Northcote Manor, Granite Way and the Meldon Viaduct

/ 03/03/2024

Birthday time for Linda and I’d decided to take her away for her pressie to a nice hotel in the middle of North Devon, Northcote Manor. Known for its good food, it has a spa, nice grounds and some good views to Exmoor. We’d headed up on the Saturday and spent a fun and relaxing day there, ate well that evening and slept well in a comfy bed. Sunday came and we looked for a walk, originally we had planned to head for Barnstaple for an easy walk along the coastal path by the estuary, but I changed my mind and we headed south back towards Dartmoor to shorten the long drive home and walk the north western corner of the moor. This would be walk number 48 in my second round of Dartmoor 365 squares, and would grab B6, B7, C5 and C6. We headed out from Sourton Down, onto the Granite Way, towards Meldon Viaduct. The weather was good and the sun felt warm at times, even though there was a tiny bit of snow left on the highest tors. Only as we headed towards Prewley Moor did the drizzle start and we got a bit wet, also Prewley Moor is renowned for being very wet, and it was again, after 4 times the amount of rain in February had fell on Dartmoor. For some reason South West Water has put up some fences on Prewley Moor, claiming to be laying some pipes, however apart from the fences nothing appears to have happened, with the exception of extremely muddy paths passing through the fences. Ruining the grass completely, brilliant idea. Still it was still a lovely walk and the sunshine and billowing clouds gave some fabulous views, all to end off a lovely weekend for Linda.

Start – Sourton parking

Route – Sourton Down Cross – Granite Way – Meldon Viaduct – Meldon quarry – Meldon Viaduct – Meldon Pool Bridge – Meldon Pool – Meldon Reservoir and Dam – South Down – Prewley Moor – Granite Way – Sourton parking

Distance – 5 miles    Start time – Midday   Time taken – 2hrs 45mins Highest Point – South Down 375 metres

Weather – Lots of sunshine, drizzle to end with

© Crown copyright 2024 Ordnance Survey FL 2024 SF
Birthday girl in front of her accommodation for the night, Northcote Manor
Happy selfie as we check in
Views towards Exmoor as well to the north
A beef dish for Linda for tea
And a pudding which was the star of the show, the berry ice cream was to die for
After dinner, Linda just chose the better food of the two of us, but it was all very good. Not often we are see without a walking jacket, but here we are looking smart
Northcote Manor as we left, we were in a lovely room above that white door/window in the corner
Down at Sourton Down now, we’d parked up on the right here and were about to head for the Granite Way
First though we picked up the Dartmoor square of Sourton Down Cross
On the Granite Way now, part of the number 27 cycle route, we will return under that bridge in a few hours
Obviously before all the railway cuts in the 60s the track ran from Plymouth, through Tavistock to here and on to Okehampton before heading to Exeter and to Waterloo. Now the line to Okehampton has been reopened, but even with the seas pounding the Dawlish coast, regular flooding at Totnes and with it, cutting off, the only train line into the south west, they still won’t consider going any further.
The Granite Way
Yes Tor has snow on it
Views down towards Okehampton and beyond
The Meldon Viaduct and a happy girlfriend
Incredible views towards Meldon Dam, some dark brooding clouds overhead threatened rain all afternoon. Most missed us until some drizzle right at the end. The sunshine though kept lighting up the hills
Yes Tor, the Red a ven Brook comes down that valley in the middle of the picture
Meldon Quarry is another Dartmoor square, alongside the viaduct. We would head back to the viaduct after visiting here
A little platform gives you a view of the underside of the viaduct, I quite like the look of all the metal. Next we headed down from the Granite Way to the paths underneath the viaduct.
And in the sun from below, the legs rising up like a triffid!
In the valley now, the West Okement River to our right here and the dam ahead, we could hear the water coming over the dam from here, as we stopped for a coffee.
Looking back to the viaduct
Meldon Pool
We head planned on staying on the southern side of the West Okement River, but the Red a ven Brook was running high, meaning the ford was swamped, so we crossed this bridge by Meldon Pool and walked the path on the northern side towards the main Meldon reservoir car park
Passing this avenue of trees
Meldon Dam, water pouring over the top. Longstone Hill is on the left, with Homerton Hill on the right and the Corn Ridge back right
Meldon Reservoir
Walking up towards South Down and looking back to Longstone Hill to the right. Black Down is back middle
A small outcrop sits atop South Down, not much to write home about, but……
……the views from here are very good indeed.
Both northeast (above photo) and here to the northwest
Another stand of trees, indicating the prevailing wind. Yes Tor and High Willhays ridge at the back. We next turned right to walk down Prewley Moor towards the Granite Way and the car.
Prewley Moor was predictably wet and soggy, what was not expected was these enclosures, claimed to be because they are laying new pipes, but only causing these muddy slimy paths to occur, the one higher up to my left here was so bad they have put down bark to try to soak up the mud and provide traction for walkers. Just widening the paths at this time of the year especially would have helped hugely. Still the end of our walk and a cracking little bimble it was, at the end of a lovely time away for a gorgeous girlfriend. Next up for us will be South Wales and a long overdue return visit.

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8 thoughts on “Northcote Manor, Granite Way and the Meldon Viaduct”

  5. Sadly as I’m so far behind with my blog reading I didn’t realise it was Linda’s birthday and didn’t wish her a belated happy birthday when we met up.

    You clearly are an old romantic at heart though 😀

    Lovely walk that for a birthday day out. Tinged with frustration though with those muddy paths and water companies seemingly doing everything they can except actually delivering a service. Same for the pathetic train train system we have in the UK. Only one major line to the SW of England, absolutely shocking. Sorry, off on a bit of a rant there!

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    • Yep that train line was closed last week, for the whole week between Plymouth and Totnes. The replacement bus service went from Totnes to Exeter, then Exeter to Plymouth in that order. 105mins to get from Totnes to Plymouth. And yes I occasionally have a romantic moment 🙂

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