The Ruby Way, the backbone of Ruby Country, will be a cycle, walkway and horse path from Hatherleigh via Holsworthy to Bude and is part of the National Cycle Network.
The first major section of the Ruby Way, part of the emerging National Cycle Network in Devon, has been opened at Halwill Junction.
The Ruby Way is being developed in stages by Devon County Council and this first section runs from Halwill Junction to Cookworthy Forest Centre, a distance of 2½ miles (4km). At the start it runs through a Devon Wildlife Trust reserve on an elevated boardwalk, to avoiding damaging the wonderful wildflower meadows. The route continues on the former railway and then on forest tracks thanks to an agreement with Forest Enterprise.
Three other stretches of the Ruby Way have already been completed - at Highampton (a 1km stretch), Hollacombe (1km) and at Derriton Viaduct (1.6km). In addition a large number of land negotiations have been concluded or are in the final stages and planning applications have been submitted for almost the entire route. It is hoped that further lengthy sections will open within a year or two.
At Hatherleigh it is planned to link up to the Tarka Trail, creating the longest path on former railway track in the country.
It was funded by Devon County Council, the South West Regional Development Agency and the Landfill Tax Credits scheme. The cost of the scheme was £156,000.