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Dartmoor National Park – Lake Viaduct loop from Sourton

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Dartmoor National Park – Lake Viaduct loop from Sourton

Moderate

5.0

(2)

riders

Dartmoor National Park – Lake Viaduct loop from Sourton

01:01

15.6km

180m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 26, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 8.58 km for 79 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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8.38 km

Lydford Gorge and Castle

Highlight • Gorge

Created by King Alfred the Great, Lydford has a rich history. It was once the second biggest town in Devon during the reign of Edward the Confessor, now it has a population of less than 500.

Lydford Castle was built in 1132 on the site of a pre existing castle built just after the Norman Conquest. Entry is free, further details available at the English Heritage website english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lydford-castle-and-saxon-town

Lydford Gorge is managed by the National Trust and those who take a walk through the woods will be rewarded with the spectacular 30ft White Lady waterfall. See their website for more information nationaltrust.org.uk/lydford-gorge

Tip by

8.53 km

Lydford Castle and Saxon Town

Highlight • Historical Site

Lydford is a pretty little village on the edge of Dartmoor National Park and hides, within its boundaries, several amazing features. One of these is its castle, of Norman origin that was rebuilt in the late 12th century with the tower being renovated in the 13th century.

Consistently used over the centuries and repeatedly overhauled, it eventually fell into disuse in the 19th century. Free to enter, you can enjoy its large, sloping lawn after you've had a nose about the tiny building. A perfect picnic spot, the castle sits in utter tranquillity.

Tip by

8.62 km

St Petroc's Church, Lydford

Highlight • Historical Site

The first Christian church in Lydford was a wooden structure built c. 650 AD. It is probable that this church was burnt down by the Vikings in their raid of 997 AD.
The dedication of the parish church to St. Petrock would seem to indicate that it was built on the site of an existing British settlement.
The church was later rebuilt in the perpendicular gothic style, and although ostensibly Norman, some of the architectural furniture, for example the font, were of the Anglo-Saxon style (or at latest, early Norman), thus it would appear that the church was rebuilt upon the site of the earlier building.
The church was enlarged in the 13th century, the tower being added in the 15th century. A further enlargement occurred c. 1890 with the addition of the vestry and northern aisle.

Tip by

13.5 km

Dartmoor National Park

Highlight • Lake

Meandering river valleys, expansive moorland, ancient history, and green countryside where wild ponies roam free – Dartmoor is a unique place to cycle. Covering a 368 sq mi (953 sq km) area, the vast moorlands and granite hilltops are just waiting to be discovered. You can find more information about visiting the park, here: dartmoor.gov.uk

Tip by

13.7 km

Lake Viaduct

Highlight • Bridge

One of two viaducts on the Granite Way, Lake Viaduct is an impressive granite span with nine arches. Built for the now-closed railway reaching from Plymouth to Okehampton, the viaduct was built in the late 1800s.

Today, the railway is gone and the viaduct resurfaced, forming a foot and cycle path on the Granite Way and the Dartmoor Way. It’s a wonderful place to stop, with benches at intervals and views east to the rugged moor and west to flatter, patchwork landscapes.

Tip by

14.0 km