Visit Mid Devon / Walking routes / Tiverton Merchants’ Trail
Walking

Tiverton Merchants’ Trail

Short (0-3 miles)
family-friendly Family Friendly
dog-friendly Dog Friendly
In its heyday (1500 - 1750), Tiverton was famous for the manufacture of woollen cloth. Thousands found work and merchants grew rich. Their Trail can be followed around the town of today.
Tiverton Merchants’ Trail

Approximate Time: 45 mins

Distance: 1½ miles/2½km

Type of Walk: The walk is easy, following pavements, riverside paths, parks, and historic town streets with consistently reliable footing and only gentle gradients throughout. Expect narrow alleyways, occasional uneven surfaces near the river, short road‑crossing sections, and some busier central areas, but overall it’s a straightforward, accessible route with minimal challenge.

The Merchants' Trail was conceived by the Tiverton Civic Society to raise awareness of the town's historic and architectural heritage. A detailed leaflet is available from the Tiverton Tourist Information Service at Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life or you can view it on the Tiverton Civic Society website.

You can join the Trail at any point. For convenience, we begin at the top of Phoenix Lane by Panel 1.

Parking:

Park in the Phoenix Lane Multistorey Car Park.

Directions:

  1. At the top of Phoenix Lane is Panel 1 (18th Century Merchants)
  2. Turn left along Fore Street, to St George's Church on your left.
  3. Go down Angel Hill to Panel 2 (16th and 17th Century Merchants)
  4. Continue to the bridge for the town's iconic view upriver to St Peter's Church.
  5. Return up Angel Hill to St Peter Street.
  6. Go into the churchyard and visit the Greenway Chapel.
  7. From the church to Tiverton Castle is but a step through the churchyard.
  8. Retrace your steps to Newport Street.
  9. On the corner, is the sign of The Lamb. Cross the road and continue along Newport Street.
  10. Turn right at Clare House and head towards the Pannier Market.
  11. Exit left along Market Walk to Bampton Street to Panel 3 (The Widow and the Town's Historian)
  12. Turn left into Gold Street and continue to: Panel 4 (Early Tudor Merchant - John Greenway)
  13. Cross the road and continue down Gold Street.
  14. Go over Lowman Bridge to Panel 5 (Woollen Industry and Education)
  15. Walk on a little further to the gateway to Old Blundell's.
  16. You may now retrace your steps up Gold Street and back along Fore Street.

For more information about the history of Tiverton, visit Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life.

 

Tiverton Merchants’ Trail

Tiverton & The Exe Valley
Download GPX

Whichever route you choose, please observe The Countryside Code.  Please park your car with consideration to residents and other road users and, most important of all, enjoy yourself and our lovely Mid Devon countryside.

The Countryside Code:

  • Respect other people and enjoy the outdoors and the communities you visit.
  • Leave gates and property as you find them.
  • Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home.
  • Keep dogs under effective control.
  • Plan ahead and be prepared and use pathways unless wider accesses are available.
  • Follow advice and local signage.
  • For the full Countryside Code, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code

Mid Devon District Council at Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, EX16 6PP (“we”, “us” or “our”) operate the website www.visitmiddevon.co.uk (our “Website“).

We provide information for users of the Website (“you” or “your“), including written, diagrammatic and photographic material, in relation to walking and cycling routes in Devon (the “Routes“). Whilst every effort is taken to ensure that the Routes are correct and accurate, we do not accept any responsibility for errors, omissions or other inaccuracies.

Details of the Routes may change for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, changes in the landscape, variances of rights of way, adverse weather conditions or livestock. We do not guarantee to monitor these and it is your responsibility to make appropriate enquiries to determine whether any such situations have affected the Routes and it is your responsibility to check for the suitability of a Route and for the existence of any hazards.

You are responsible for your own safety and wellbeing whilst using the Routes – it is essential that you are properly equipped and that you are using the Routes in conjunction with a map and compass. We may give an indication of the nature and difficulty of the Routes, however it remains entirely your responsibility to ensure that they are suitable and that you are fit and capable enough to undertake them.  Please remember that mountain biking is a potentially hazardous activity carrying a significant risk. It should only be undertaken with a full understanding of all inherent risks. The difficulty levels provided are only guides and must always be used in conjunction with the exercise of your own experience, intuition and careful judgment.

We will not be liable in any way for any direct, indirect, punitive or consequential damages arising out of, or in any way in connection with, the use of the Routes or participation in related activities. If you choose to rely on the Routes or participate in such activities, including walking the Routes, you do so entirely at your own risk.

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