Guided Walks Programme - Summer 2022
This years guided walks programme has now been completed. Next year's programme will be announced early in the new year.
The Rolle Canal Walks take place on summer weekends starting at 2.30pm and last 2 hours or a little more. They are guided by Rolle Canal Society members and, where on private ground, permission has kindly been granted by the land-owners. However, individuals take part at their own risk and must take responsibility for their own safety at all times. Any government Covid guidelines at the time will apply. The distance is usually around 2 miles and the aim is to locate and identify surviving clues to the history of the Rolle Canal and other transport links between Great Torrington and the Torridge estuary. The income from the small charge of £2 per person on the guided walks makes a valuable contribution to the Society's work in improving access along the canal and providing interpretation of the major features.
No booking is required - all welcome. Please note that all walks include private land where dogs are not permitted. Up to date details of each walk will normally be published in the local press and on Facebook, Twitter and here on our website: www.rollecanalsociety.org
If you need any further information, please email Ian Harrison at: halehillfarm@gmail.com
The walks are summarised as follows:
Sunday 15th May 2.30 pm. Annery Kiln to Ridd Inclined Plane. Leader Tony Nicholls * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
Sunday 19th June 2.30 pm. Rosemoor: The Dark Weir, Canal Basin and Limekilns. Leader Mike Elliott. * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
Sunday 10th July 2.30pm. Torrington Station to Beam Aqueduct. Leader Ian Harrison. * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
Sunday 14th August 2.30 pm. Taddiport/Torrington Common. Leader Tony Barnes. * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
Saturday 3rd September 2.30 pm. Sea Lock and Canal Museum. Leader Adrian Wills. * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
The walks are described in more detail as follows:
The Rolle Canal Walks take place on summer weekends starting at 2.30pm and last 2 hours or a little more. They are guided by Rolle Canal Society members and, where on private ground, permission has kindly been granted by the land-owners. However, individuals take part at their own risk and must take responsibility for their own safety at all times. Any government Covid guidelines at the time will apply. The distance is usually around 2 miles and the aim is to locate and identify surviving clues to the history of the Rolle Canal and other transport links between Great Torrington and the Torridge estuary. The income from the small charge of £2 per person on the guided walks makes a valuable contribution to the Society's work in improving access along the canal and providing interpretation of the major features.
No booking is required - all welcome. Please note that all walks include private land where dogs are not permitted. Up to date details of each walk will normally be published in the local press and on Facebook, Twitter and here on our website: www.rollecanalsociety.org
If you need any further information, please email Ian Harrison at: halehillfarm@gmail.com
The walks are summarised as follows:
Sunday 15th May 2.30 pm. Annery Kiln to Ridd Inclined Plane. Leader Tony Nicholls * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
Sunday 19th June 2.30 pm. Rosemoor: The Dark Weir, Canal Basin and Limekilns. Leader Mike Elliott. * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
Sunday 10th July 2.30pm. Torrington Station to Beam Aqueduct. Leader Ian Harrison. * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
Sunday 14th August 2.30 pm. Taddiport/Torrington Common. Leader Tony Barnes. * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
Saturday 3rd September 2.30 pm. Sea Lock and Canal Museum. Leader Adrian Wills. * SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED *
The walks are described in more detail as follows:
WALK 1 - Sunday 15th May ANNERY KILN TO RIDD INCLINED PLANE. Walk Leader: Tony Nicholls.
Starting from Annery Kiln by Halfpenny Bridge on the Bideford to Weare Giffard road, see the site where tub-boats were hauled up an incline from the river level to the canal summit level. Part of the underground water-wheel chamber is visible beside the Tarka Trail. In spring orchids and other wild flowers abound in the dry canal basin. Distance less than 2 miles. Please note that the route includes 100 metres walking over rough meadow grass which may be wet after rain.
Meet at 2.30pm on Sunday 15th May at Annery Kiln.
Starting from Annery Kiln by Halfpenny Bridge on the Bideford to Weare Giffard road, see the site where tub-boats were hauled up an incline from the river level to the canal summit level. Part of the underground water-wheel chamber is visible beside the Tarka Trail. In spring orchids and other wild flowers abound in the dry canal basin. Distance less than 2 miles. Please note that the route includes 100 metres walking over rough meadow grass which may be wet after rain.
Meet at 2.30pm on Sunday 15th May at Annery Kiln.
WALK 2 - Sunday 19th June ROSEMOOR - The Dark Weir, Canal Basin and Limekilns. Walk Leader: Michael Elliott.
Starting from the end of the new extended car park at RHS Rosemoor Gardens near Great Torrington, this is an opportunity to walk beyond the public gardens through attractive woodland to Darkham Weir on the River Torridge from where the waters to feed the Rolle Canal were taken.
Then follow the Mill Leat to the recently cleared Canal Basin, effectively the terminus of the Rolle Canal. Here the old lime kilns can be seen as well as the foundations of a Tucking Mill.
Length about 2 and a half miles. Meet at 2.30pm on Sunday 19th June at the far end of the RHS Rosemoor car park.
Rosemoor operates a strict no dogs policy!
Starting from the end of the new extended car park at RHS Rosemoor Gardens near Great Torrington, this is an opportunity to walk beyond the public gardens through attractive woodland to Darkham Weir on the River Torridge from where the waters to feed the Rolle Canal were taken.
Then follow the Mill Leat to the recently cleared Canal Basin, effectively the terminus of the Rolle Canal. Here the old lime kilns can be seen as well as the foundations of a Tucking Mill.
Length about 2 and a half miles. Meet at 2.30pm on Sunday 19th June at the far end of the RHS Rosemoor car park.
Rosemoor operates a strict no dogs policy!
WALK 3 - Sunday 10th July TORRINGTON STATION TO BEAM AQUEDUCT. Walk Leader: Ian Harrison.
Start from the Puffing Billy (old Railway Station Inn) and follow the Tarka Trail (old railway line) to where the Rolle Canal skirts Furzebeam Hill. Here the towpath leads to the Roving Bridge behind Beam House and on to the iconic Aqueduct over the River Torridge. The Tarka Trail then leads back via Beam Weir to the start point.
Length a little over 2 miles. Meet at 2.30pm on Sunday 10th July at the Puffing Billy car park.
Start from the Puffing Billy (old Railway Station Inn) and follow the Tarka Trail (old railway line) to where the Rolle Canal skirts Furzebeam Hill. Here the towpath leads to the Roving Bridge behind Beam House and on to the iconic Aqueduct over the River Torridge. The Tarka Trail then leads back via Beam Weir to the start point.
Length a little over 2 miles. Meet at 2.30pm on Sunday 10th July at the Puffing Billy car park.
WALK 4 - Sunday 14th August TADDIPORT AND TORRINGTON COMMON. Walk Leader: Tony Barnes.
The headquarters of the Rolle Canal Company was at Taddiport and several associated buildings and structures can be seen here. From the entrance of the old milk factory, the route proceeds along the "Rolle Road", a bridleway which is actually the fairly intact bed of the Rolle Canal, through Torrington Commons. Then, via the back street "ginnels" off Mill Street, down to the beautiful Torridge-side meadows and back to Taddiport Bridge. A fascinating mixture of nature, past industrial sites, proposed developments and efforts to safeguard ecology.
Length about 2 miles. Meet at 2.30 pm on Sunday 14th August at the entrance to the old milk factory at Taddiport.
The headquarters of the Rolle Canal Company was at Taddiport and several associated buildings and structures can be seen here. From the entrance of the old milk factory, the route proceeds along the "Rolle Road", a bridleway which is actually the fairly intact bed of the Rolle Canal, through Torrington Commons. Then, via the back street "ginnels" off Mill Street, down to the beautiful Torridge-side meadows and back to Taddiport Bridge. A fascinating mixture of nature, past industrial sites, proposed developments and efforts to safeguard ecology.
Length about 2 miles. Meet at 2.30 pm on Sunday 14th August at the entrance to the old milk factory at Taddiport.
WALK 5 - Saturday 3rd September SEA LOCK AND THE CANAL MUSEUM, ANNERY KILN. Walk Leader: Adrian Wills.
From the temporary car park next to the Annery Lime kilns walk along the canal to Sea Lock. This is an opportunity to see the restoration work on the lock where in the nineteenth century river barges could enter the canal basin from the tidal Torridge estuary. A specially constructed traditional canal-side building houses an archive of photographs and canal artefacts.
Distance less than 2 miles. Meet at 2.30pm on Saturday 3rd September at Annery Kiln.
From the temporary car park next to the Annery Lime kilns walk along the canal to Sea Lock. This is an opportunity to see the restoration work on the lock where in the nineteenth century river barges could enter the canal basin from the tidal Torridge estuary. A specially constructed traditional canal-side building houses an archive of photographs and canal artefacts.
Distance less than 2 miles. Meet at 2.30pm on Saturday 3rd September at Annery Kiln.