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Plymouth - Tavistock

Distance: 18.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
End points:
- Hooe Lake(Plymouth) (Grid Ref SX504529)
- Tavistock (Grid Ref SX482745)

The end of the West Devon Way is at Hooe Lake, on the edge of Plymouth, where it links with the South West Coast Path [which also links to the City Centre] and the Erme-Plym Trail, the latter giving access via the Two Moors Way to the northern coast of Devon.

Skirting the estuary of the River Plym, it then joins an old railway line as it follows the deep and wooded Plym Valley to the edge of Dartmoor. The edge of the moor is then followed, giving splendid views to the heart of the high moorland.

Another river valley is crossed before the ancient abbey town of Tavistock is reached, the Way entering the town alongside its old canal.

Mileages between town on route:
Hooe Lake [Plymouth}-Bickleigh: 7 miles
Bickleigh-Yelverton: 4.5 miles
Yelverton-Tavistock: 7 miles

Public Transport: Buses at Hooe, Oreston, Marsh Mills, Bickleigh, Yelverton, Tavistock; trains at Plymouth.

Relevant maps/guides: 1:25,000 scale:Explorer no.OL20 South Devon, OL28 Dartmoor, 108 Lower Tamar Valley and Plymouth 1:50,000 scale:Landranger no.201 Plymouth and Launceston.

Facilities along route: All facilities in Plymouth and at Tavistock; pubs at Hooe, Oreston, Clearbrook, Yelverton; shops at Hooe, Yelverton.

Notes on route: A substantial length is level, using old railways; a couple of steady climbs between Yelverton and Tavistock.