A DISUSED trail running beside the River Tavy is to be re-opened after 30 years for horse riders, carriage drivers and other country lovers thanks to the hard work and dedication of Bere Horsewatch Group.

The Horsewatch Millennium Trail was initiated by the small group — part of a national network which is police-backed — who wanted to provide safe, off-road riding on the Bere Peninsula.

They planned the work, raised funding from organised rides to pay for the work and provided the labour for the project.

The trail starts from Bere Ferrers and has level access, wonderful estuary views and an exciting river crossing which is passable by horses only at low tide said Bere Horsewatch member Jill Etherington.

Vehicles will be prohibited from the trail which has historical origins, being used in the past by farmers to take their produce to market in Plymouth using ponies and traps.

Work on the trail, which has been disused for over 30 years, started last autumn and was completed within three months.

'The trail starts from Bere Ferrers, being about one mile long and crossing Chuck's Ford,' said Jill Etherington. 'A circular route can be followed by re-crossing the river at Lopwell Dam, returning to Bere Ferrers via a quiet country lane.

'Parts of the trail are accessible only at low tide. The river crossing should be attempted only at low tide, when the river is running low and not in spate.'

To date, the route has been ridden successfully by more than 40 riders. Walkers will need Wellington boots as the trail is muddy in places.

Local residents will be joined by Mayor of West Devon Christine Grills, and county councillor Gretta Madigan to officially re-open the trail on August 1.

Cllr Grills said: 'It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of a handful of local people that this trail is now available for the benefit of horse riders and carriage drivers in the area.

'Collaboration between the county council and parish council has been the key to the success of this project,.

'I hope that many people will now take great pleasure in exploring this wonderful area.'

Permission and advice were given by Devon County Council, English Nature, the Environment Agency, the British Horse Society and the British Driving Society. Help and support came from local residents and the parish council, together with additional funding and advice from the Tamar Valley Countryside Service.