THE town of Okehampton is about to change for the better thanks to a million-pound project.
Work to improve rail services in Devon has been called a “game-changer” for the traditional market town.
Okehampton Station will remain untouched but a new Interchange will open up[/caption]
The new project will create a second railway station on the edge of Okehampton.
Called the Okehampton Interchange, it will change travel throughout Devon making it much more accessible for travellers and commuters alike.
The £15million project is the newest addition to the Dartmoor Line and will connect West Devon and North Cornwall with Exeter.
The new station will be built east of the town centre, minutes from the A30, and will complement the existing station – which will be a mile down the road.
Okehampton Interchange will have a single platform with step-free access via a footbridge, lift and ramps.
There will also be a 200-space car park with EV charging points and disabled bays.
There are even more updates across the town with walking paths, cycling links and bus stops along the route.
Okehampton Interchange will provide an hourly service between Okehampton, Crediton and Exeter St Davids.
From Exeter, you can connect to Bristol, London Paddington, London Waterloo, as well as Exmouth, and to South Devon, Plymouth and Cornwall.
With building work underway, the station is planned to open in spring 2026.
Okehampton has a Victorian Arcade, tearooms and the Dartmoor museum[/caption]
You can find ruins of a Norman Castle in Simmons Park[/caption]
You’ll find Okehampton in Devon, right on the northern edge of Dartmoor National Park.
Thanks to its close vicinity to the National Park, it is the perfect place for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities such as riding, swimming, fishing and golf.
It’s also home to the second oldest Norman Castle in the county. It lies in ruins now but is still a place to marvel at for any historians.
Some parents even say it’s a great place for kids to “play hide and seek”.
You’ll find what remains of the castle in Simmons Park, 90 acres of parkland along the River Dart, which opened in July 1907.
The park has a playground, and lots of walking opportunities. In the summer they host events, from concerts to dog shows and funfairs.
Further into town, you’ll find an original Victorian arcade built in 1906, which has been described as a “historical gem” home to “nick-nacks”, with locals encouraging tourists to take a gander around the shops.
For anyone who loves an outdoor adventure break in the UK, we’ve rounded up the best Devon locations from beaches to historic attractions.
We took a trip across the Dartmoor National Park
Digital Features Editor Julia Richardson tells us all about her trip to the beautiful Dartmoor National Park..
I rode across the vast Devon moorland with views as far north as Exmoor and south to the Plymouth Sound on a handsome chestnut horse.
It’s no wonder Dartmoor National Park is known for its myths and legends. Pixies, headless horsemen and a pack of supernatural hounds are just some of the creatures rumoured to haunt the area.
Fortunately, we didn’t spot any during our ride, but we did get close to a herd of Highland cows with huge horns, and a tiny, fluffy calf that was only two days old.
Afterwards, we swapped four hooves for two wheels and set off along the Granite Way — an easy cycle route from nearby Okehampton. Having picked up our mountain bikes from Granite Way Cycles, we began the 11-mile trail that follows the former Southern Region railway line to Lydford.
We stopped for lunch — and the best scone of the weekend — at the pretty garden of the 16th-century Castle Inn pub in Lydford before taking in more of the rugged granite landscape of this north-western corner of Dartmoor.
