Devon Ranger day out

[whole diary]

[macbrains]

Just to let folks know what a bargain the Devon Day Ranger can be. 

Mrs C and I had a few days away in Devon, and a few Sundays ago, we started at Okehampton (the buffet on the platform is highly recommended for breakfast).  Then by a packed one coach 09:55 FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Sunday Rover to Exeter St Davids.  Five minutes later, we caught a Cross Country Voyager to Plymouth, sitting on the left hand side, of course.  It was a beautiful day, and the coastal route looked wonderful. 

Arrived at Plymouth, and had time for a quick walk down to the Hoe and a pasty and ice cream.  Then back to the station (spotting Tangmere and the Royal Duchy across the platform) for the train to Gunnislake - fantastic views of the Royal Albert/Tamar Bridges and (dodging the vegetation) the scenery up the branch line.

Then back the same way to Okehampton.  All for the princely sum of ^10 each, or in our case an even better ^6.60 each with railcard.

A wonderful day out, and there could have been variations to this eg longer time in Plymouth without the Tamar Valley branch line, or stopping at Dawlish etc.

We found this and many other ideas in this in this useful leaflet:  http://www.okehampton.gov.uk/data/uploads/429.pdf  which I happened to find while researching the trip in advance.

rgds
Rob

[alexross42]

That is good value!
Maybe, just maybe, one day you'll be able to complete your journey by taking the train from Gunnislake back to Bere Alston, then from Bere Alston to Okehampton via Tavistock....?! That would be a great round-robin trip of Dartmoor

[macbrains]

That is good value!
Maybe, just maybe, one day you'll be able to complete your journey by taking the train from Gunnislake back to Bere Alston, then from Bere Alston to Okehampton via Tavistock....?! That would be a great round-robin trip of Dartmoor

I'm looking forward to that day too, Alex

The day before, we did go as far in the other direction from Okehampton as we could - Meldon Viaduct!  The walk from there to the Meldon Dam is also recommended.

I'd post some pictures if I knew how...

rgds
Rob C

[plymothian]

As you did it on a Sunday, you could have got a Dartmoor Rover, which this year includes all Devon FGW^▸ (First Great Western) rail services (so excluding XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains)) as well as certain buses, again for ^10 non discounted.

And to add, the Devon [Evening] Rover drops to ^5 non discounted after 18.00 (^3.30 discounted).

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'd post some pictures if I knew how...
rgds
Rob C

If you contact me by Personal Message with details of where your pictures are, and in what format, macbrains, I'm sure we will be able to put them up on the Coffee Shop forum for you. 

[Rapidash]

They make for a useful commuter fare for someone like me who bounces around the county in all directions on a daily basis. Pity the barriers at Central still can't read ' em (ones at EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) do though!)

[macbrains]

They make for a useful commuter fare for someone like me who bounces around the county in all directions on a daily basis. Pity the barriers at Central still can't read ' em (ones at EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) do though!)

We found that the barriers at Exeter St Davids were a bit variable - some did read them, some didn't.  Plymouth the same.  According to gate line staff, it's "being sorted out".

[marky7890]

I used a Devon Day ranger on Sunday 9th August, being valid from crossing the Tamar into Devon I went to Teignmouth, then to Exeter St Davids, to get the train to Okehamption, got the train back down the line as far as Credition, then went up to Barnstaple then returning to back to Exeter and heading back to Plymouth and then Cornwall.

They are great value for money allowing you to travel the entire length of the county for just ^10 or ^6.60 with a rail card.

A Ride Cornwall ticket is also great value at ^10 or ^8.30 with a D&C rail card allowing travel between Penzance and Plymouth as well the five branchlines (St Ives, Falmouth, Newquay, Looe and Gunnislake). It can also be used on most of Cornwalls bus services too.

[Rapidash]

According to gate line staff, it's "being sorted out".

They've been saying that to me for the last four years :lol: