Intermediate walks 2022
Novembers Walk
Twelve walkers met at Bickleigh car park having driven through torrential rain, which had stopped by the time we were ready to start our walk and the weather remained dry for the rest of the walk.
Carefully crossing Bickleigh bridge we walked a short distance on the A3072 before turning left to follow the brown tourist sign towards Bickleigh Castle and the Exe Valley Way. Passing the castle we continued along the road and a steady, but continuous uphill climb.
Coming to a fork in the road we left the Exe Valley Way, beaing right to pass Lee Cross, where we avoided a green lane, due to excessive mud, and continued to walk on the road, eventually coming to another green lane, still going uphill, with wonderful views over the Exe Valley.
Coming to a tarmaced road we rejoined the Exe Valley Way and began to descend, passing Stone and Traymill Farm before rejoining the road that passed Bickleigh Castle and back to Bickleigh Mill.
This was a five and a half mile walk, slightly longer than our usual four to five miles, due to our wish to avoid the mud.
Six of us went into the cafe at Bickleigh Mill for drinks and starters, which were delicious and plenty as a light lunch.
Octobers Walk.
On Tuesday 4th October eleven people met in the Fernworthy Park car park at Copplestone for the Three Hamlets walk. The rain had stopped and thought overcast the weather remained dry and mild.
We walked away from Copplestone, turning towards Elston, along a lane offering glorious views towards Dartmoor, then past Elston Barton, a superb Devon longhouse with an unusual rear cobbled courtyard, passing a pond, taking the public footpath access a field to reach a thatched cottage by the 377.
After crossing the 377 with care, passing Stowford Cottage, a fine thatched longhouse, then to the tiny Hamlet of Knowle, another public footpath which bought us to The New Inn at Coleford, with a lovely aroma as they prepared for the lunchtime trade. We sat at the tables and benches in the garden to enjoy our own drinks and snacks when a young lady came out of the pub and chatted to us, she said she had unlocked the door so we could go in and use the facilities. How kind.
Then it was just one road back towards Copplestone through the well tended allotments and back over the 377 at the traffic lights. A total of 4 miles.
The next intermediate walk is on Tuesday the 1st of November, more details nearer the time.
Hope you can make it.
September walk
Tuesday 6th
Seven hardy walkers turned up in miserable weather for today's walk. The rain had just about stopped as we started our walk, though we did get a few sharp showers during our walk. Beginning at the car park at Crediton railway station, across the golf course, coming out on the road that leads to Hookway.
Instead of following the sign for Hookway we continued up the hill on the road that runs along side of the golf course, turning right to follow a public footpath back towards Hookway, taking another public footpath to the left and over three fields before a short distance on the road towards the 377 at Smallbrook.
At this point we retraced our steps, then went down a green lane into Hookway where two of our walkers decided to head to the golf course and back to the station car park. Just over 4 miles.
The remaining five of us turned out of Hookway, through Rudge farm, a few of us spotting the Peacocks, following the public footpath which led us onto the road down to Fordton Cross and down to the station car park. This was a total of five miles.
Augusts walk
Today's walk was taken from Country Walks in Newton St Cyres, a free leaflet which can be picked up just outside the village hall or at the entrance to the Arboretum. The leaflet suggests that the walk is 5.4 miles, but today's ten walkers felt it was considerably longer than that.
We met at the car park by Newton St Cyres recreation ground, walking over the railway bridge and away from the Beer Engine, along a public footpath skirting the edge of a field of golden corn with splashes of bright red poppies. Walking towards Shute, through Efford, passing Stumpy Cross, Pennicot, then to Shobrooke where we stopped at the Red Lion, for drinks, snacks and ice-cream.
Then it was back to walking through the beautiful countryside to Shobrooke Mill, and a long uphill climb towards the Beer Engine, Colin showed us a footpath which cut off some of the road and hill walking as well as being more picturesque.
The weather was warm and muggy, with spells of cool breeze which made for comfortable walking. Through golden fields, bypassing several apple orchards, along a narrow lane with overhanging trees, through tiny Hamlets, a nice walk.
Junes walk
And then there were six, to miss quote Agatha Christie
Nine walkers turned out in the rain meeting at the Higher Road end of the Millennium Path to walk through the plantation coming back on Higher Road and the Upper Deck where we stopped for a few minutes so people who were not familiar with the Upper Deck could have a look round.
At this point one of our walkers decided to turn back due to severe discomfort in her knee. The rest of the group continued along Higher Road, where we followed a public footpath through three fields, which included nettles, a very steep descent and stiles. By now the rain had stopped. Passing Coombe Lancey we came to the road between Aller Barton and the West Lodge at Creedy Park. It was here that another of our walkers left us due to an afternoon appointment while the rest of us followed another public footpath which took us through Rufford Barton Farm where upon reaching the road we turned right to head for Sandford.
Having reached Sandford another of our walkers decided to head for home while the remaining six of us sat outside the Lamb to have our drinks and snacks before making our way through the Millennium Green and up the path to the start of our walk, a distance of four miles.
Mays Walk
Fourteen of us met in Brampford Speke for today's walk, passing the Agricultural Inn, the village hall and following public footpaths through varied, but peaceful countryside. Our walk took us through Upton Pyne before making our way back to Bramford Speke. A total of 3 miles.
Six of us then walked through the churchyard to make our way down to the river and a circular walk of two and a half miles, heading back along the disused railway.
Seven of us ended our walk with drinks and snacks at the Agricultural Inn, where 3 of us had one of their most popular delights, Spam Fritters.
The next intermediate walk is on Tuesday 7th June. More details nearer the time.
I will also be leading the short walks, still on the 4th Wednesday of the month and I am taking the opportunity to create a new list of walkers, so please let me know if you would like to join the group. The next short walk will be on Wednesday 25th May, again, details nearer the time.
Aprils Walk
There were 8 of us at Steps Bridge for our walk on Tuesday 5th April. The weather was dry and just fine for walking. We ambled alongside the river Teign, the area awash with wild daffodils, which I'm pleased to say are still in bloom. There was also primroses, wood anemone, celandine, wild violets and just a hint of bluebells soon to emerge. Of course the usual birdsong and Jo saw a dipper.
We walked a total of 4 miles, and then stopped off at the Walled Garden Tea Room in Dunsford for a (substantial) light lunch and some of us even had room for cake.
The next intermediate walk will be on Tuesday 3rd May, details nearer the time. Hope to see lots of you then.
March Walk
Today's walk around Okehampton was taken from the book of Town Walks in Devon. Eleven walkers met at the Mill Road Car Park and started by passing the former Town Mill, a grade 2 listed structure, passing Fairplace Church and along Fairplace Terrace to St James Chapel, a grade 2 'ecumenical Chapel'. Then along Fore Street with the grand Town Hall on the corner, before turning into Market Street, up the hill to pass 2 Toll Houses.
We then took the 'Choirboy' s path' to All Saints' Church with it's enormous graveyard and a wonderful display of snowdrops, daffodils, vincta, crocus, celandine and some purple flowers that no one knew the name of. Spring is definitely on the way.
Soon we were crossing the West Okement River to pass the Museum of Dartmoor Life, not yet open to the public, though the Victorian Tea rooms which is in the Museum courtyard is open Tuesday to Saturday but was very busy so a decision was made to go to the cafe in Red Lion Yard for a warming drink and cake, scones or tea cakes.
Fully refreshed most of us walked up to the Castle, which opens to the public at the end of March, before heading back to the car park just as it began to rain.
The next walk will be on Tuesday 5th April, information nearer the time.
Last walk Jan 4Th
Hello everyone, there were 14 people prepared to walk on a miserable Tuesday morning of the 4th of January. By the time we started walking the rain had stopped and the weather turned out to be perfect for walking.
We walked away from St Saviors car park to St Lawrence Green, turning left onto the road to Yeoford, then right to pass through Landscore and on to Cromwells Cutting. After a short distance, at Pitt farm, we turned left to follow a public footpath across the 'conservation area' with a few muddy patches and beautiful views.
At Moorlake Bridge we turned left to walk on the road for about half a mile where 4 of the group continued along the road towards St Lawrence Green, a total of 3 miles. The remaining ten of turned off the road to follow a public footpath to Follymoor, then onto a bridleway where we encountered mud and more lovely views. After passing Denbury Farm, Beare Mill Farm and Beare Farm we reached the road that runs from Salmonhutch and Westernlea. Heather was brave enough to take the public footpath up to Yeoland, and more mud, while the rest of us took the roadway back to the start of the walk, 4 miles.
Hope to see you soon.
Happy New Year. Ann
Hope to see you then.
Previous walks
November 2nd walk.
November 2nd was a sunny morning as 4 intrepid walkers set off from Copplestone car park after studying the large local map. The first 3/4 of a mile was uphill with picturesque thatched cottages on the left hand side and a view of the church at Morchard Bishop.
We then turned right along a lane affording superb views of the countryside, 1/4 of a mile later we turned left at an enormous cob - walled barn, and then passed a wonderful 16th century Devon longhouse. After a further mile we turned right onto a footpath passing poultry houses, and then crossed a field to reach a thatched cottage by the A377.
Having safely negotiated the main road, we took the narrow lane to Knowle. Just beyond the church we we followed a signed track, passing Knowle farm where we had coffee.
The remaining one and a half miles were along muddy footpaths through woods and under a railway arch which led eventually to a narrow lane. We walked through Coleford, past The New Inn before the last mile slog up the hill towards Copplestone.
Just before the top of the hill we turned right past the allotments, crossing the main road and returning to the car park. The very pleasant walk ended at 12.15.
Inaugural First Walk
Nine of us met today, Tuesday 5th October, for our first Intermediate walk. We met at the recreation ground car park, Newton St Cyres, walked along the road for a short distance, then followed a very muddy public footpath alongside the river Creedy.
The footpath veers away from the river, over the railway line to join the road at Langford. At this point we had a choice of taking the road back towards the recreation ground or adding a mile to our walk. We opted for the extra mile, over more muddy ground, towards the church at Shute, before bending back to join the Upton Pyne to Shute road.
Another footpath, stream and field before we reached the road at Winscott Cross, following the road back to Newton St Cyres. A total of 5 miles.