The Granite Way from Okehampton to Lydford

The Granite Way follows the London and South Western Railway's line round the north-west edge of Dartmoor, opened in 1874 and closed in 1968. From Okehampton station it runs out to Meldon, crosses Meldon Viaduct, 163 m long and 46 m above the West Okement, and carries on below the moor past Sourton and over the stone Lake Viaduct to Lydford. The tors of the high moor are on one side and the Devon lowlands on the other.

It is 27.9 km (17.3 miles) there and back with 135 m of climbing; allow about 2 hours of riding. The grade is Moderate. The trail is surfaced throughout and almost flat, and suits road bikes, hybrids, trailers and children.

It is traffic-free except at the Lydford end, where the last kilometre is on the village road, downhill to the car park opposite the Castle Inn. There is a short gated stretch near Lake: close both gates. Horse riders use the section between Meldon and Sourton.

Okehampton station has a pay-and-display car park, a café and, in the goods shed, cycle hire. There is more hire, with a café, at Sourton Down. There are inns beside the trail at Lake and in Lydford, and toilets at Okehampton and Lydford. For a shorter outing turn round at Meldon Viaduct, 3.7 km out.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.