5 Half Day Walks in Exmoor • • • • •
5 Easy-to-follow Circular Self-Guided Walks From 3.5 to 6 miles long Includes Directions to the Start Points Simple Map showing Route Part of a Series of Booklets
Devised and Written by Bryan Cath www.combewalks.com Coordinator of the North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk
Introduction Welcome to a selection of circular walks that will show you some of the beautiful scenery around Exmoor. The walks in this booklet are shorter walks perfect for a half days walking, or a walk to take time over with a picnic and camera. I have been showing people around North Devon and Exmoor since 1987 when I provided walking and cycling holidays. I then started the walking festival in 2000 which I have devised and run ever since. We are blessed with an excellent rights of way network which is well maintained so I can be fairly confident that the walks described will be passable at all times. I have written the walks so you can follow them just from the text. But for those who can map-read I have included the OS grid references. These can also be useful if you want to try and learn to map-read, by following the route and using these references on the map as you walk. It is always sensible to have a map with you as it can help answer questions on what surrounds you as you walk along. It is quite common for stiles to be replaced by bridle or kissing gates and this might have happened since I wrote the text. So don’t be worried if I say cross a stile and you find a bridle gate. I give extra information which should together ensure you are still on the right path. Most of the walks here have been included in the walking festivals at some time. I hope you enjoy walking them. Happy walking! Bryan Cath How to use the OS grid references in this booklet: The SS pins the reference to this area. You can ignore it assuming you have bought the 1:25,000 map for this area, OL9 for Exmoor. The first 3 numbers refer to the numbers along the top (or bottom) of the map. Taking the first walks first reference, 919, go along the top (or bottom) to 91 and then divide the square to 92 into imagined tenths, going across by 9/10th. The next 3 numbers 467 refer to the numbers down the left (or right) hand side of the map. Go up the map to 46 and again divide 46 - 47 into tenths, going over by 7/10ths. Then join the two imaginary lines and where they cross is the grid reference location. Copyright Š Bryan Cath, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright holder and Publisher. www.combewalks.com
Cover picture: Valley of Rocks, near Lynton 1
Content Page Walk Name
Distance
3
Selworthy via Bossington
5.1 miles
7
Woody Bay via Hunter’s Inn
5.3 miles
11
Tarr Steps via Winsford Hill
5.3 miles
15
County Gate via Oare
5.8 miles
19
Lynton via Sixacre
5.9 miles
This Booklet is part of a series: • • • • • • • • • •
5 Half Day Walks from Ilfracombe 5 Half Day Walks in North Devon 5 Full Day Walks in North Devon 5 Half Day Walks in Exmoor 5 Full Day Walks in Exmoor 6 Car-free ‘Ride and Walk’ Walks in Exmoor 7 Cycle Rides in North Devon & The Exmoor Challenge 7 Cycle Rides in North and Mid Devon 16 Best Picnic Spots in North Devon 16 Best Picnic Spots in Exmoor and the Quantocks
The half day walks are from about 3.5 to 6.5 miles. The full day walks are from about 7 miles to 10 miles, taking into account the hilliness of the area. The cycle rides are based on the Tarka Trail and interlink, giving a wide range of distances available. The Exmoor Challenge is a mountain bike ride. The Picnic Spots are all accessible by car and mostly have walks close by. 2
Selworthy via Bossington Fact File: Highlights: Ackland Memorial Hut, Bossington village, Exmoor Falconry and Animal Farm (off route), Allerford (NT), Rural Life Museum, pack horse bridge, Mitcham Seat (unusual shelter), Selworthy Green (NT) Start Grid ref: SS 919 467 Distance: 5.2 miles, circular Height gained/lost: 394 metres, moderate becoming easy, one steep descent High Point: 281 metres Low Point: 15 metres Toilets: Bossington car park; Allerford car park; below Selworthy Green Eating places: tea rooms at Bossington; tea rooms at Allerford Post Office; tea rooms at Selworthy Green Time required: 3 hours, plus stops Mileages shown are cumulative Hurlstone Point
Roads
ge
Hurlston
R
id
5
omb
e
Route
Track
e
gl
Rivers
eC
P
o orl
ck
S
n hi
Woodland Bossington Hill
6 T
Bossington
4
8/9
Hawk & Owl Centre
Selworthy Beacon
3
2
10
T
Allerford 11
Porlock A3
Viewpoint
Church Food
7
12
13
9 A3
9
3
1 Selworthy
T 14
T
Toilets
Telephone
Route Description: This delightful walk includes some wonderful coastal scenery as it takes in 1.7 miles of the South West Coast Path. It visits some most picturesque National Trust villages giving various opportunities to enjoy some local refreshments along the way. There is also the opportunity to visit the Exmoor Falconry and Animal Selworthy Green Farm just yards from the route. There is a reasonable climb near the beginning and a steep descent on the Coast Path but the walking is fairly easy going otherwise.
Directions to the start: Selworthy lies just off the A39 between Porlock and Minehead. The road is well signposted off the main road. Follow it up the hill and park opposite the church in the National Trust car park.
Route directions: 1, SS919 467: Turn left out of the car park to pass in front of the church. Turn right by the Memorial signposted to Selworthy Beacon and Bury Castle to pass through the gate. Go ahead level ignoring the path down to the left. 2, SS919 472, 0.3 miles: Soon take the next path off to the left over the stream. At the top of the woods ignore the path off to Bury Castle and go ahead to the small road. Over to your left is the Acland Memorial Hut. Bear left/ahead on to this road and shortly ignore the path on the left to Allerford. 3, SS913 476, 0.9 miles: At the turning area/layby now on the right take the path out of the back of it and follow it across the Beacon. Good views open up over Porlock Vale. Ignore the track that comes in from the left. 4, SS911 482, 1.2 miles: On reaching the next track you join
Bossington village
4
the South West Coast Path, bearing left on to it. Ignore the track off left to Lynch, bearing right to keep on the Coast Path, keeping to the wide path. At the next fork bear left signposted to Coast Path and Bossington. On reaching the deep combe ahead ignore the path off to the left to Lynch Combe, instead going ahead down the steep combe on the Coast Path towards Porlock. Near the bottom of this combe go ahead at the crossover of paths signposted Coast Path and Bossington.
Porlock Vale
5, SS898 489, 2.2 miles: At the bottom turn left on the Coast Path towards Bossington. As you enter the woods, pass through the gate. 6, SS897 479, 2.8 miles: Soon you reach a stream which you follow to cross the bridge over it into Bossington for refreshments and toilets. 7, SS898 480, 2.9 miles: Return over the bridge and turn right signposted to Lynch and Selworthy. Shortly bear right through the kissing gate. Soon go up the steps to the next kissing gate and up the field ahead to the gate on the right. Go through this signed to Selworthy and follow the right-hand edge of the field to the next gate. 8, SS901 478, 3.2 miles: Ignore the path on the left to Selworthy Beacon and at the fork bear right to visit the Exmoor Falconry and Animal Farm continuing down to the road and bearing right to the farm, returning to this point afterwards. 9, SS901 477, 3.5 miles: If you do not want to visit the farm then bear left to continue to Allerford and Selworthy. Follow this lovely path through the edge of the woods and at the next oblique cross-over of paths bear right down towards Allerford. At the next fork bear right again on the lower path to drop down to follow along by a stream. At the bridge over the stream, cross it and pass through the bridle gate. Go past the cottages and on to the road. 10, SS903 470, 4.0 miles: Turn left along the road. You will pass the Post Office that does cream teas. The Rural Life Museum is opposite with toilets in the small car park just along on the right. 11, SS905 469, 4.1 miles: You now reach the beautiful Allerford pack horse bridge, much photographed. Cross over it and follow the road ahead up the hill and round to the right. 5
12, SS907 468, 4.3 miles: When this road goes right down a hill, go ahead level along the hedged track ahead. After a short way you reach a wood. Very soon the path splits. 13, SS910 467, 4.5 miles: If you want a beautiful spot for a picnic then bear left and left again through the gate and very shortly you come to a thatched shelter Allerford pack-horse bridge called Mitcham Seat with amazing views over the surrounding countryside. If you visit here, return to this junction of paths. If not, continue up ahead ignoring all paths off and shortly again ignore path off left to Selworthy Beacon. 14, SS917 466, 5.0 miles: On reaching the farm buildings, continue ahead and turn left up the road. 15, SS918 467, 5.0 miles: Shortly toilets are on the left. Go through the bridle gate just the other side and this takes you into Selworthy Green (NT) where you can get refreshments and enjoy the beautiful thatched cottages. 16, SS919 467, 5.1 miles: Leave by the top cottage and this brings you out by the church and car park. Notes: This walk passes through part of the Acland Estate of Holnicote (pronounced ‘Hunnicut’). They were one of the largest landowners in the west country, having seats at both Killerton and Holnicote. The woodlands you pass through at the beginning of this walk were planted by Sir Thomas Acland between 1815 and 1834. On the birth of each of his eight children, a new section of woodland was planted. The memorial hut commemorates Sir Thomas Acland, who walked here with his children and grandchildren for over 50 years and the Cross is dedicated to the 11th Baronet. Selworthy Beacon is the highest point on this section of coast at 308 metres. Selworthy Green was redesigned by Sir Thomas Acland in the 1820s for retired workers from the estate. You can see the bread ovens bulge on some of the cottage walls. The building at Hurlstone Point was a coastguard lookout post. 6
Woody Bay via Hunter’s Inn Fact File: Highlights: South West Coast Path, high waterfall, Heddon valley, restored lime kiln, Hunter’s Inn, old coaching road Start Grid ref: SS 674 486 Distance: 5.3 miles, circular Height gained/lost: 474 metres, moderate becoming easy, one steep descent High Point: 219 metres Low Point: 50 metres Toilets: Toilet block beside the National Trust shop. Eating places: Hunter’s Inn; National Trust shop sells ice creams, next to Hunter’s Inn. Time required: 3 hours, plus stops Mileages shown are cumulative
Highveer Point Heddon’s Mouth
Wringapeak
Heddon River
Roman Fortlet
Hi
ll B
Waterfall
ro
ok
low Hol
4
3
2
Bro
Woody Bay
ok
5
Martinhoe
6 Hunter’s Inn
T
7
1
Roads
Viewpoint
Rivers
Church
Route
Food
Track
T
Toilets
Woodland
Telephone
Description: This walk takes you along some most spectacular coastal scenery. If you suffer from vertigo, maybe you should give this walk a miss, but otherwise it is very much worth going for the views. It takes you down into the grand Heddon Valley and on to Hunter’s Inn, with its beautiful peacocks and gardens, then continuing on the high road back to Woody Bay.
Directions To The Start: Leave Ilfracombe towards Combe Martin on the A399, continuing through Combe Martin and on the other side to the junction called Blackmoor Gate where you turn left onto the A39 towards Lynmouth. Pass Parracombe village on the left and after old Woody Bay Station take the turning on the left signposted to Woody Bay. Keep on this road until reaching the coast. Turn hard right signposted to Woody Bay and follow this road round the next two sharp bends. Now a car park will come up on the right beside the road. Park at the far end of this lay-by. From the Lynton direction, follow signs to Ilfracombe and Barnstaple. These will bring you to Barbrook where you turn right by the petrol station on to the A39. Follow this road up the hill and past the next turning on the right to Caffyns. After about a mile, turn right at the small staggered crossroads, signposted to Woody Bay. Keep on this road until reaching the coast. Turn hard right signposted to Woody Bay and follow this road round the next two sharp bends. Now a car park will come up on the right beside the road. Park at the far end of this lay-by.
Route Directions: 1, SS674 486: Having visited the National Trust information board on the area, go down the hill to the small road that goes hard back on the left down through the woods signposted to Martinhoe Manor. Follow this down through the woods, past Wringapeak House to the hairpin bend 2, SS672 489, 0.4 miles: Carry on straight ahead through the bridle gate, signposted Coast path to Hunters Inn. Continue up through the woods, with views on your right (leaves permitting) of Lee Abbey and the Valley of Rocks, with Foreland Point lighthouse flashing in the distance. Carry on and over the stile, now being wary of the drop 8
Hollow Brook waterfall
on your right! Soon you come to a high waterfall in a lovely valley. 3, SS666 494, 1.1 miles: Carry on out to the point and a pause to look at the rock arch and surrounding scenery is most rewarding. Carry on up between the heather, around the next rocky point to more spectacular cliff scenery. Carry on around the next two rocky points and down into the Heddon Valley. You can see the Heddon Mouth beach and lime kiln below you as you descend.
Heddon Water
4, SS654 490, 2.1 miles: When the path reaches the Heddon Valley path, bear left on to it. If you would like to visit the Heddon’s Mouth beach and the restored lime kiln then turn hard right and follow the path to the coast, returning the same way. Now follow this path upstream ignoring the bridge over on the coast path. 5, SS654 487, 2.3 miles: Continue ahead still with the river on your right and the path soon starts to gain height. On reaching the track go ahead to visit Hunter’s Inn for refreshment before the return walk. 6, SS655 481, 2.7 miles: On leaving Hunter’s Inn return back to this track, ignoring the steep road going up to your right. Go straight ahead and follow the sign to Woody Bay 2.75 miles, on the wider track ahead. This climbs to bring you above Heddon’s Mouth and the path you took at the start of this walk. Follow this track all the way to Woody Bay and when you reach the gate by the hairpin bend, follow the road down to the car park where you left your car. Hunter’s Inn
9
Notes: Lime kilns were used in the 1800’s to burn limestone brought across the Bristol Channel from Wales, so producing lime to sweeten the local acid soil. The gorse bushes were cut and used to start the fire, as gorse burns very easily and at a very high temperature, getting the oak burning. The sessile oak trees that clothe many of the combes in this area, where grown to fuel the kilns, as they produced excellent steadily burning charcoal and were tolerant of the lighter, more acid, less fertile soil of this area. Sessile means stalkless, referring to its acorns, unlike the Pedunculate Oak, otherwise known as the English Oak, which sprouts its acorns from stalks. The waterfall at Hollow Brook is the highest waterfall on the South West Coast Path and also has the highest single drop in England of about 200 feet. This drop is not the one you see, but one to the seaward side of you. Being only a small stream, the volume of water is only impressive after prolonged rainfall, sometimes making crossing the footpath at this upper fall quite fun. Just before reaching the Heddon Valley, at the top of the inland hill is an Roman Hillfort. This earthworks was built for a Roman garrison to watch across the Bristol Channel to Wales. In Wales was a barbaric tribe called the Silures who gave fierce resistance to the Romans in about AD48 with the assistance of Caractacus. Caractacus had been defeated in the south of England and there is a memorial stone to him on Winsford Hill on Exmoor. This Hillfort was never called into action. It must have been a bleak outpost with little to keep the men occupied. Below you as you walk this section of the Exmoor coastline, are numerous caves, some as large as cathedrals. Rock climbers who enjoy coasteering along this rocky and treacherous coastline are among the few who have ventured inside these caves. These caves and the small inlets, together with the lack of visibility for the coastguards using this coast path, made this section of coast ideal for smuggling.
10
Tarr Steps via Winsford Hill Fact File:
Highlights: Tarr Steps, Caractacus Stone, Exmoor ponies, Winsford Hill moorland, ancient farmsteads Start Grid ref: SS 868 321 Parking: Tarr Steps car park Distance: 5.3 miles, circular Height gained/lost: 218 metres. This walk starts with a steady climb for the first mile, then becoming easy walking. High point: 376 metres Low point: 220 metres Toilets: At Tarr Steps car park and near Tarr Steps (portaloo) Eating places: Tarr Farm, next to Tarr Steps Time required: 2.5 hours, plus stops Public transport: The 401 service runs from Bampton to Lynmouth from the end of July to the end of September, with a stop at Tarr Steps car park. For more information go to www.traveline.org.uk.
Woodland
Roads Rivers

Route Track
8
Knaplock
Church
Winsford Hill
Food
T
Toilets
to Winsford
to Exford
7
B3
22
3
Spire Cross
6 Caractacus Stone
5
Cattle Grid Cattle Grid
Higher Knaplock
4 9 Liscombe
Riv
10
B er
e arl Tarr Steps
Car
T Park Cattle Grid
T
1
Varle Hill
2
Cattle Grid
Mounsey Hill Gate
3 Cattle Grid
B3
22
3 to Dulverton
11
Description:
This walk starts from the Tarr Steps car park, above Tarr Steps as the car park by the river is very small. Having visited Tarr Steps the walk then climbs out of the valley to Winsford Hill to eventually reach the Caractacus Stone, a standing stone in a shelter built in 1906. The walk continues with wide views before losing height again passing an old farmstead before dropping quickly back to Tarr Steps.
Directions to the Start:
Go to the B3223 road between Exford and Dulverton. There are two roads you can take, both leading to Liscombe where you continue downhill to reach a large car park on the left with toilets. Park here and then follow the path at the lower exit to the car park which goes down a field beside the road to Tarr Steps.
Route Directions:
1, SS868 321: With Tarr Farm up to your left and Tarr Steps behind you, go through the small car park on the right to cross the footbridge to follow the path ahead with the river on your right. Shortly ignore the kissing gate on the left and gate ahead turning up left up a sunken lane signed to Varle Hill. Soon pass through a bridle gate and now ignore the path on your right to Dulverton, instead bearing round to the left. Keep on this footpath as it steadily climbs out of the trees to open moorland. 2, SS881 317, 0.9 miles: The path soon levels to reach a gate in a treelined Devon bank. Pass through the gate and follow the level track ahead until reaching a small road and cattle grid. Follow alongside this road ahead soon reaching the main road (B3223). 3, SS891 321, 1.6 miles: Cross straight over to follow the path between gorse to reach a beech tree-lined Devon bank ahead, bearing left to follow the path with the bank over to the right. Pass by the low canopied trees to come into more open moor again, keeping the now layered beechtopped bank still over to your right. At a gate over in a right-hand corner the wall suddenly comes left towards the path you are walking. 4, SS897 330, 2.3 miles: Follow it around to the apex and on to a track ahead, ignoring it to the left. It loses height slightly and shortly bears right. On this corner take the path to the left which then follows alongside another anTarr Steps 12
cient Devon bank signed to Spire Cross. A little way along ignore the bridle gate in the bank on the right. Still keeping ahead beside the bank ignore the next bridle gate in it. 5, SS889 334, 2.9 miles: Soon the path enters a lot of gorse and suddenly a standing stone in a stone shelter appears. This is the Caractacus Stone. From here continue in the same direction as Winsford Hill before passing more stunted beech trees to reach a gate in the bank on the right and a track across to it. Turn left along this track to a road. Turn left along it to reach a cross-roads at Spire Cross. 6, SS888 335, 3.2 miles: Carefully cross straight over towards Knaplock. Keep beside this road until it bears left over a cattle grid. Leave the road here to follow the track ahead beside another hedged bank on your left. 7, SS880 333, 3.7 miles: Soon pass by the cattle grid and keep on the now tree-lined track which opens out again shortly. After a while ignore the bridleway on the right to Winsford Hill, continuing along the track as it drops to Higher Knaplock. 8, SS869 331, 4.5 miles: At the farm follow the track round to the right to the next farm where you keep ahead, ignoring tracks to the right. Pass by the tin barn, through a gate/stile ahead and almost immediately turn left through a gap signed ‘Alternative Path’. Go straight down this field to a footbridge over a stream and straight ahead up the next field to a gate in the corner and up to the next gate ahead. 9, SS867 328, 4.8 miles: Now still keep the hedged bank on your left to the next gate ahead in a corner with a tree trunk across it to duck under. From this gate bear slightly Caractacus Stone right across the field to a gate ahead and then straight down the next field between fenced-off areas to a gap in the bank ahead. 10, SS869 324, 5.1 miles: Now follow the track bearing slightly right diagonally downhill across the field to reach the road by Tarr Farm. Follow the road back down to the river and the start of the walk. 13
Notes: Tarr Steps is an ancient clapper bridge. Its age is unknown but thought to date back to 1000-1400AD. The stones are said to weigh between 1 and 2 tons each with 17 spans covering 50 metres. A ford runs alongside the clapper bridge. Just upstream from the bridge you will see cables stretched across the river. These are to catch debris such as fallen branches and trees from hitting the clapper bridge. The bridge has been damaged by flood water on several ocassions where the stones have been washed downstream some 50 metres or so. It is a Grade I listed building, although the river does not always appreciate that! The Caractacus Stone, sometimes spelt Caratacus is one of many standing stones on Exmoor. It is not certain whether this is a Neolithic stone or more recent 5th Century standing stone. Its Latin inscription commemorates a Celtic Chieftain who bravely fought against the Romans. Winsford Hill is the home to many Exmoor ponies, so you will have a good chance of seeing them as you walk across this moorland. They are a very hardy breed, living on the moor throughout the year. They are herded once a year in autumn for a vetinary check-up to ensure they are still healthy enough to stay on the moor. They are an endangered species with less than about 3000 worldwide.
14
County Gate via Oare church Fact File: Highlights: Lorna Doone Country, Malmsmead, Oare church, Glenthorne Pinetum, buzzards Start Grid ref: SS 793 486 Distance: 5.5 miles, circular Height gained/lost: 479 metres. Starts easy becoming moderate to strenuous. High Point: 384 metres Low Point: 139 metres Toilets: County Gate car park, Malmsmead (off route), Cloud Farm. Eating places: Malmsmead (off route), Cloud Farm Time required: 3 hours plus stops Public transport: 300. For more information go to www.traveline.org.uk. Mileages shown are cumulative
18
19
17
16 15
20
Yenworthy Farm
tL yn
Riv
er
T 1
County Gate
Broomstreet Farm
14
Ea s
13 2
T
12
3
Malmsmead
Oa
re
W at
8
worth
Badg
er
5
6
9
Oare
ter
y Wa
7
mbe
Deddy Co
Cloud Farm
10
11 Roads
Viewpoint
Rivers
Church
Route
4 T
15
Food
Track
T
Toilets
Woodland
Telephone
Route description: This walk gives you a taster of Lorna Doone Country as it passes along the Badgeworthy Water, visits Cloud Farm and Oare church where Carver shot Lorna at her wedding to Jan Ridd in the novel by RD Blackmore. The walk then regains height to then drop down to the South West Coast Path. It soon passes through the Glenthorne Pinetum with some splendid specimen trees before gathering height again back to County Gate.
Directions to the start: County Gate is on the boundary between Somerset and Devon. It is between Lynmouth and Porlock on the A39, high on the cliffs overlooking the Bristol Channel to the north and Lorna Doone Country to the south. There is an Exmoor National Park Visitor Centre and toilets in the car park there.
Route directions: 1, SS793 486: Go to the entrance to the car park and go through the gate on your right signposted to Malmsmead and Doone Valley. Follow the wire fence on your left ahead to soon drop down into the valley. 2, SS795 479, 0.5 miles: At the bottom ignore the gate on the left and continue ahead to the river, bearing right to cross the bridge signed to Malmsmead. Pass through the gate and by the farmhouse to reach the road. 3, SS794 477, 0.6 miles: Turn right on to the road and shortly turn left along road to Doone Valley and Cloud Farm, passing through the kissing gate or gate beside the cattle grid. Continue along the fairly level farm track and as you near the farm pass through the first gate (possibly open) and then through the gate by the cattle grid to reach Cloud Farm ahead. An ideal chance for a refreshment stop here before continuing. 4, SS794 467, 1.4 miles: With the farm buildings ahead of you, go up left through the barn to a gate, signposted to Oare church. Pass through the gate and follow the track ahead up the side of the hill. Pass through the next gate on the way up. 5, SS797 470, 1.7 miles: At the top pass through the remains of a
View from County Gate
16
sheep penning area and the gate ahead. Continue along by the fenced hedge on your left. Go to the far end of this field and ignore the gate in the left hand corner, bearing right to the next gate on the left. Follow the track down by the wire fence soon bearing left signed to Oare along the track. When the track bears right, go straight ahead down to the gate. 6, SS800 469, 1.9 miles: Now follow this field straight down by Oare church its left hand boundary. At the bottom of this field bear right over to the gate and continue ahead down this field to the far left hand corner. Pass through the gate and turn left on to the road. 7, SS802 473, 2.2 miles: Visit the lovely Oare church and then turn right at the junction down the road to cross the bridge. 8, SS801 474, 2.3 miles: Just the other side of the bridge turn right through the gate signposted Public Footpath, to go along beside the river. Cross the little stream and now take the path off left signposted to North Common and Yenworthy Common and then immediately‌ 9, SS803 474, 2.4 miles: take the footpath up to the right signed to North Common. Follow this ridge path as it climbs above the valleys, taking it in stages. Near the top the path divides, one going off and up to the right, the other narrower path going ahead. The official right of way goes up to the right to then follow a fenced and hedged Devon bank. The unofficial route goes ahead and climbs more progressively overlooking the valley on your left. Whichever way you choose, they both meet up further ahead. Once the paths have rejoined, continue ahead now climbing gently towards the head of this valley. 10, SS810 474, 2.9 miles: On reaching the fence across the valley, cross the stile by the gate, then bearing back to the fenced wall on the right. Shortly the path divides, take the one ahead left, slightly away from the wall towards the right hand corner of the fir trees ahead. 11, SS813 474, 3.1 miles: On reaching that corner, ignore the stile in the fence and turn left signed to Yenworthy Common. At this corner you will find the most perfectly positioned seat provided by the Exmoor Society with a stunning view over the countryside in which you have just been walking. Having turned left follow the track around the head of the valley 17
to reach a gate and on to the road. 12, SS811 477, 3.4 miles: At the road go ahead for a few yards to a small layby. Be very careful here as there is no verge to walk on, so listen and watch for vehicles. From the small layby, cross straight over the road to the bridle gate by a gate and now go straight ahead away from the road and gate signed to Broomstreet Farm, initially keeping parallel to the fence on your right and then slowly getting closer to it to drop down to a bridle gate in the right hand corner. 13, SS810 482, 3.7 miles: Go through it towards Broomstreet Farm going straight ahead down this field. Soon you meet the coast path at a gate on your right. 14, SS810 483, 3.8 miles: Continue ahead down this field signposted Coast Path and Lynmouth. At the bottom go through the gap by the signpost for the coast path and continue down into a small valley to cross a stream. 15, SS810 486, 4.0 miles: The path now levels and passes through a bridle gate. Continue ahead to pass through the next bridle gate and on through the edge of woodland to come out on to the coast. 16, SS807 491, 4.4 miles: At the next signpost at Guildhall Corner, ignore the path off to the left to Sugarloaf, instead bearing down to the right on the coast path to pass through lovely mixed woodland. 17, SS806 492, 4.5 miles: At the bottom of the steps turn left to stay on the coast path towards County Gate and Lynmouth. At the next bridle gate ignore the path back to Sugarloaf, instead bearing right on the coast path to Glenthorne, going down into the next combe to cross the stream and go through the bridle gate. 18, SS802 492, 4.9 miles: You are now in Glenthorne Pinetum. (The path on the right drops down to the sea and you would need to return to this point). Continue ahead signposted coast path and County Gate. 19, SS799 491, 5.1 miles: At the next brow of the hill leave the coast path behind, turning left towards County Gate. Regain height through the woods, passing through the gate as you come into the open. Continue up beside the combe‌ 20, SS795 485, 5.6 miles: and at the top bear right to County Gate, carefully crossing the road to the car park.
18
Lynton via Sixacre Fact file: Highlights: East Titchberry Farm (NT), Hartland Point lighthouse, Smoothlands, South West Coast Path Start Grid ref: SS 720 494 Distance: 5.9 miles, circular Height gained/lost: 495 metres, moderate to strenuous Highest Point: 313 metres Lowest Point: 67 metres Toilets: Lynton main car park, by the picnic car park in the Valley of Rocks Eating Places: Various in Lynton and Valley of Rocks Time required: 3hours, plus stops Mileages shown are cumulative
11 T 10 9
12
Lynton
3
Lee Abbey
5
1
Lynmouth
T
8
4
4
23
B3
6
y
ailwa
Cliff R
er
2
Valley of Rocks
Riv
tL yn
Lee Bay
Castle Rock
We s
Wringcliff Bay
Sixacre Farm Dean Farm
7
Lynbridge
Roads
Viewpoint
Rivers
Church
Route A39
19
Food
Track
T
Toilets
Woodland
Telephone
Description: A short circular walk from Lynton, taking in a small section of the coast path, the Valley of Rocks, a lovely path through an old farmstead, returning through attractive woodland and passing the 1952 flood disaster cemetery.
Directions to the start: Lynton is off the A39 between Blackmore Gate (A399 junction with A39) and Porlock. Once in Lynton there are various car parks and some roadside parking. Once parked walk to the centre of the village where the walk starts.
Route Directions: 1, SS720 494: From Lynton High Street go to the Valley of Rocks Hotel and then take the road between it and the church called North Walk. Ignore the road that goes hard back right and follow the coast path, Valley of Rocks signpost, following the road over the railway and on towards the Valley of Rocks. Continue along this path and when a path goes up to the left by a sheltered seat, ignore this and continue along the coast path. 2, SS705 497, 1.2 miles: On reaching the roundabout in the middle of the Valley of Rocks, go ahead over the roundabout to follow this road for a short distance, taking the footpath that then bears off to the right. This path gives good views over the beach below and back along the valley. Near the end of this path it climbs to the left back to the road and the old toll house. 3, SS701 494, 1.5 miles: Turn right on to the road and follow it to the old gate entrance to Lee Abbey. Opposite this entrance take the track that goes off to the left, through the bridle gate. Lovely views are over to the right to Lee Bay and Woody Bay. 4, SS696 489, 2.0 miles: Follow this track until you reach a track going hard back left with it also going ahead into the woods. Turn hard left to follow this track as it slowly climbs. 5, SS700 491, 2.3 miles: At the next hairpin bend follow it round to the right. Continue up hill to the gate and on through the gorse ahead.
Valley of Rocks
20
6, SS700 482, 3.1 miles: Soon you reach Sixacre Farm. Pass through the gates and on up the farm drive, through the gate to the road. 7, SS703 479, 3.4 miles: At the road turn left to pass the caravan site, keeping on this small road. When it starts to drop down hill keep on it until it bears right. 8, SS714 491, 4.5 miles: Take Lee Bay, near Lynton the footpath off to the left towards the Valley of Rocks and Southcliffe. Follow it over the stream and ignore the path that bears off to the left to Southcliffe, instead continuing down to pass the 1952 flood cemetery on the right. 9, SS710 496, 4.9 miles: As the path opens up into the Valley of Rocks, notice the picnic area on the right and pass through the gap to go through to this area. Toilets are now over to the left. Cross straight over the picnic area to its upper entrance and cross straight over to the gate by the Poets Shelter. 10, SS711 497, 5.0 miles: At this shelter now take the path that goes up to the right zigzagging up the hill on to Hollerday Hill. Great views open up as you climb. 11, SS712 498, 5.2 miles: At the top follow the path that goes through the woods towards Lynton, dropping through rock cuttings and downhill to come out beside the Lynton Town Hall. 12, SS719 495, 5.8 miles: Turn left to return to the start point.
21
Notes: This walk starts along North Walk that soon becomes a paved footpath which was originally built by the Victorians to promenade along the coast to the Valley of Rocks. It still does this most effectively, perched on the cliff edge. Many theories abound about the creation of the Valley of Rocks. Most hark back to the ice age when the glacial ice bumped up again the north Devon coastline but could not penetrate it. One theory is the ice blocked both the Lyn rivers exits to the sea and so they were forced to divert their flow. It created this valley parallel to the coast, finally finding a way out at Wringcliff Bay at the end of the valley. The valley became redundant when the ice retreated and the two rivers could once again exit directly into the sea. Over many years the valley has silted up and become a U-shaped valley, classic in some ways of a glacial valley but without the rocks showing any characteristic glacial striation. Lee Abbey was built around 1850 as a grand house. In 1924 it became a golfing hotel when it was extended with many more bedrooms. In 1939 it became an evacuted boys school. In 1946 it was dedicated by the Bishop of Exeter and run by a community, which it still is today. The Poets Shelter is so called as this area was loved by Shelley, Wordsworth and Coleridge who were inspired by the scenery. It can be sometimes rather spoilt by the feral goats that live in the valley and clearly use it as a shelter for themselves.
22
Published and written by Combe Walks
Copyright © Bryan Cath, 2012
www.combewalks.com
5 Lynton via Sixacre
4 County Gate via Oare
3 Tarr Steps via Winsford Hill
2 Woody Bay via Hunter’s Inn
1 Selworthy via Bossington
2 5 4
3
1