Outdoors

Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers

A lovely walk of just under 4 miles for early spring with John Noblet of Tavistock Ramblers. The hedgerows around the Bere peninsula are full of colour as daffodils and other flowers remind us that winter days are over. This walk takes us from Bere Ferrers on field and woodland paths, and quiet lanes with views of the lower Tavy valley along the way.

Please park responsibly in the centre of Bere Ferrers, near the church and war memorial (SX459635).

1. If you have time, take a look at the church which is featured as being amongst England’s 1000 best churches. From the churchyard, which contains several mass graves just marked ‘Cholera 1849’, there is a good view of the Tavy estuary. Walk down the hill past the war memorial which commemorates not only local men but also those soldiers from New Zealand who were tragically killed at the train station in 1917. Continue past the Olde Plough Inn to the waterfront and along the riverside road as far as the old chapel building. 2. Turn right here, signed as a footpath, along the foreshore. The path leaves the riverside to go inside the hedge (fields on the left). Pass two stiles (no need to climb them) to reach a tarmac lane down to the former quay at Gnatham. Continue straight ahead around the hairpin bends, ignoring footpaths on the left and the lane down to Gnatham Farm. As the gradient increases, so too does the opportunity to see daffodils in the hedgerow in springtime. 3. Pass a track going off to the right halfway up the hill, but perhaps pause to admire the terrific views of the lower Tavy valley and beyond. Carry on past some cottages on a sharp bend after which the lane levels out.

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4. Just after Collytown Forge go left on the signed bridleway past Collytown Manor and down an old green lane. At the end go through a metal gate and immediately afterwards through a smaller gate on the right into the woods. Follow the waymarked path as it zigzags down to the bottom of the valley, cross the small bridge over the stream and walk up to a forestry track. 5. Go straight across and uphill on the woodland path towards Hole Farm. At the top, go over a stile and into a field. Cross the field towards some big farm buildings. Go through a gate between the buildings, signed as a footpath, and into the farmyard. Go immediately left, past the farmhouse and some outbuildings and up the driveway. There are several different varieties of daffodils in the hedgebanks around here.

6. At the top, turn left onto a quiet lane. When the lane bears left after about 300m, go right through a gate signed as a bridlepath. At first the pathway stays close to the hedge on the right before bearing left up the slope. Go through the left of two gaps in the hedge into a second field. Keep right alongside the hedge with views towards Bere Ferrers church and the Tavy valley. Go through a gate and down another old green lane. 7. At the end of the bridlepath, turn right onto a lane and back to the village. Tavistock Ramblers walk on most Saturdays and Sundays and many Wednesdays. There is usually a mix of short walks and longer all-day hikes. Go to www.tavistockramblers.org.uk to see the latest programme of Covid compliant walks on offer. You are welcome to join us.

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