Devon

Lydford Gorge Railway Path

Take a gentle stroll along this disused railway line, which passes through deep cuttings made to take the Great Western Railway between Tavistock and Launceston. Water drips down these rock faces nearly all year round, keeping them consistently green and lush. Then head back the same way, or descend into the woodland for an alternative route back to the starting point.

Near to

Lydford Gorge

Start point

Waterfall entrance, Lydford Gorge, grid ref: SX501831

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Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1 (km: 1.6)

Duration 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Mostly flat route with some steeper sections. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Step free route to bird hide on railway path. Other paths may prove challenging for visitors with limited mobility. For further details, please see Accessibility section.
***Dogs welcome, please keep them on a short lead at all times, and out of the river.

Address
Waterfall entrance, Lydford Gorge, Devon, EX20 4BL
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Directions via Google Maps
By bus
Services between Okehampton (including train station) and Tavistock stop at both entrances to Lydford Gorge. Stagecoach 118. Alight at Lydford Gorge lower entrance for Waterfall entrance.
Traveline South West
Cycling
National Cycle Network Route 27. Approximately 10 miles from Okehampton and 7 miles from Tavistock. This route has some traffic-free sections and some road sections.
Cycle route information
By train
Okehampton, 10 miles
The Dartmoor Line
By road
From Exeter and Okehampton. Follow brown signs to exit the A30 at Sourton Down and take A386 towards Tavistock, turn off onto unnamed road for Lydford village. Drive past the Devil's Cauldron entrance, on your right just after leaving the village, and the Waterfall entrance is one mile further on.
From Tavistock. Either take the A386 and follow brown signs to turn off onto unnamed road for Lydford village and reach the Devil's Cauldron entrance first. Or head out of Tavistock on Drake Road past Brentor and and reach the Waterfall entrance first.
Satnav: Use postcode EX20 4BL (Please be aware that some mobile devices do not take you to Lydford Gorge when selected, please use the post code)
Dogs
Dogs welcome, please keep them on a short lead at all times, and out of the river
Car park
Free parking. No overnight parking allowed. Limited spaces for long vehicles and not suitable for caravans
Toilet
On the rear of the building in the Waterfall car park
Cycle parking
Outside and to the right of visitor welcome
Tea-room
Waterfall tea-room, a takeaway offer including hot and cold drinks, snacks, and bakes
This route is step free. The railway path to the bird hide is flat after an initial slope. The optional path that loops back to the start through the woodland has steep slopes, narrow paths, and uneven ground.
Designated parking
Three accessible parking spaces
Accessible toilet
Partly accessible toilet on the rear of the building in the Waterfall car park
Powered mobility vehicle
Tramper available to hire March to October; please book in advance, lydfordgorge@nationaltrust.org.uk, or call 01822 820320 and leave a message. If you'd like to visit with your own mobility vehicle, or for any other access questions, please get in touch
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Waterfall entrance, Lydford Gorge, grid ref: SX501831
Stage 1
From visitor welcome, head through the small wooden gate at the end of the gravel picnic area, follow the path down round a sharp right-hand bend then at the junction keep right.
Stage 2
Continue on the path; which bends to the left before running straight. After passing the wild pond on your left you'll enter a section where the path goes through a deep cutting with water dripping down the rock faces most of the year.
Stage 3
Continue on the same path and take the opportunity to look out over the gorge on your right, this is easier when the trees do not have their full canopy.
Stage 4
At a junction, ignore the path on the right and carry straight on a small distance for the bird hide.
Stage 5
To extend the walk a little, keep on the railway path until you see an old railway building. At this point you can head back the way you came for an easy stroll back to the start.
Stage 6
Alternatively, head back past the bird hide to where a path takes you left (the one you ignored earlier) and head down the steep hill (not suitable for the Tramper).
Stage 7
At the next path junction take the right hand, narrow path. When it meets another path keep heading up hill.
Stage 8
Head under the railway bridge, which you walked over at the start, and up the hill to the finish.
End point
Waterfall entrance, Lydford Gorge, grid ref: SX501831
Trail map
Route map of Lydford Gorge railway path | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Whitelady Waterfall flowing down the cliff viewed through summer leaves at Lydford Gorge, Devon

Trail

Lydford Gorge Waterfall trail

This rugged circular walk descends into steep-sided Lydford Gorge, to the foot of the 30-metre high Whitelady Waterfall, before returning through temperate rainforest abundant with life.

View of the River Lyd flowing through a narrow slit in the rock walls of Lydford Gorge and foaming white in the Devil's Cauldron

Trail

Devil's Cauldron Trail

Immerse yourself in the deepest part of the gorge where the River Lyd crashes through a rocky landscape, and brave the Devil's Cauldron pothole on a platform over the water.