When people think of Devon they picture Mid Devon’s rolling hills and outstanding natural beauty. Much of the land is protected to maintain its character and true beauty for all to share and explore.
Mid Devon hosts one Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Blackdown Hills, and shares part of two National Parks, Exmoor and Dartmoor, a number of nature reserve sites of special scientific interest, forests, woodlands and recreational parks. Providing you with space to relax or activities to find adventure and laughter.
The majority of our land is cared for by our farmers or local authorities creating opportunities for visitors to explore our honeycombed tracks by foot, bike or horse and water courses by boat, canoe or open water swimming!
One of Mid Devon’s gems is The Grand Western Canal, an attractive stretch of isolated canal, that winds its way through the soft rural landscape of Mid Devon. Declared a Country Park in 1971 and a Local Nature Reserve in 2005, the Canal’s story covers 200 years of fascinating heritage with many of its original features and buildings still surviving.
Extending for 11 ¼ miles, the Canal is a perfect place to explore on foot, by bike, by wheelchair or by boat. With an abundance of wildlife to be seen, the Canal provides a great day out to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. There are many car parks and access points throughout the Country Park. The Canal Basin in Tiverton provides car parking, public toilets, a visitor centre, boat hire and a floating café/bar. It is also home to the much-loved horse-drawn barge that takes passengers for trips along the Canal.
Canal Rangers maintain the Country Park and can often be seen leading family events along the canal from pond dipping, guided bat walks and wreath making. It’s a very popular area for keen photographers and bird watchers due to the wildlife that can be seen in the area.
Mid Devon is well known for our wildlife, where else could you look over a badger sett or watch the deer parade the fields in their natural environment!