Grand Western Canal

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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 (1.87MB - 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 produce infromation guides about the Country Park which can be downloaded here.

Visitor Information Guide (2.53MB - pdf help)
A Polish-English Visual Canal Dictionary (1.33MB - pdf help)

What's new?

Public consultation for new visitor centre

Following the successful application for funding for a new visitor centre in the Canal Basin, members of the public are invited to take part in a consultation exercise to be held during February 2010.

Architect' s impression of how new visitor centre may look

Displays showing architect’s current designs for the proposed new centre image - PDF icon

(2.44MB - pdf help)

These displays can also been viewed at the existing visitor centre (the portacabin in the Canal Basin) where visitors can view the proposals and complete feedback forms. The display will be in place for one week until Friday 19^th February and all feedback must be received by Fri 26^th February.

Canal Visitor Centre Public Consultation Feedback form image - PDF icon (44KB - pdf help)

Staff involved with planning and designing the new centre will take on board the feedback received before completing the designs and submitting them for planning permission.

It is currently envisaged that the new centre will be built during the second half of 2010, ready for a formal opening in 2011 (the Grand Western Canal Country Park’s 40^th anniversary year).