Devon, Dartmoor Dog Walks, this lovely walk navigates you around the Meldon Reservoir and Viaduct, have a picnic halfway!

UPDATE: APRIL 2011, Part of this route is no longer permissable.  The west side section only of the reservoir is no longer accessible to walk.  There is an alternative bridleway which takes you slightly further in land, and the terrain is rough and boggy in places, but it is quite a bit longer route, we have walked it and it is fine, just no so enjoyable as the original route.  The landowner is still in discussions over the matter, and therefore we hope a resolve will be found as it is a really lovely family walk. The remainder of the walk from the north end of the reservoir area, and the section to the viaduct remains as below.

MELDON RESERVOIR AND VIADUCT WALK:

Start/Finish : Meldon Reservoir Car Park.

Directions  to Meldon Reservoir Car Park (directions from the west):

Continue down the A30 and exit off at Sowerton Cross Junction, (Signposted Tavistock, Plymouth, Bideford A386 & Holsworthy, Bude A3079).  At the bottom of the slip road turn right on to the A386, go under the A30 flyover, around right hand corner, past Services, past the turning on the right back on to the A30 East bound, and shortly after you will see a turning to the right down a fairly narrow lane signposted Meldon (on the left is signed Bowerland), turn here to the right towards Meldon.  Follow this twisty little lane to the T-Junction, here turn right, pass over the A30, and follow up through the little village of Meldon, and turn right immediately after the railway bridge.  Follow this road, and it will lead you to Meldon Reservoir Car Park.

Parking: Meldon Reservoir Car Park free, (but check just on arrival that this has not changed!)

Public Conveniences: Toilet Block In Car Park

I call this walk the ‘Reservoir Picnic Walk’.  The route I describe allows it to be a walk of two halves, so walk the Reservoir Route (Part 1), then return to your car, throw down your picnic blanket,  and tuck into your  lovely picnic lunch.  Once you have digested and put fuel back in your tank, you can continue on to the Viaduct Walk (Part 2). 

Information on Meldon Reservoir: http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/laf-site1-meldon-reservoir.pdf

Information on Meldon Viaduct:  http://www.meldonviaduct.co.uk/

PART 1: 2.2 Miles Circuit around the Meldon Reservoir  (just over an hour’s walking) 

PART 2: 1.4 Miles Circuit over the Meldon Viaduct  (just under an hour’s walking)

Approximate Total Mileage: 3.6 Miles (Approx 2 hours walking)

Terrain: Gravel Paths, Stoney Paths, Grassland, Steps, Footpath, Road.

Description of Suitability and Ability: Some moderate inclines, some steps at far end of Reservoir and up to Viaduct. 

Majority of the walk sadly is unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs, however it is possible to access the top of Viaduct by taking Part 2 of the walk in reverse, as this follows the country lane and cycle track/footpath to the Viaduct.

Every time I have walked this route there have been livestock in the fields, including ponies, cattle and sheep, so please keep your dogs well under control.

*Click on the images below to enlarge*

WALK ROUTE PART 1:

• Standing in the car park facing the front of the toilet block, climb the steps to the right rear side of the toilet block, proceed through the gate, and cross the road, taking a slightly left diagonal to the gate on the opposite side of the road, go through this gate into the field opposite signposted Sowerton and Reservoir Walk.

 

• With your back to the gate, go up the slight incline of the field taking a slightly diagonal left route, in between 2 Gorse bushes  See Photo to the right.   Here if you look down to the left slightly behind you will see the dam.

 

•  Follow along this narrow stoney path, soon you will go through a shady area of trees, keep going straight, ahead following the path for quite some time, as it winds its way along the upper right side of the reservoir.
•  Eventually, (after approx 20 minutes walking) the path will appear to run out as it approaches a grassy and bracken covered incline.  Here you will take the right fork path, and go up to pedestrian gate in the fence line seen ahead, see photo to left.

 

• Go through the pedestrian gate, be careful as it is a bit of a step up!  Do not take the path straight ahead, you need to turn immediately left down the grassy path.  Here you must be very vigilant as in a very short distance you need to take the narrower left path down steps, DO NOT continue straight on the grass track! See photo to right. 
•  Proceed down the steps (IRO 90 of them!) then at the bottom turn left, go through a pedestrian gate, and over a stoney humped back bridge.

 

• At the end of the bridge go diagonally left along the grassy track in between the ferns and brackens, going past the corner of the wood, and heading for a small piece of post and rail fencing, near the edge of a wood, this is a small foot bridge over a stream.
• Go over the foot bridge and proceed up the incline to the left on the stoney path, and continue following the stoney path on the upper side of the Reservoir.
• Eventually the path turns fairly sharply inland…..don’t worry here, the path is following along the upper edge of a small inlet. 

 

• Proceed down the slope and at the bottom turn left over a wooden foot bridge.  Then take a left diagonal route here, heading  towards the corner of the wood, continue on the stoney path and follow on heading back towards the Reservoir. 

 

• Eventually the stoney track will run out, here continue on the grass track heading towards the life ring on the fence ahead to the left.  On approaching the life ring you will now see a wider gravel track again heading on down the slope following parallel to the Reservoir, proceed along this, it the climbs slightly before dropping down again towards the end of the Reservoir.

 

• You will then come to a stop at the bottom of the slope, you need to take the left turn here through the metal pedestrian gate and walk over the walkway along the top of the dam.  However it is worth taking a look at both sides of the dam here before proceeding along the walkway over the dam, it is quite impressive.  You can also see the Viaduct down the valley from here too.

 

• At the end of the dam walkway, follow the tarmac road to the left then right, continue for a short distance up the slope, and you will see on the right, the small wooden pedestrian gate and the steps down to the toilet block, and car park on your right.
•  Here, perhaps have you picnic, a rest, and then head off on the shorter 2^nd part to this walk.

 

WALK ROUTE PART 2:

• Go up the steps to the right rear side of the toilet block, go through the small wooden pedestrian gate and turn sharp left, and left again through a gate signposted Bridlepath to Meldon Viaduct. 

 

• Proceed down the left side of the field down an incline, there is a part stoney track.  The path continues on to a slightly steeper slope down heading towards trees at the bottom. 

 

• Towards the bottom of the slope you will pass a Path Marker on your left, the path here goes slightly left continuing down the slope. 
• The stoney footpath here disappears for a grass one, the track turns right through a gateway under some very large trees.
• Follow this track down, passing a Path Marker on you left side, goes down a steep’ish incline on a gravel path.

 

• At the bottom of the slope, the path levels out, water runs over the track here, there is a small arch entrance to be seen on the left here.   The path then rises gently and then takes a right turn (here on the left in the trees is a quarry lake, so take care), the track then takes a turn left, soon after you will see a narrow wooden footbridge over a stream on your right. 
• Proceed over the wooden footbridge over the stream, and through the tiny gate at the end of it, once through the gate go diagonally left along a grassy track up a slight slope in the field, and you will reach a very narrow gravel footpath heading down to your left, this passes between old mounds of stones. (Here if you look behind you, you can see the dam). 

 

• Continue along this track, and you will pass slightly to the right of an old mine building on your left, here the stream flows through the building, cross the stream here, take the stoney track which turns to grassy track and skirts to the left of a bush ahead of you, you are heading along a bit of a ledge, stick to the track, river is down on your left, you can see the Viaduct up above you.

 

• You will then see an old lime kiln building on your right, here drop down the slope and proceed to the wooden gate under the trees you can see ahead of you. 
• Go through the wooden gate and continue up the track, where soon you will meet a road.

 

• Cross over the road slightly diagonally to the left, and up the steps, there is a marker here signposted Public Footpath to Viaduct. Here if you look up you can see the Viaduct, you weave your way up through the wooded area. 
• The path soon comes to its T- Junction after a climb up 6 steps, here take the right turn up hill, continue up past a yellow arrowed footpath marker (do not turn right here) continue weaving your way up the slope, and eventually you come to the top, you are now on the Granite Way Cycle/footpath which runs from Okehampton to Lydford.
• There is the Railway Line on your right, line from Okehampton to Meldon, but here turn left and proceed on to the Viaduct, and enjoy those amazing views.  (See link at bottom for details on Dartmoor Railway).
• Proceed over the Viaduct, enjoy the views, follow along the path, once you have crossed over the Viaduct the path continues on and under a railway bridge.       
• Continue along this path, for a quite a long straight. 

 

• You will then see a white house on over the left side of the track, the path here continue, you Do Not continue on, but instead turn left down a slope or steps to the edge of the road, here on your right is the brown sign Signposting Reservoir Car Park and the railway bridge is on your left.
• Cross over the road, and proceed up the road on the other side, going past the white house on your left.
• Follow this road with care, you will rise steadily, winding around corners, then the road comes to the brow of the hill and heads down an incline, and you will soon see the turning to the left over the cattle grid and back into the Meldon Reservoir Car Park.  

 

POSSIBLE PLACES TO EAT:

Betty Cottles Inn:  http://www.bettycottles.co.uk/

I have not tried this Inn but it looks busy when I drive by.  This is found on the left hand side of the road, leave Meldon village, cross over the A30, (do not take what should be the left turn back up the country lane to A386), but instead, continue on this road and you will find Betty Cottles on the left hand side.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:

Okehampton is slightly further along this road past Betty Cottles Inn.  Okehampton has a number of shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels, and a couple or supermarkets.

Okehampton Castle:  http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/okehampton/okehampton.php

Dartmoor Railway:  http://www.dartmoor-railway.co.uk/

Other things to do in and around Okehampton: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g551651-Activities-Okehampton_Dartmoor_National_Park_Devon_England.html

Meldon Reservoir – A lovely day out!