Last Updated on Friday, 16 October 2009 10:06

The Grand Western Canal was built in 1814 and used to transport lime. Horse drawn tub-boats worked on the canal for about 130 years conveying the stone from the quarries at Lowdwells to the wharf at Tiverton in Devon.

The stone was then fired in the pits that can be seen at Tiverton by using layers of stone interlaced with layers of coal resulting in the lime that was then used on farms and for house building.

The Grand Western Canal was extended in 1838 from Lowdwells to Taunton and had seven tub-boat lifts to cope with the incline. In 1869 the extention was closed leaving the eleven miles of canal that are in use today.

It now forms part of the Grand Western Canal Country Park which includes a local Nature Reserve which is owned and maintained by Devon County Council. The canal is available for walking, cycling, picnics, boating and fishing, and has an abundance of wildlife and flora. You may see wildlife such as Otters, Kingfishers, Ducks, Dragonflies, Coots and Swans.

The Tiverton Canal Co. operates one of only five horse-drawn barges in the UK with a two and half hour trip at a relaxing pace. They use Shire horses to pull the barge along the canal while you listen to a commentary about the history of the canal. There is a licenced bar on board and snacks are also available.

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