You’re unlikely to meet many, if any, other walkers in this quiet, less frequented area of the Park, but it’s well worth getting to know. Just be sure to pick a day with good visibility so you can enjoy the splendid views.
[1] From the car park (SS671451), turn left down the road towards the village centre, soon bearing left to go through the churchyard of Christ Church – from the front of which is a good view of Holwell Castle (an information panel provides background detail). Continue through the churchyard to the lane below and turn left, bearing right at the next junction. Follow this lane to St Petrock’s Church, in the part of the parish known as Churchtown.
(A) Only two services are held each year but it is open to the public and deserves a look inside to see its remarkable original Georgian interior.
[2] Follow the bridleway up to and across the A39, continuing in the same direction and ignoring footpaths to the left and right. At a lane, go left and then right at a fork. The views are restricted along here by the high hedges, but after turning right at the next junction – just before the A39 (again) – they improve greatly. The lane becomes a farm track leading down to Woolhanger Farm.
(B) This is part of the Woolhanger Estate, one of the largest privately owned estates on Exmoor. The recently restored historic Manor and Music Room - now hired out for receptions etc - have an interesting history (for more info, visit www.woolhanger.com/manor).
Once past the farm, you’ll reach a three-way junction at The Lodge. Continue ahead along the bridleway signed for Thornworthy. Ignore a footpath at Thornworthy and carry on up to the road.
[3] Turn right down the road, enjoying views of the rolling moors beyond. At Shallowford, continue in the same direction along a clear track that climbs steadily to reach a gate at a point marked Saddle Gate on the map. Maintain your direction uphill heading towards a blue-topped marker post.
It’s worth looking back from time to time for the ever-increasing views.
(C) At 480m/1,575ft Wood Barrow is the highest point of the route, and a superb viewpoint: to the north lies the Bristol Channel and south coast of Wales; west is the north Devon coast stretching to Hartland Point; east is the wilderness of The Chains; and west is the Chapman Barrows trig point.
[4] Head on south down to and across the B3358, turning right at the next junction along a bridleway that eventually leads you down to Challacombe.
[5] Across the road, follow the footpath signed for Challacombe Church (actually at Barton Town – you can read why inside the church), turning right along the lane just beyond back to the B3358. Cross and continue ahead along a bridleway that leads north over Challacombe Common and down to the A39. On the other side of the road a footpath takes you back into Parracombe. Turn right to meet your outbound route and retrace your footsteps back to the start.