Barnstaple has a Wimpy, the only one in Devon recent research reveals. I am planning a North Devon excursion for my first ride on the Okehampton line soon, incorporating a side trip to Barnstaple for an all-day breakfast, incorporating the famous 'bender' partially segmented frankfurter sausage, now known as a 'bendy sausage' I understand. As to 'Spoons, I wonder if the chain will survive until next year. Note the founder lives in Devon, near Exeter apparently.I was looking forward to visiting next year, and will now reconsider!
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Reopened Okehampton line - travel experiences
- Thread starter Horizon22
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I've had a look tonight at where Tavistock is, and some photos that came up on Maps made me very interested in visiting! Some big hills on the way over from Okehampton though, but that's just Maps offered as the fastest route. Definitely interested in adding to the numbers who've used Okehampton still!
oh it’s proper lumpy round there!
Anybody visiting Tavistock should consider a detour to walk or cycle over Gem Bridge, on the Launceston Branch of the old Plymouth to Tavistock railway line. Note the places to stop and admire the view without obstructing the path. Gem Bridge replaces the Walkham Viaduct, though lower and shorter (with ramps) to keep the cost down.
https://www.steelconstruction.info/Gem_Bridge,_Dartmoor_National_Park
https://www.steelconstruction.info/Gem_Bridge,_Dartmoor_National_Park
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Brown Derby. I think the last in of those I had was at Butlins (Minehead) about 1982.Brown Derby for pudding ?!
Love the Wimpy
Other pubs are available.I was looking forward to visiting next year, and will now reconsider!
There's a new Wimpy opened in Eastbourne fairly recently - I need to give it a try !
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Oh wow, nice! I'll have to try and remember this for when I get around to exploring that part of the world!
It sure looked like it! Maps' gradient profile for Gunnislake to Tavistock threw up some crazy hills, a lengthy very steep hill followed immediately by an equally steep and lenghy climb. I've never seen such a v shape on a gradient profile before!
John Luxton
Established Member
On subject of places to visit in Tavistock if your interest extends to canals / industrial archaeology a walk along the Tavistock Canal is highly recommended. I have done this fairly recently from the feed weir at Abbey Bridge through to the end of the public part of the Tow Path at the Lumburn Aqueduct. The canal has a fascinating history associated with the local mining industry. The long tunnel under Morwell Down was also used to explore local mineral lodes.
The final section at Morwellham featured a railway inclined plane which provided a connection with the Port of Morwellham (Morwellham is a museum but opening has been erratic since Covid). The tow path passes under the Shilla Mill Railway viaduct. The canal fell to railway competition. However, in the early 20th Century it was refurbished as a source of water supply to the Morwellham Hydro Electric Power Station and hence is well maintained unlike many other closed canals.
A collection of my recent photos of the canal can be found here: https://www.jhluxton.com/Canals/Tavistock-Canal/
As for refreshment venues - I find the Original Pasty House in Bedford Square does the best pasties. If you want beer (Dartmoor brewery) / good cream teas / meals accommodation etc try the Bedford Hotel opposite the church. That too is a fantastic period hotel adapted from a residence once used by the Dukes of Bedford.
The final section at Morwellham featured a railway inclined plane which provided a connection with the Port of Morwellham (Morwellham is a museum but opening has been erratic since Covid). The tow path passes under the Shilla Mill Railway viaduct. The canal fell to railway competition. However, in the early 20th Century it was refurbished as a source of water supply to the Morwellham Hydro Electric Power Station and hence is well maintained unlike many other closed canals.
A collection of my recent photos of the canal can be found here: https://www.jhluxton.com/Canals/Tavistock-Canal/
As for refreshment venues - I find the Original Pasty House in Bedford Square does the best pasties. If you want beer (Dartmoor brewery) / good cream teas / meals accommodation etc try the Bedford Hotel opposite the church. That too is a fantastic period hotel adapted from a residence once used by the Dukes of Bedford.
davetheguard
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 Apr 2013
- Messages
- 1,938
If you're thinking of cycling from Okehampton to Tavistock, you can cycle a good chunck of it on the old railway line between the two places, including crossing Meldon Viaduct. neadless to say, as an old railway, the gradients are pretty easy!
Google the Granite Way cycle path which you can get on right by Okehampton station. There's a bike hire business next to Okehampton station too, if you don't want to bring your own.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Thanks! I'm a little disappointed that Maps didn't suggest such a route. The Granite Way is on my incredibly long list of rides to do, I might have to look at doing this in the next few months. With the recent news GWR is binning its GTi HST fleet, it makes sense to have a trip focused on that area before they go. Not that I want any of them for my book, I've had them all countless times, but it's still a last-chance kind of thing if that makes sense.
Old Shire
Member
For those wanting to get to Tavistock from Okehampton
there is a maximum fare of £3.00, single or return, for passengers on the 118 who have a valid rail ticket.
dartmoorline.com
there is a maximum fare of £3.00, single or return, for passengers on the 118 who have a valid rail ticket.
Rail Link bus for Okehampton station
118 Rail Link bus (Tavistock-Okehampton) - get bus times and more info.
dartmoorline.com
If you also wish to see Gem Bridge from below, there is a zig-zag path down through some young trees at the southern end. I keep meaning to add that path to OSM, but don't have a GPS trace. Obvious enough if you are there.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I'm no doubt having a moment here, but what is OSM? Clearly it isn't something I use!
For those wanting to get to Tavistock from Okehampton
there is a maximum fare of £3.00, single or return, for passengers on the 118 who have a valid rail ticket.
Rail Link bus for Okehampton station
118 Rail Link bus (Tavistock-Okehampton) - get bus times and more info.
Funky, now that's a nice and cheap option!
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Thanks! I don't think I've ever used OpenStreetMap before. A potentially useful tool!
Open Street Map, from the context?
Techniquest
Veteran Member
As has been mentioned, yes, but I wasn't exactly aware of it before. I am now, and it appears to be worth using in the future for exploring trips
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Used it at the weekend. The line itself is unremarkable but Okehampton station is just wonderful, still looked after as if it was a preserved line (but with the addition of a modern display and Anne announcement system) and a nice little independent cafe in the old booking hall. In some ways a similar overall feel (bar the heritage features) to Brockenhurst I'd say, which makes sense as it serves a similar sort of place.
Ash Bridge
Established Member
If the opportunity arises, do the line again but this time in spring/summertime it’s full of scenic delights all the way from Cowley Bridge Junction to the site of the former Coleford Junction. Onwards to Okehampton would be excellent too but unfortunately the views are badly obscured by overgrown foliage currently, with just an occasional glimpse from the speeding 150 etc. Of course if the line was ever to be eventually reinstated onwards to Tavistock it could easily equal the S&C in scenic terms.
Lovely rolling Devon countryside, as I recall.
Ash Bridge
Established Member
memory spot on yorksrob!
Would now just love to see a little bit more of what’ on offer after Coleford towards Okehampton, photographs depicting that stretch of line back in the late 60s/early 70s suggest far reaching views of Dartmoor were readily available from the train windows before the onset of the current overgrown mass of vegetation?
It is nice around there, very rural and with distant views of the high northern bits of Dartmoor in places. It’s a bit of a strange hinterland really.
trainmania100
Established Member
When I last visited okehampton about midnight (for the 66 RHTT) the footbridge was open 24 hrs for access to the museum platform , for a decent shot on opposite side
Now the footbridge is damaged, I saw something in this thread about it being cleaned up, but I haven't been in a year or so. Does anyone know if the museum platform is still 24hr access, either by the road (gate youth centre side) or via the footbridge?
Id like to plan my visits for future workings but it's not really worth it for a same-side platform shot at silly hours
Now the footbridge is damaged, I saw something in this thread about it being cleaned up, but I haven't been in a year or so. Does anyone know if the museum platform is still 24hr access, either by the road (gate youth centre side) or via the footbridge?
Id like to plan my visits for future workings but it's not really worth it for a same-side platform shot at silly hours
Sir Felix Pole
Established Member
The footbridge is still closed - there has been some tidying up work done on it to make it safe, but it is still in limbo. The remains of the canopy are still plonked on the Bude bay track bed! The side gate on the museum side is locked when the museum is not open - you could get a shot over the fence I guess.
trainmania100
Established Member
Thanks hopefully back open by the 37 test train in march.
Sir Felix Pole
Established Member
The Dartmoor Rly Assoc. is reporting that work to reopen the footbridge is to start next month - sans roof unfortunately.
Footbridge
Footbridge
Sir Felix Pole
Established Member
Work has finally started on repairing the footbridge at Okehampton - expected to take three weeks.
Okehampton Footbridge
Okehampton Footbridge
uglymonkey
Member
- Joined
- 10 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 707
Are they putting the roof back or just repairing and making safe the actual bridge itself?
Sir Felix Pole
Established Member
The roof is not being reinstated, unfortunately.