The former railway from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe opened on 20th July 1874 – 150 years ago. It never reached its 100th anniversary, closing on 5th October 1970. By the time the anniversary year came about four years later, the line had been disused for that time and not long after, despite deliberations on whether to reopen the route as a British Railways concern, plus a preservation society set up to try and purchase the line from its owners – an attempt which sadly failed. Thereafter it was progressively dismantled.
Here is the final part of the online guide to the former railway from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe. The route again its taken up by the Tarka train and constitutes a public shared pathway all the way to Ilfracombe. Here’s another map to illustrate the route in question from Mortehoe to Ilfracombe. Its difficult to do the line justice however it must be said its route at near 600 feet above sea level gave the line’s passengers unique panoramas right across the Bristol channel unparalleled by any other railways in the area or even those on the other side of the channel in South Wales. The gradients along this section were extremely challenging too with Ilfracombe station immediately at the bottom of a stiff climb of 1 in 36 towards Mortehoe.
Mortehoe to Ilfracombe is a spectacular route for it offers great views of the sea en route where the land falls away to the north towards Lee, before entering the steeply sided valleys with the Ilfracombe (or Slade) reservoirs to one side of the railway. The whole area to the north west of the railway is indeed designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. There’s a short tunnel and then the railway is on a ledge high above the valley as it approaches the town with spectacular views across the sea.
Map of the old line between Willingcott and Ilfracombe. Its part of the Tarka Trail these days.
There’s not really a lot of coverage of this particular section thus its quite difficult to cover it to any good extent. Some You Tube videos do feature it but sort of miss out on the spectacular scenery! There’s a bonus however – a picture I took of the line in 1980 when it was still clearly a railway alignment complete with ballast!
Aerial showing the route between Mortehoe (top left) and Ilfracombe. As will be seen from this much of the route is within the steeply sided wooded section that is the picturesque Slade valley with its reservoirs. Most of the station site at Ilfracombe is now an industrial estate.
Mortehoe station itself was just over 51 miles from Exeter. The milepost denoting the fifty one miles stood right at the southern extremity of the station perimeter.
Not very much recognisable as a former transport stop these days but these much altered buildings are Mortehoe & Woollacombe station. Source: Google Streets.
Bulleid 34020 Seaton leaving Mortehoe for Ilfracombe in July 1963. Twitter/X.
Just part of the old railway bridge parapets can still be seen at Mortehoe Station Road. The cutting beneath has been filled in and the Tarka Train crosses the road on the level. Source: Google Streets.
National Cycle Network sign at Mortehoe Station Road bridge. Source: Twitter. (Note: Twitter account no longer exists – the handle has been taken over by someone else unrelated to the UK.)
Immediately upon leaving Mortehoe the former line gave quite unparalleled views over the coast and sea – and this from the top of a hill – a rarity in England! Source: Twitter. (Note: Twitter account no longer exists – the handle has been taken over by someone else unrelated to the UK.)
Shaftesborough Lane bridge from the trackbed. Source: Twitter
The same bridge from the roadway with the former line heading towards Slade and Ilfracombe. Source: Google Streets
The next bridge is at Campscott and in fact this is the last bridge over the line. Pictures of it are hard to come by however. The next substantial structure of any kind were the tunnels at Slade – at least these do feature on social media.
The rail workers hut at Campscott from a You Tube video (have lost the link to that video).