SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY

JUST THE TICKET FOR AN AMAZING DAY OUT IN BEAUTIFUL SOUTH DEVON

Take a trip back in time on the South Devon Railway, a delightful steam train journey along the banks of the river Dart on a typical West Country rural branch line. You’ll be transported back to a simpler time and a slower life while gently meandering through hidden glorious Devon countryside.

It’s a top destination for groups because it offers a hugely memorable experience with outstanding appeal across all age ranges and interests – and at very attractive rates for groups too.

At its heart is a delightful 14-mile return steam train journey through some of Devon’s most beautiful and hidden countryside, hugging the river for most of your trip. The trains take you on a leisurely ride in vintage carriages from Buckfastleigh, just off the A38, midway between Exeter and Plymouth, to Totnes and back again.

At Buckfastleigh, there is a riverside walk and picnic area, gardens, museum and a well-stocked shop and café. There is plenty of coach parking with easy, flat access to the platform.

Shortly after leaving Buckfastleigh, you will get your first site of the river as the railway crosses Nursery Pool bridge. From here on, as the train heads away from the road and into beautiful countryside, rich in wildlife, the river is never far away. Keep a look out for buzzards and other birds of prey and, if you are really lucky, you may even see a kingfisher as it flashes along the river.

After passing under Riverford Bridge, one of the oldest bridges over the Dart, you’ll soon arrive at the picturesque station of Staverton, once famous for the cider that used to be despatched from the platform, now with its glorious gardens and atmosphere of a real country station.

Keeping the river alongside, the train passes Nappers Crossing before heading across water meadows and fields. At Woodville, the railway runs right next to the river before entering the Royal Mile, so called because the Royal Train used to be stabled here during visits by the Royal Family to the Dartmouth Naval College.

Soon you arrive at Totnes Riverside. This station has been built from artefacts gathered from all over the GWR system before being carefully restored and rebuilt on site. The station building, for instance, was originally on the Bridport branch in Dorset, the canopy on the Strawberry Line in Somerset and the signal box came from Cradley Heath in the West Midlands.

You can now take a walk into Totnes – it’s about 20 minutes or you can catch ‘Bob The Bus’ from the mainline station forecourt – or return with us to Buckfastleigh.

If you are looking for a range of easy to book options, the railway offers a great variety of entertainment at very attractive prices.

This includes joint tickets for the railway and the Totnes Rare Breeds Farm, adjacent to the railway’s station at Totnes, and/or Dartmoor Otters & Buckfast Butterflies, next to the station at Buckfastleigh.

More details are at www.southdevonrailway.co.uk, email trains@southdevonrailway.co.uk or call 01364 644370 for full details.