title: Meldon, Devon
text: # Meldon, Devon
  
  Meldon is a hamlet in West Devon, on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, England. It is 4 km south-west of Okehampton. Its main features are the Meldon Quarry and Meldon Reservoir and the nearby Meldon Viaduct.
  
  ## Quarries
  
  Granite is still extracted from Meldon Quarry. The now disused Meldon Aplite Quarry has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its exposures of aplite and other rocks.
  
  The Dartmoor Railway terminates at Meldon Quarry; the former continuation of the line to Tavistock and Plymouth continues as a cycle path. The former railway line crosses the West Okement River on the Meldon Viaduct just before reaching the quarry from the west.
  
  ## Reservoir
  
  The reservoir was formed by damming the West Okement River. It is about 1.2 km long and 300 metres wide, and extends from the West Okement valley into a small side valley.
  
  ## Firing range
  
  Immediately to the south-east is the area of the Okehampton military firing range, which is sometimes closed to the public. At other times, a footpath along the west side of the reservoir can be used to access the open moor.
  
  ## Civil parish
  
  In 1850, the civil parish of Oakhampton, or Okehampton, consisted of 9,552 acres (38.66 $km^2)$ of land, which encompassed several villages including Meldon. The hamlet is now part of the civil parish of Okehampton Hamlets.
  
  