Drake’s Trail

Drake’s Trail is a 21.3-mile, one-way shared route from Stonehouse in Plymouth to Tavistock. On foot it is a full-day town-to-town walk: waterfront and estuary streets give way to riverside paths and a former railway corridor, then road and rougher track along Dartmoor’s western edge before the River Tavy meadows. It is a regional link along the park’s western side, not an in-park loop.

Allow about nine hours on foot, plus stops, and arrange a ride back before setting out. The three-hour figure attached to the route is for cycling. Distance, rather than a sustained climb, is the main challenge, and you will share paths with cyclists and other walkers. If 21 miles is too much, use an intermediate access point for a shorter out-and-back on the old railway path. Drake’s name connects the ends: Sir Francis Drake was born in Tavistock, and his statue stands at Plymouth Hoe.

From Stonehouse, the trail skirts Plymouth’s waterfront and the Barbican before crossing the Plym Estuary at Laira Bridge. Saltram’s rolling parkland is an early place to pause. Beyond it, the wooded Plym Valley follows a disused railway past Cann Viaduct and Bickleigh, then through Shaugh Tunnel; its curve leaves the middle dim even when the lights are on. After Clearbrook, expect a short steep, uneven stretch and hillier links toward Yelverton. The route crosses the A386 roundabout there, so take care before leaving the town behind. Farther north, Magpie Viaduct has raised viewpoints and Gem Bridge carries the path above the wooded River Walkham valley. From there, riverside meadows lead into Tavistock. At Gem Bridge, frame the deck and wooded drop together to show why this crossing is a highlight.

The route mixes shared-use, surfaced former railway with local streets and short rougher sections; it is not uniformly smooth or traffic-free. Its visitor information describes use by walkers, cyclists, dog walkers and pushchairs, but specifically warns that the rough section south of Clearbrook is unsuitable for wheelchairs. Dogs are permitted on the shared route; give other users room. Parking is reported at both ends and at Coypool, Yelverton and Bedford Bridge, though the endpoint lots, capacity and fees are not established. Refreshments are available in settlements along the route, including Clearbrook, Yelverton and Horrabridge. The main friction is the Cattedown roads, the A386 crossing, uneven Clearbrook section and dim tunnel.