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Grand Western Canal
The Grand Western Canal Country Park meanders through beautiful mid-Devon countryside and quiet villages between Tiverton and Lowdwells (near the Somerset border). Declared a Country Park in 1971 and a Local Nature Reserve in 2005, the canal is owned and managed by Devon County Council, in partnership with Mid Devon District Council.
The Country Park is managed for recreation, wildlife and historic interest and appeals both to local communities and visitors alike. Extending for eleven and a quarter miles, the Country Park provides a wonderful location to enjoy walking, cycling, boating, fishing and picnics.
The Canal Basin in Tiverton is well signposted from the M5 and provides car parking, public toilets, a small visitor centre, Tea Gardens and a floating café/bar. It is also home to the much-loved horse-drawn barge that has been taking passengers for trips along the canal since 1974.
Other smaller car parks, picnic sites and canal related businesses are dotted along the length of the canal, for their locations please see the Grand Western Canal Map 
(149KB - pdf help).
The Country Park is managed by the Grand Western Canal Country Park Ranger Service, who are based in the Canal Basin in Tiverton. In addition to all the vegetation and habitat management, and maintenance of the site fabric, they run an annual programme of events; a volunteer ranger service; lead healthy walks; and provide an education service for schools.
The Canal Ranger Service produces a Vistor Information Guide (1.94MB - pdf help) which can be downloaded.
Events
- Healthy Walks
Wednesday 13th August and Wednesday 24th September 2008 - Family Fun Day
Tuesday 19th August 2008
'Grand Western Weekend' success!
At the end of May, the Grand Western Canal Country Park hosted a canal and countryside fair that incorporated the 2008 IWA National Trailboat Festival. This prestigious event was to celebrate all of the fantastic improvements that have been completed on the Grand Western Canal in recent years.
It is estimated that approximately 3,500 people attended the event, and despite adverse weather, early indications are that festival covered its running costs. There was plenty to see and do at the festival, including 40 trailboats; 70 exhibitors selling local produce; and horsedrawn barge trips. Crowds were also entertained by Steve Tucker’s All Star Jazz Band; an amazing daredevil mountain bike trials rider, Andrei Burton; the exciting Latin rhythms of the Blackdown Samba Band; as well as many other activities and demonstrations.
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This was a one off event for the canal as this annual festival is held at different waterways each year and provides an opportunity for trailed boats to enjoy a boat rally, usually on a section of waterway which is not part of the canal network. The Ranger Service would like to thank all those who attended the festival and everyone who helped make the event a success.
Find out more
Also on devon.gov.uk
Contact Us
Ranger Service
The Moorings
Canal Hill
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 4HX
01884 254072
01884 255935
