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Walking Exeter's Waterways
Route facts
Waterways:
Exeter Ship Canal »
Distance: 1.24 miles / 2 km
Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Circular route from: Haven Road, Exeter
A stroll around the ancient river and canal dock area of Exeter, taking in popular eating places and antique shops.
Leave the car park and turn left, between new four storey brick housing, to Haven Road. Directly in front is a Leisure Warehouse, cross the road and turn right. You are now alongside the old canal basin on the dockside, used now for repair work there is always lots of work in progress.At the end of the basin turn left over two wooden swing footbridges across the canal. Turn right on a path marked as the Riverside Valley Park. This stretch of canal is used extensively by youth groups canoeing and is always busy. After 100 yards bear left for a concrete footbridge across a dry water course, part of the Exe flood defence scheme. At the other side of this bridge turn right and then left across another footbridge, this time crossing the river. Upstream on your left is the weir. At the end of this bridge carry straight on passing Belle Isle Park on your right to a T junction and turn left. Through three metal barriers, and the path bears right, just around the corner turn left through another barrier into a pretty little riverside park. Now follow the river path back towards the city.En route you pass a mix of the old wharf buildings, new infill housing and evidence of the old docks and the ferry. This, for 20p would take you over the river, hand hauled by means of a hawser stretched across above the water.On through a busy area of pleasure boats, eating places and antique shops, over the small wooden Mallison bridge and to the blue suspension footbridge. Leave the path and cross over the river, at the far end turn left again and then right to the basin. This is full of a wonderful mix of craft.Walk down the far side of the basin and right at the end will deliver you into Haven Road. Turn right and back to the car park.
Getting there
Parking: Haven Banks Car Park, 70p for 4 hours
