Short walks in 2022
Julys Walk
There were 9 of us for today's walk, meeting at the car park at Sandford Parrish Hall in ideal walking weather. Passing the primary school which resembles a Greek Temple, walking up the hill on Kenerleigh Road, right down a green lane, crossing a number of fields and admiring the view across the valley towards the small Parrish of Upton Hellions.
On reaching the road at Northlakes we were soon walking another grassy lane, crossing the river Creedy using the bridge known locally as Shakey Bridge, following another narrow lane until we emerged on the road, passing Hellions Mill with its beautiful garden, now a privately owned residence.
On the road for a short distance before taking another public footpath to Upton Hellions Church, where we took a short break to admire the Church.
Exiting the church to walk down another narrow lane, then onto the road, passing the Old Rectory, Hellions House and Lower Creedy Farm.
Walking down the hill on the road for a short distance, following a public footpath, exiting on to the Rose and Crown Hill, ending up in the village square where we enjoyed drinks and snacks at the Lamb before returning to our cars.
The next short walk is on the 24th of August. Details nearer the time.
Junes Walk
Crediton strollers, short walk on Wed 22nd June. Putting Greens and Peacocks.
Ten walkers met at the Crediton railway station car park on a beautiful sunny day. We walked away from the car park, across the golf course towards Hookway.
Here we had the choice to continue up quite a steep hill or take the easier route through the quaint hamlet of Hookway. Three walkers took the easier route while the rest of us continued up the hill, turning right to follow the public footpath and admire the beautiful countryside, before dropping back down into Hookway.
Soon the group met up to continue up another hill, along the edge of a field with lambs, then another field with curious cows who came really close to have a good look at us. Next it was through Rudge Farm, and yes, there were Peacocks, but you needed to look through a gap in the shed wall to see them.
Then on to the road and down to Fordton Cross and back to the car park, a total of 3.3 Miles.
Mays Walk
Hello everyone, twelve walkers met today at Crediton station car park to do the Redvers Ramble. The weather was cloudy but fortunately the rain held off.
We started the steady uphill climb from Four Mills Lane, along public footpaths, which then took us behind Barnfield to emerge onto the road by the Queen Elizabeth Lower school. Then along the track, past Yeoland House, turning left to walk the perimeter of two fields before going down the very steep Heartbreak Hill.
After crossing the railway line at Salmonhutch we turned left, walking alongside the river Yeo, again crossing the railway line, then making our way back to the start of the walk where we went to the Station Tea Room for hot chocolate, tea, coffee and cake.
March Walk " Straight to the Pub!"
Brilliant sunshine, blue skies and birdsong greeted 11 members of Crediton u3a walkers on 23rd March 2022. Heather Sansom led, using public transport to Quicke's Farm, through the private path to Daffodil Valley and into the Arboretum which leads eventually to the Church of St. Cyr and St. Juletta, and on further to the Beer Engine. Quicke's farm has been in the family since C16 and Mary was awarded an MBE for Services to Farming in 2005, and exports cheeses with numerous prestigious awards around the world.
The Arboretum could be described as a "mini Lost Garden of Heligan" i.e. fallen trees remaining in situ, leaning ones supported by timbers, twisted trunks which had of necessity forced their way to the light before clearance began 40 years ago. We sat in the Outlook Shelter to take in panoramic views of our beautiful rolling countryside. The shelter had been struck by an arm wrenched from a nearby tree during Storm Eunace. We discussed the barks, smells and uses of yews, cedars, redwoods etc. brought here from all around the world over the centuries. For 20 years it has been managed by volunteers and open to the public. An ancient conifer stump has been fashioned into a throne with a very high step. More easily accessible would have been the three matching seats cut recently from a fallen conifer if we had the time!
By the south wall of the C13 Church we paused to view a poignant memorial plaque to an artist whose various types and sizes of paint brushes had been used to form a cross. Inside we viewed the remains of a fresco, the barrel ceiling and bosses.
Having glanced at the single hand Church clock and decided to learn to read it, we proceeded between banks with a profusion of spring flowers glistening in the sunshine and red admiral butterflies escorted us to the Beer Engine where we picnicked under the budding wysteria. The pub sign is always good for a laugh!! After a total of two miles we returned by the planned bus at 1300 hrs to Crediton.
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Feb walk
Tin Pit Hill in Newton St. Cyres was undiscovered by any of the nine walkers although it is only ten minutes from the Boniface Centre by bus. It is a No-Through Road for almost a mile climbing gently southwards to woodlands. We enjoyed extensive views across the red rolling farmland to a distant misty Sidmouth Gap, the Lonesome Pine and our Crediton in all its glory.
We always walk at the pace of the slowest and so we stopped a couple of times uphill for others to catch up and give them time to rest for a moment before we all take off again. It was the slowest who led the way on the downhill return leg, they had found another gear! We walked through tree debris caused by the trail of destruction from storms Dudley and Eunice. A sprig of yew, not a protected species in this woodland, and a single daffodil were taken but the writer doesn't know by whom!
Ad lib entertainment was provided by a jolly guy who was geocaching (a sort of modern form of letterboxing.) He had located by using his App and code reader a cache behind a roadside grit bin. He drives his NHS worker wife to hospitals around the West Country from Treliske to Plymouoth to Bristol and more. While she works, he geocaches making use of a cycle carried in the car, electric of course.
After the photoshoot at Shuttern Brook, three were spirited away in a shiny red car. The fate of the others who visited the Belluno is to date unknown!
First walk
January 26th
Covering less than two miles at a slow pace and only on roads with ample resting places, there was lots of time for chatter. The wearing of a hi-viz as back marker was shared. Nine members walked on a misty morning round Jockey Hill, Stonewall Lane, Old Tiverton Road and Beech Park. Some flowers were still blooming out of season and the ivy had an abundance of berries for the birds.
The Cemetery was suggested as an extension to the walk and a hasty vote showed a majority choosing to go in. It was a poignant time for our walkers who had a loved-one resting there and the group walked further along the path until each was ready to leave the gravesides. One member had several family graves, one had two and one had just one. It was incredible to discover that twenty years have passed since a youngster who died in a farm accident was buried with a simple Tree of Life on the headstone. One person had attended a funeral in Lockdown and the mourners had stood outside socially distanced throughout the service. Several walkers agreed it is a pleasant place to just sit and admire the extensive views.
Bracken, blooms and berries had been collected on the recci and a few more picked on our way round the walk. Along Stonewall Lane the group's regular flora expert Anna showed us a young pale leaf of the Pennywort, locally known as the Belly Button Brush.