Haytor Granite Tramway, Historic granite tramway in Ilsington, England
The Haytor Granite Tramway is an old stone transport route across Dartmoor with rails carved directly into the rock to guide wagons. The track runs from the quarry to a canal connection and is now used as a hiking path.
The route was built around 1820 to move stones from the quarry more efficiently to distant markets. This project opened up trade in granite across wider regions and supported growing demand.
The granite from this quarry reached important buildings across London, shaping how the city developed during its growth period. Visitors can trace how a moorland industry once connected to distant urban centers through this transport link.
The route is easy to reach on foot with several entry points across Dartmoor near the tramway. The area is open to visitors, but it is important to bring weather-resistant gear since the moorland is exposed and can be quite windy.
The rails are carved as an L-shaped groove directly into the granite bedrock, which mechanically guided wagon wheels without needing separate metal tracks. This clever engineering solution allowed heavy loads to move across rough moorland using the natural rock surface as infrastructure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
