Cycling the Plym Valley Way
Plymouth to Yelverton along a disused railway line
(Photos/words © urban75, May 2007)
After arriving in Plymouth we got a bit lost and had to ride along a pretty hideous cycle track wedged next to a stretch of dual carriageway before picking up the Plym Valley route at Marsh Mills.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-01.jpg) The route to Marsh Mills was pretty grim, with the cycle track being routed around supermarkets and under some ugly flyovers.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-02.jpg) At Marsh Mills the cycle track runs alongside a rarely used freight line.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-03.jpg) We passed a couple of level crossings although it looked like there hadn't been a train on these tracks for some time.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-04.jpg) Overgrown tracks on the way to Marsh Mills.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-05.jpg) We passed a preserved stretch of railway, owned by the Plym Valley Railway who aim to re-build a 1.25 mile stretch of the line that once reached across to Launceston, via Tavistock.
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![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-06.jpg) After the noise and bustle of the A374, it was great to enjoy a ride through this quiet wooded glade.
![East Anglian Game and Country Fair, Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-07.jpg) Cycling through Plymbridge Woods - a 2 mile stretch of National Trust woodland with a huge variety of tree species and habitats - on the route of the old railway line.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-08.jpg) Old bridge over the railway.
The route was great to ride along with a well kept asphalt surface which made cycling easy, even if we were almost permanently on an 'up' gradient.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-09.jpg) The Plym Valley Way took us over several high viaducts affording great views.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-10.jpg) A series of telescopes had been kindly set up to allow passers by admire a pair of peregrine falcons nesting in a nearby quarry.
Peregrines at PlymBridge Wood.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-11.jpg) Old bridge.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-12.jpg)
Crossing another large stone bridge.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-13.jpg) Before its closure in December 1962, the route to Yelverton must have made for a beautiful railway journey, passing through quiet forests and high viaducts.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-14.jpg) Foxgloves on the wayside.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-15.jpg) Crossing another high viaduct. To the right you can see the piers of the earlier, timber built bridge.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-16.jpg) After passing Shaugh Bridge platform, the route goes through a tunnel, which was fun to ride through.
Designed and constructed by the Great Western's legendary engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the curving tunnel was cut through solid rock.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-17.jpg) Although there's some electric lights marking the route, it gets pretty dark and it felt odd cycling along in the dark.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-18.jpg) Nearing the exit.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-19.jpg) Looking back at the northern entrance.
![Cycling the Plym Valley Way, Plymouth to Yelverton, Devon, England, UK](images/plym-valley-way-20.jpg) As we neared Clearbrook, the track became considerably rougher, with our poor folding bikes getting a right hammering on the gravel.
We the had to push them up a mighty steep path to reach the minor road into the fabulously named village of Hoo Meavy.
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