Walk

A walk from Coypool to Plymbridge and back - avoiding cyclists!

By Ron Smith, Plymouth Ramblers

START: Coypool Park and Ride PL7 4TB. Grid reference SX 52056 56940 DISTANCE: Approximately 2.5 miles TIME: Approximately 2 hours

How can this be possible? The track by the railway is so narrow, and few cyclists have bells these days. Well, it is easy if you can walk off tarmac; you simply need to cross the river and go along the other side. For much of your walk you even have a choice of two parallel routes. Park at the Coypool Park and Ride, or take the bus there. Then instead of going up the narrow path past Princess Yachts and parallel to the railway, turn the other way and cut through behind Macdonalds. Then take the fi rst right along the other side of the Plym. Do please note the old cast iron bridge, sadly now shut - this is really historic. Built in the 1830s, it carried a 4’ 6” gauge tramway. Initially this was just to bring slates from Cann Quarry; horse drawn of course, as the locomotive steam engine had not yet been invented. When the china clay pits opened later, up on Lee Moor, it also carried china clay, but always horsedrawn, never steam. Believe it or not, the last such passed as late as a mere 60 years ago! Now you can get off the road and follow the banks of the Plym as

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far as the entrance to the caravan park. Cross the road and enter Leigham Woods. Take always the lower track options. All the way along, you may get glimpses through steep woodland of Estover residences poised above your head. When you are blocked by Manor Park estate, simply cross their access road and go towards the river. Cross on the footbridge into a lovely broad meadow. If you stay close to the river bank, it is lovely. You may, if you wish, cross again for a short section of tarmac leading to Plymbridge itself. Just the other side you can get back into the meadow. You may choose fi rst to go under the railway bridge to look in the car park and see if the ice cream van is there. I always do! At the original end of the meadow, as soon as you re-cross that fi rst footbridge, you can stay on the river bank and follow this behind the caravan park all the way back to your starting point. Altogether about 2½ miles, 1½ hours. If you enjoyed this and would like longer walks expertly led, check out the Dartmoor Rambling Club by phoning Ron Smith on 07780 913546; or Google Plymouth Ramblers for a wider range of walks. n

Start: Coypool Park & Ride

Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright. Media 082/14

Enjoy your walk!

M.T. ALLEN M.T. ALLEN