Exeter Ship Canal – Turf Hotel & Marina loop from Yeoford

Bike touring routes & trails

Exeter Ship Canal – Turf Hotel & Marina loop from Yeoford

Hard

riders

Exeter Ship Canal – Turf Hotel & Marina loop from Yeoford

04:41

72.5km

800m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The route includes a crossing by ferry. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: September 24, 2026

This route includes a ferry crossing

Tips

Includes ferry crossings

Check ferry timetable.

After 27.0 km for 179 m

After 27.9 km for 179 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

22.6 km

Double Locks Pub

Highlight • Cycleway

Great pub to stop on a bike ride if you are covering the Exe Valley Trail

Tip by

24.0 km

Countess Wear Bridges are two bridges in Exeter, Devon that cross the River Exe and the Exeter Ship Canal. They have a D-Day connection because they were used for military training by British paratroops prior to the Normandy landings in 1944. The bridges were chosen because they resembled two bridges in France that were part of the Operation Deadstick, a daring mission to capture and hold the crossings over the Caen Canal and River Orne. The training involved rehearsing different scenarios and tactics in case the plan went wrong on D-Day.

Tip by

24.1 km

Exeter Ship Canal

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Exeter Ship Canal is a canal leading from (and beside) the River Exe to Exeter Quay in the city of Exeter, Devon.

It was first constructed in the 1560s and was the first canal to be built in Britain since Roman times. It was also the first canal in England to use the pound lock. The canal was built to bypass the weirs that had been erected on the river by the Countess of Devon and later by the Earls of Devon, which prevented ships from reaching Exeter and forced them to unload at Topsham.

The canal was enlarged and extended several times over the centuries and reached its present form in the 1830s. The canal basin was also built at that time and became a busy port with warehouses and workshops.

Today, the canal is mainly used for leisure activities such as boating, walking and cycling. You can follow the Exe Estuary Trail alongside the canal and enjoy the scenic views of the river and the countryside.

Tip by

27.5 km

Topsham Town Centre

Highlight • Historical Site

Topsham is a town in Devon, England, located on the east side of the River Exe, between Exeter and Exmouth. It has a rich maritime history and was once a thriving port and shipbuilding centre. Topsham has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with an eclectic cluster of specialist shops and fine restaurants, plus wonderful sunsets above the estuary. You can visit the Topsham Museum, which is housed in an elegant 17th century Dutch-style merchant house and displays interesting exhibitions about the town’s history and culture. You can also enjoy the nature and wildlife of the Exe Estuary Trail, which passes by the Bowling Green and Goosemoor Nature Reserve.

Tip by

30.1 km

Turf Lock

Highlight • Pub

Turf Lock is that which marks the end of the Exeter Ship Canal. Thanks to its location on a popular foot and cycle path, as well as its excellent views across the estuary, it makes a lovely place to stop.

There's also a hotel/pub here, the Turf Hotel, which has a fantastic lawn between the river and the lock. With a cluster of pontoons and some little cruising yachts, the whole place is very picturesque.

Tip by

30.1 km

Turf Hotel & Marina

Highlight • Cafe

Iconic Grade II listed pub in an extraordinary waterside location. Offers uninterrupted panoramic views across the outstanding natural beauty of the Exeter canal, River Exe Estuary and Powderham Estate.

Can reach only by foot, bike or boat.

The Turf has been a South West landmark for over 195 years.

Tip by

31.8 km

Powderham Footbridge

Highlight • Cycleway

Powderham Footbridge is a footbridge over the Exeter Ship Canal near Powderham, Devon. It is part of the Exe Estuary Trail, a cycle and walking route that follows the River Exe and the canal from Exmouth to Dawlish. The footbridge was opened in 2014 and replaced an old swing bridge that was no longer operational. The footbridge allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross the canal and enjoy the views of the river and the countryside. It also connects to the Powderham Church and Castle, which are historic landmarks in the area.

Tip by

36.4 km

Cockwood Harbour

Highlight • Viewpoint

Cockwood Harbour is a small tidal harbour in Cockwood, a village on the western bank of the Exe Estuary in Devon. It is a popular boating spot with a church, pubs and accommodation. Cockwood Harbour is known for the railway line that runs over the narrow strip of land between the harbour and the sea. The line continues to Dawlish, where it follows the coastline and offers stunning views of the water. Cockwood Harbour is part of the Exe Estuary Trail, a cycle and walking route that follows the River Exe and the canal from Exmouth to Dawlish.

Tip by

51.1 km

Lakeham Copse

Forest

71.8 km

Yeoford Copse

Forest

72.5 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types