in the middle of thissection and formed part of James Templer’sStover Estate. The lake was constructed andgrounds landscaped in the late 1700’s.Historical features include the granitegatehouse situated on the north side of thepark, carriage drives and Teigngrace Church.There has been continued development ofclay extraction into the 21st century withmany clay pits in this area.

The ground is fairly flat and runs along off-road tracks (some unsurfaced), woodlandpaths and fields. There is a short road sectionalong quiet lanes at Ventiford. Care must be

Stover Lake

taken when crossing the busy Drumbridgesroundabout which divides the GreatPlantation from Stover Country Park; followthe Templer Way signs along the pavementcircumnavigating the roundabout. Access onthis section is through gates.

There is much to tempt the wildlifeenthusiast with a variety of wildfowl andsummer dragonflies at Stover Lake, alongwith kingfishers, herons and sand martins onthe River Teign. Shy roe deer may be spottedin the Great Plantation and woodlandssurrounding Stover, along with woodlandbirds such as great-spotted woodpecker andnuthatch. Butterflies grace the woodlandglades and meadows during the summermonths.

FacilitiesThe petrol station and small shop at Heathfieldare open 7 days a week for drinks and snacks. AtLiverton there is a small shop and post officealong with a pub which serves meals. Toilets canbe found at Stover Country Park. There areseveral caravan and camping sites close to thisstretch of the route. Two free car parking pointswith limited spaces accessing Great Plantationcan be found at Belle Vue, Liverton and on theA382 opposite the petrol station. A Pay andDisplay car park is situated at Stover Country Parkwith a small car park at Teign Bridge.

Heritage Trail Circular Walk4 miles (6.5km)The start of a 4-mile circular walk, the HeritageTrail, can be found in Stover Country Park. Thiscircuit forms the middle part of the Templer Wayand through walkers can take either route toarrive at Locks Bridge, Teigngrace. Leaflets areavailable from the Country Park. No cycling along this section; the Newton Abbotto Bovey Tracey Cycle Route runs along quietlanes past Teigngrace and cuts through the northend of the Park. Many surfaced tracks suitable forwheelchairs and pushchairs can be found inStover, including the majority of the Ted HughesPoetry trail. Part of the Heritage Trail can also beaccessed with sturdier models.

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Teigngrace Church, built by the Templers

Stover Country ParkThe Nature Interpretation Centre at StoverCountry Park was opened by Devon CountyCouncil in 2000. Set in over 114 acres ofwoodland, heathland, lake and marsh, the ‘greenflag’ award park also includes trails, interpretationboards, an aerial walkway, bird hides, picnic areasand a poetry trail celebrating the works of TedHughes.

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Stage 4

Locks Bridge toNewton Abbot TownQuay2 miles (2.3km)

The top of this section of the Templer Wayfollows the Stover Canal past two old locks.Much of these upper stretches of the canalno longer hold water but form areas ofdamp woodland. Further downstream thecanal emerges into the Jetty Marsh CanalBasin - the end of the Canal. Barges thenfollowed the Whitelake Channel throughwhat is now Jetty Marsh Local NatureReserve, until the Channel merged with theRiver Lemon and then the River Teign justupstream of Newton Town Quay. Ball clayfrom Decoy mines and pits was loaded ontobarges there until the 1940s.

This stretch is great for spotting birds - akingfisher swooping under the railway intothe Canal Basin, a heron stealthily huntingnear the reeds, or the loud and cheerfulwhistle of the tiny Cetti’s warbler. Otters usethese waterways for night-time fishing,leaving footprints and spraint in secretplaces!

This section is fairly level and even, and thereis a safe crossing over the busy B3195 toWharf Road Sidings. However, there is then astepped bridge over the River Lemon, whichcan be avoided by following the cycle routealong the Avenue, turning left into TemplersRoad and quickly left again along a footpathto rejoin the main route. If you do cross thebridge, look down into the Lemon for apassing school of large grey mullet.

If you cycle this section, you should pushyour bike along the Canal Basin section,where the path is too narrow for cycles andpeople. You can then follow the cycle route,along the Avenue, as above.

FacilitiesNewton Abbot has a wide range of eating andother facilities. Close to Newton Town Quay isTuckers Maltings, where, between Good Fridayand the end of October, you can see maltedbarley being prepared for local breweries - andbuy local beers, light refreshments andsandwiches. There is a public car park offOsborne Street, close to the Maltings.

Jetty MarshJetty Marsh is a County Wildlife Site and LocalNature Reserve containing varied wildlife habitats.It has great value as a wildlife corridor betweenthe Lower River Teign and the Bovey Basin. Thesite has large reedbeds which are a scarce habitatin Devon, together with blackthorn and bramblescrub, mature oak trees and herb-rich grassland.Jetty Marsh Lock was rebuilt in the 1820s. Lookout for the engraved stone to George Templer atthe end of the lock.

Newton AbbotAlthough a long-established market town,Newton Abbot really came to prominence withthe arrival of the railway. During the 1800’s itbecame an important railway town, withmarshalling yards and repair facilities. The areaaround the Whitelake and River Lemon was usedas railway sidings until the relatively recent past,difficult to imagine now!


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Sunset over the River Teign

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Stage 5

Newton Abbot TownQuay to CoombeCellars2.5 miles (3.8km)

This section follows the Teign Estuary shoreand should only be walked within 2 hours oflow tide. It is uneven and can be slipperyafter heavy rain or high tides - never leavethe path or you may get stuck in the estuarymud! It is not suitable for cycles.

Have your binoculars ready for good views ofwaders, ducks and pure white little egrets asyou walk this route. At Netherton Pointthere is a heronry in the top of pine trees,and a beautiful, but fragile, salt marsh withsea pinks and sea lavender.

Optional High Tide RoutesThe Netherton Coombe walks offer a variety ofwaymarked circular routes, passing through fieldsand along traditional Devon lanes with farms,orchards and lovely estuary views. Nethertononce had an on-farm cider factory and its ownspecial variety of cider apple. If the tide is high,you can follow the Buckland Circle pastHoneysuckle Farm. The South of the TeignEstuary Circular walks leaflet shows a variety ofwalks in this scenic area; for a copy, ask a localTIC or ring 01626 215 751. (To check tide timesplease visit www.easytide.ukho.gov.uk.)

FacilitiesThere is a full range of facilities in Newton Abbot;refreshments can be bought at Coombe Cellarspub during opening hours.

The River Teign was once one of the mostimportant shellfish production areas in theUK. The shellfish beds were downgraded in1998 causing the cessation of shellfishproduction, at that time many of theshellfishermen left the industry. Recentprojects along the Teign have been trying tohelp restore the shellfish industry.

Lower Netherton Circular Walk3 miles (5km)Leave the Templer Way by crossing the stile intothe field a little way upstream of the CoombeCellars. Cross the field diagonally to the far topcorner and continue alongside the hedge. At theend bear left and arrive at a surfaced lane. Goahead to a cross roads and turn right, down thehill and through the hamlet of Lower Netherton.Continue up the other side to another junctionand go left. Take the next right which descendsand then climbs to arrive at a residential area. Goright at the next junction (Drake Road) and followthis almost to the main A380 road. Just beforethe A380, follow the footpath on the right nextto the main road and on to descend steps torejoin the Templer Way adjacent to the roadbridge.

George Templer memorial stone, Jetty Marsh Lock

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Mussels collected from the River Teign

Little Egret on the Teign Estuary

Coombe Cellars on the Teign Estuary

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Stage 6

Coombe Cellars toTeignmouth 3 miles (4.5km)

This section follows the Teign Estuary shoreand should only be walked within 2 hours oflow tide. It is uneven and can be slipperyafter heavy rain or high tides - never leavethe path or you may get stuck in the estuarymud! It is not suitable for cycles. (To checktide times visit www.easytide.ukho.gov.uk.)

The estuary shore is full of interest, with ashellfish farm, an old lime kiln and lots ofwatercraft to watch. You can imagine theold, square-sailed barges running before thewind, or, if it was calm, drifting down theestuary with the tide, or even being poled bythe bargees. In the late 1800s - early 1900sa steam tug, the Kestrel, was used to tow astring of barges up and down the estuary.Later still, a motor tug, the Heron, took over;it seems that the Heron was laid off in 1939,when the canal stopped being usedcommercially, but crossed the Channel toDunkirk in 1940, rescuing British soldiers -before being scrapped.

At Ringmore Strand the Templer Wayleaves the shore and passes through thevillage of Shaldon to the ferry crossing(fairly frequent crossings, even in winter, ring07760240927 or visit www.teignferry.comfor more information). The ferry tripacross the mouth of this busy estuary is ahigh point of the walk! Walk northwardsalong Teignmouth ‘back beach’, and youwill find the historic and picturesque ‘New’Quay - built in 1821 by the Templer family.Here clay was transhipped to the potteriesand granite to London.

FacilitiesRefreshments can be bought at Coombe Cellarspub. There is a small car park and picnic site atArch Brook. There are several cafes and pubs inboth Shaldon and Teignmouth. If you follow theStokeinteignhead loop, there are Inns atCombeinteignhead and at Stokeinteignhead,where there is also a village shop.

Stokeinteignhead Circular Walk5 miles (8km)Leave the Templer Way opposite RingmoreTowers, climbing Salty Lane. At the fork bearright and follow the lane ahead and down to theright. At a junction go ahead, steeply uphill, andkeep following the lane until it arrives atStokeinteignhead. Turn right, out of the villageand then turn left at the next junction (along alane, not the narrower track). Keep ahead as faras Rocombe House and Orchard Farm then turnright. Follow the track to the right and steeplyuphill and keep climbing to arrive at a lane. Turnright and follow this lane. Just before reachingthe Newton Abbot - Shaldon road turn left alonga track, then turn right at a junction to reach theroad. Almost opposite is a public footpath acrossa field. Follow this and on past a cottage to alane. Turn right, up the hill, to a junction and goleft here. At the end follow the footpath to theright alongside a hedge and at the next field godiagonally left to the far bottom corner. Crossthe stile to arrive on the Templer Way near theCoombe Cellars.

New Quay, Teignmouth1827, with a largecrane and blocks ofgranite ready fortranshipment

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15Teignmouth - the end of the Templer Way

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For visitor information including accommodation availability visit www.discoverdevon.com or call the

Discover Devon Holiday Line 0870 608 5531

The details in this brochure are believed to be correct. Devon County Council will not accept responsibilityfor losses arising due to inaccuracies or omissions within this publication.

Published by Devon County Council, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QW. Tel: 0845 155 1015D

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A scenic and historic waymarked route for walkers linking ...

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