Meldon Quarry
Dartmoor National Park
What is it?
A complex and varied industrial landscape which demonstrates how the area’s mineral wealth has been exploited since the 18th century.
Why it is special?
Visitors can see the remains of old industrial quarrying activities. Limestone and Aplite, a rare form of granite, were mined here.
There are buildings including lime kilns, wheel pits, tramways and weighbridges as well as the remains of a copper mine.
Towering over the valley site is an impressive wrought-iron viaduct built in the 1870s, seen in the picture at the top of this page.
It was actually built as two separate structures because the viaduct originally carried a single railway track which was later upgraded to two tracks. The wrought-iron girders are carefully interwoven!
Tell us something we didn’t know
The Meldon Viaduct now carries part of national cycle route 27, known as The Granite Way, which runs between Okehampton and Lydford.
Nearby, the 15 mile Dartmoor Railway runs from Meldon in the west to Coleford Junction and Yeoford in the east. Railway walk leaflets are available, free when you buy a Dartmoor Railway ticket.
How to get there
Meldon Quarry is near the village of Meldon. Exit the A30 at Sourton Down. Go along the B3260 for just under three miles.
By rail, take a train to Okehampton then take the heritage train, or walk along the Dartmoor Way for three miles.
