CYCLISTS and walkers had something to celebrate last week, when the Drake's Trail cycle and walking path was officially unveiled at Grenofen last Wednesday.

With the impressive £2.1-million Gem Bridge spanning the Walkham Valley already accessible, the final piece of the jigsaw was the opening of the 350-metre long tunnel which passes under the A386, facilitating the off-road connection between Plymouth and Tavistock.

Cllr Jerry Brook, the chairman of Devon County Council, said the project had been 30 years in the making and congratulated all those involved — especially the county's national cycling network officer Graham Cornish and Ben Naylor, the designer of Gem Bridge.

He said the trail would now become not only part of a national cycling network stretching from Plymouth to North Devon, across Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, but also to Brittany and Normandy in France.

The county council was the major partner in the project, with £600,000 coming from the European Union's Interreg programme.

Special guest, television broadcaster and Alzheimer's Society ambassador Angela Rippon, who for 25 years lived at Gem Cottage, which overlooks the bridge, described the valley as a 'magical place' where owls, woodpeckers, kingfishers, dippers, multicoloured dragonflies could be seen and heard, and where the flora and fauna were quite exceptional.

'It's a beautiful, elegant bridge, and I think Ben Naylor has done a superb job in its design,' she said.

Debo Sellis, West Devon Borough and Devon County Councillor, told the Times: 'This is an historic moment and a legacy for future generations.

'To see such an investment on a project like this in the present economic climate is refreshing. It will not only be a welcome boon to Tavistock and the local economy, but add to quality of people's lives and encourage healthy activities.'

Keen cyclist PC Dave Pickles, neighbourhood beat manager for Tavistock rural east, said: 'I think its absolutely fantastic and I feel really privileged to be able to have total off road access with such a wonderful landscape.

'When you come over the bridge and see this canopy of trees it's just superb.

'There are very few cycleways in the country with this sort of view and I hope it will encourage more people, and especially families, to take up cycling.'

One of those taking in the views last Wednesday was Paul Collins, from Plymouth, who took up cycling to help his rehabilitation after a heart attack. Now he rides more than 3,000 kilometres a year and said he would be a regular user of Drake's Trail.

'As a cycle trail this is first class. I've done the Granite Way near Okehampton, the Tarka Trail, the Camel Trail and the cycle route along the Exeter Canal but this is probably the most scenic of them all,' said Paul.

Fellow cyclist Mike Huntley, from Drakewalls, added: 'I think it's wonderful and now the bridge and tunnel is open I look forward to going all the way through.'

But the route is not just for cyclists to enjoy.

Mike Pryor from Horrabridge Walk and Talk Group, which has around 30 members, said: 'I've been on the bridge several times since it has been opened and I'm very impressed with it.

'As a design it is superb and I like how it tailors itself into the landscape.'

Four members of the Cycle West came over from France for the opening — cycling from the ferry in Plymouth.

Drake's Trail will now become Cycle West's cross-channel network of routes including the Velodyssey Devon-Bretagne, from Ilfracombe in North Devon to Redon in Southern Brittany, joining up with a further section on to Hendaye in the Pyrenees, covering a total of 750 miles.

Emilie Lepicard said: 'This is the biggest of the nine Cycle West projects in Devon, Cornwall, Brittany and Normandy. This is a very beautiful place and the views are really amazing.

'Hopefully more French cyclists will come over to use this as well as benefit the local economy.'

Jill and Jinks Fitzsimmons from Horrabridge said they had a young French boy from Brittany who stayed with them and who thought it was a great idea to have the cycle trail — the French love their cycling and would think nothing of cycling 100 miles a day.

Jinks said: 'This is something for local people to enjoy but it's not just for cyclists but also for walkers as well.

'I also feel strongly that it should also be opened up to people with mobility scooters - or how else can the elderly or disabled get access to it.'

Sir Francis Drake himself, or at least Brian Whipp who portrays the great seafarer, also at the ceremony, told the Times: 'It is just fantastic. The idea of walking or cycling in such beautiful countryside and families especially can enjoy such an activity together in safety is a wonderful thing.'