This varied walk explores the countryside to the north of the village of Bratton Fleming and takes in picturesque Wistlandpound Reservoir – good for birdwatching – and the National Trust property of Arlington Court, a Regency House surrounded by a beautiful estate, which the route passes through.
(A) The village of Bratton Fleming is situated to the north-east of Barnstaple, just a few miles outside Exmoor National Park, in lovely quiet rolling countryside. As well as some attractive local walking, it’s also an excellent base for exploring nearby Exmoor and the North Devon coast. A set of leaflets has been produced by the local footpath group that describe various walks in and around Bratton Fleming, and some interesting history about the village and area. (They’re free of charge from the local shop, and well worth picking up if you’re staying in the locality).
[1] Cross the road to the White Hart and head along Station Road,
This road is so named as it once led to Bratton Station – one of seven stations on the narrow-gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, which operated from 1898 to 1935. To your left is St Peter’s Church which is largely Victorian, though parts of it date from the 14th century, and on the right the Village Hall (and public toilets).
At the first fork – Buttonhill Cross – bear left. You’ll soon reach a bench on your right.
There’s a fine view opposite over the surrounding countryside.
Continuing down the road, you cross a bridge over the old track-bed of the aforementioned railway (rails still visible below). Carry on along the lane until you reach a turning on the left signed for Stowford.
[2] Turn along this lane that’s built upon the old railway line. At Hunnacott, turn left up a short track and at the top go through the left-hand gate, continuing on a footpath through two fields with the hedge to your left. In the third field the path bears slightly right towards South Thorne. Cross a footbridge and stile into the garden and turn immediately right and over another stile. Continue to an old building where you turn left and go through the next gate. Follow the direction of the waymark roughly diagonally across the next field, and cross two more fields towards North Thorne. Go past the farm buildings to the access drive and turn left down to Wistlandpound Reservoir.
[3] Before the dam, turn right to follow the surfaced path around the reservoir, which takes you past a bird hide and affords some lovely views. Turn right when you reach the access road that leads (left) back down to the dam, and at the road go left.
[4] After almost a mile, turn right along a bridleway and right at the next lane. At a fork, keep left to Arlington, following the drive round to the left (and ignoring the track off to the right).
[5] To visit Arlington Court, divert right here. Even if you don’t wish to visit, you might like to have a look in the church (just past the entrance to the Carriage Museum, in the stables) and get a view of the splendid house.
To continue on the main route, keep ahead past a signpost for the green-arrowed ‘Deerpark Walk’ and bear right along a bridleway. Follow this down through Deerpark Wood and on towards Loxhore Church (as signed).
[6] At the road, turn right (or detour left to visit Loxhore Church), then left at the T-junction and right along the lane to Smythapark. Turn right down the bridleway, cross the valley and go up the footpath back to Bratton Fleming, joining an alleyway leading to a residential road. Turn right, then left back to the car park.