Grand Western Canal


Built in 1814, the canal that meanders around the hills above Tiverton provides an intriguing insight into life on constructed inland waterways. Tub-boats carrying limestone from local quarries worked this waterway for 130 years before the network declined. This 11-mile stretch is all that's left. At the canal basin, a visitor centre (open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm) charts its history.

The basin is also home to canal boat trips, a cafe and boat hire. Find it all a mile east of Tiverton, off the A396.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Knightshayes Court

1.73 MILES

For full-blown Victorian architectural excess, Knightshayes Court delivers in spades. It was designed by the eccentric architect William Burges for the…

2. Yearlstone Vineyard

3.3 MILES

Having been closed for building works in 2017, Yearlstone is due to re-open in spring 2018. It's a picturesque place, set amid an amphitheatre of deeply…

3. Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

11.89 MILES

This eccentric museum is a must for cinephiles. It contains a hoard of film-themed memorabilia amassed by Scottish film-maker Bill Douglas, best known for…

4. Exmoor Pony Centre

12.24 MILES

You’ll see them cantering across the open moor, but this is a great way to get up close to Exmoor’s stubby ponies. Originally bred as beasts of burden,…

5. Castle Ruins

12.33 MILES

Little remains of Exeter's 11th-century castle except a russet stone gatehouse, attached to a fragment of the city's defensive wall.

6. Underground Passages

12.39 MILES

Prepare to crouch down, don a hard hat and possibly get spooked in what is the only publicly accessible system of its kind in England. These medieval…

7. RAMM

12.45 MILES

A fixture on the city's cultural scene since Victorian times, this hulking red-brick museum recently received a £24 million revamp. It's a treasure trove…

8. Guildhall

12.56 MILES

The earliest parts of Exeter's Guildhall date from 1330, making it the oldest municipal building still in use in the country. An ornate barrel roof arches…