Templer Way Heritage Trail

Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Start/End point: Stover Country Park.

The Templer Way is a walk of 18 miles tracing the historic line of granite being taken from the quarries at Haytor to the docks at Teignmouth. Where possible it follows the Haytor Granite Tramway and Stover Canal, the means by which the granite was moved.

The route gets its name from the Templer family. James Templer purchased the Stover Estate, near Newton Abbot, in 1765 after making his fortune at sea. His son, also James, built the Stover Canal in 1792 between Teigngrace and Newton Abbot, originally to carry clay. In turn his son, George, built the Granite Tramway to link Haytor with the Canal to help move the granite. It was 'exported' from Teignmouth and helped to build the old London Bridge (now in Arizona) and the National Gallery.

The Heritage Trail is a circuit in the centre of the Templer Way, based on the Templers' Stover Estate; it starts and finishes in Stover Country Park. Most of the route is signposted or waymarked. Look out for brown arrows.

Theme: Country,
Special Interest: Nature, Wildlife,
Area: South Devon - Teignbridge.

Relevant maps/guides: Explorer (1:25,000) 31 Torquay and Dawlish; Landranger (1:50,000) 191 Okehampton and North Dartmoor
Facilities along route: Stover Country Park (toilets and interpretation centre); no refreshments on route.

Notes on route: Almost all flat.