Grand Western Canal - Country Park

Before you set off on your quest along the Grand Western Canal towpath, there are a few things you need to know...

As this is a linear Trail route, once you've completed the 7.5 mile long Trail and discovered the location of Captain Soggy Boots' missing Golden Paddle, you will need to return along the same route to reach the start point again. This is worth bearing in mind, particularly if you have younger Team members in your party!

The latter part of the Trail, around Sampford Peverell, (Clue 10 onwards), require you to be beside some lanes and occasionally busy roads. The rest of the Trail is along a canalside towpath, which is mostly even going. There's one short, steep ramp up to a bridge at Sampford Peverell, that means the Trail unfortunately isn't friendly for wheelchair users. Pushchairs users should be fine but please be aware that it is quite a long route on foot!

Bring your four-legged friends along! This Trail is along a dog-friendly route, though you'll be searching for clues alongside unfenced stretches of deep water, often with wildlife hidden in reeds, so they must be controlled along these sections. You'll also be heading onto roads in the latter part of your quest, so they must be kept on leads for these sections.

As you'll be exploring alongside a canal, there are some important rules you'll need to follow. These are all frequently signposted along the way, so please do take heed of them, (particularly with regards to the barge horse)!

The car park at the start of the Trail is a coin-operated pay and display, so bring change with you. As of February 2025, it costs £2 for two hours but we'd strongly recommend the £4 for the whole day option. It is part of the RinGo scheme (Location Number: 30207), so if you wish to use that to pay for parking, we'd recommend downloading it to your device and setting up an account before arrival.

There are seasonal refreshments and public toilets available at the start of the Trail and later on again in Sampford Peverell, (between Clues 19-20). Sampford Peverell also has a small shop, a pub and a play park for any angletwitches (Devon speak for energetic young Explorers) who still have excess energy to burn off! The whole route is pretty much one great, long picnic spot, so why not bring a packed lunch to enjoy along the way, there are many benches encountered en-route that can provide a well-earned break from your search!

If you feel brave enough to tackle the route on foot, there is a frequently running bus service that returns from Sampford Peverell to Tiverton (373) that takes about 16 minutes. (Click here to use their Journey Planner or click here to see the 373 route in full). There is then a ten-minute walk back to the start point itself from the bus stop. If you wish to see a map of the route from the bus stop to the start point again, please click here.

If you fancied extending your day and hiring a bicycle to complete the Trail, it is available at the 'other' end of the route, at Abbotshood Cycle Hire, Sampford Peverell. (EX16 7BJ). As this is located next to the final clue, if you fancied this option, we would recommend parking there, hiring a bicycle, then cycling along the route to the start point at Tiverton. You can then solve all the clues in the correct order as you return to Sampford Peverell!

Want to extend your adventures in Tiverton further? You could always tackle the Tiverton Historic Saxon Town Detective Mystery Treasure Trail that explores the centre of this historic location.