Cook-in and cook-out

Village Walk Stoke Gabriel

Need to know

Distance: 2 miles Exertion: Easy Time: Allow 2 hours Terrain: Pathways and pavements. Suitable for pushchairs. Dogs: On leads on roads. Refreshments: The River Shack, Church House Inn and Castle Inn. Start Postcode: TQ9 6QJ

Stoke Gabriel is a pretty village hidden at the end of a River Dart creek just 4 miles from the centre of the Bay. For those who grew up in the area it features in many childhood memories as a rst encounter with the clawed kind - crabs! e Mill Pool still attracts throngs of children every weekend keen on crabbing so if you’re coming with young ones bring a bucket and line.

In the Domesday Book, a church is recorded here in 1073, the earliest o cial record of life in the village. e churchyard is home to a magni cent Yew tree, thought to be near a thousand years old. Take a look at the chronology at the foot of the tree as you pause in the churchyard; it certainly gives perspective. e village’s development can be tracked through the architectural styles of its dwellings and it’s nice to see that green spaces remain. Most are ancient orchards, planted to provide cider for the sherman and farmers who inhabited the village in years gone by.

Take your time and enjoy village life..  1 We start our wander at the proud village sign welcoming all, which is on the left hand side of the road where Paignton Road meets with Rydon Acres. There’s free parking here all day and our route loops back to fi nish here. Proceed downhill, as the road forks, bear left and continue. 2 Follow the road downhill for 300 metres in between cottages and dwellings, some opening onto the road others hidden behind high walls, pass the War Memorial on the left and stay on this road until you reach the centre of the village. 3 Pass the village post offi ce on the right and on your left you will see the Church House Inn. Take the path towards the church in front of the inn and pretty cottages (one being the old school house) and take a minute to visit the churchyard and ancient yew tree. 4 Just before the entrance to the churchyard turn left down into the orchard. Follow the path downhill towards the edge of the Mill Pool.

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5 Through the gate at the edge of the orchard you arrive on the edge of the Pool. If the tide is at its highest and springs then you might not be able to pass by here but generally it is passable. Turn right and follow the water’s edge. 6 Skirt the Pool to arrive at the River Shack and tidal weir. From here you can cross the weir and follow the riverbank or simply follow the riverbank to the right of the creek. At lower tides one can walk for a mile or so either way up the river bank but eventually both directions succumb to tidal mud. Again take care with the tide as the weir can become impassable and you may end up walking further than planned! 7 To return follow Mill Hill up to the Castle Inn and turn left on to School Hill and proceed past the village school and many more pretty cottages and dwellings. 8 After 300 metres turn right onto New Road which skirts another large orchard and returns you to the start of the route.