South Devon Railway and Buckfast Abbey – Sun 09 June 2024

We will board the railway on a wonderful 14 mile round trip along the branch line of the former Great Western Railway between Buckfastleigh and Totnes Riverside. The line passes through some of Devon’s most glorious countryside, hugging the river Dart for most of the journey and through countryside rich in wildlife, barely any of which is visible from the road. We will also get Afternoon tea served on the train.

After the rail journey we will be visiting Buckfast Abbey to experience the serenity of the Abbey. Nestled in a valley on the edge of Dartmoor, the Abbey is home to a working community of Benedictine monks and is one of the top tourist attractions in the Westcountry. This jewel in Devon’s crown boasts a fascinating history: Founded by King Canute in 1018, Buckfast Abbey was at the heart of the community until Catholic monasteries were dissolved by King Henry VIII. The site gradually fell into ruins, but several hundred years later, it was brought back to life by a group of exiled French monks. Between 1906 and 1937, they lovingly re-built the Abbey Church on the medieval foundations and re-established the monastery.