[1] From the war memorial walk up the lane with the church on your right-hand side.
(A) All Saints Church used to have a spire but it was taken down in 1776. There is now a yew tree growing out of the top of the tower. it was already an institution by 1835 when a 10 year old RD Blackmore of Lorna Doone fame came to live in the rectory.
Where the lane turns right keep going straight ahead into a lane between cottages and pass through a two-in-one-gate. Walk straight ahead to a wooden fence, from where you drop down using steps on your left towards a pedestrian gate and the River Culm. Ignoring the footbridge, turn right and walk up stream towards a large tree. Cross the short bridge beside the tree and carry on following a well worn path in the grass to metal pedestrian gates. Now aim for and cross over a well built footbridge over the Culm.
[2] Turn left across the meadow to a two-in-one gate and pass through it.
If you look back the way you have come at this point you have a nice view of the church.
Walk towards the left hand end of a Cypress Leylandii hedge and through a pedestrian gate into a short lane, which brings you out onto a metalled road.
[3] Turn right and just past the house turn in left (sign posted) through a gate into a field. Walk on with the hedgerow to your left and where the hedges goes sharp left you carry on towards the top right-hand corner of the field to a stile which you cross.
[4] Turn left and walk up the hill towards a bungalow. Just before it, turn right and pass through some wrought iron gates, along a short track between the bungalow and some farm buildings and onto a metalled road.
[5] Turn right and walk down through the farm buildings, up a slight rise and where the track forks, take the left fork looking out for a two-in-one gate at the end of the track which you pass through. Now turn left and walk up the field along side the hedge to the left to the top left-hand corner and through a field gate.
[6] Go up the slope and before it drops away bear half right to the crest of the hill where you should see a pedestrian gate ahead and below you. Note the position of the farm ahead of you. Go through the gates and carry on in the same direction. Once on the top of the rise, head for the bottom right-hand corner of the farm and pass along side a tall wall. At the first gate, turn in left. Walk towards the farm house (Pithayne Farm) and through a gate to the right of the house into a wet and muddy lane. Pass through another gate and follow on up a rough stone strewn lane. The lane curves to the right and then bears around to the left to a way-marked gate which you pass through into a field. Cross the stile in front of you and follow on up the hill with the hedge on your right. Keep following the hedge until you reach the corner of the field and some trees.
[7] Pass through two-in-one gate and follow the hedge/tree line to the left up the hill to and through another gate. The path used to go straight ahead but it can be very very wet and muddy. Turn right up the hill following a line of posts stuck in the ground. This brings you above the wet area, bear left at the foot of the very steep slope and carry on now in roughly the same direction as before on a well used path which undulates but finally brings you down to a boardwalk at the end of which is a pedestrian gate which you pass through and onto a track.
[8] Turn right and follow the slightly rising track and you will come a pedestrian gate on your right.
A climb to the beacon is well worth the effort as the views at the top are stunning on a fine day. To get to the beacon, go through the pedestrian gate and follow the path up the hill which goes almost directly up the side of the beacon. About half way up the hill you will see the beacon hut ahead of you. Be warned, it is a stiff climb but there is a seat at the top.
(B) Culmstock Beacon, a stone hut stands 250m above sea level, close to a triangulation pillar and on the edge of the Blackdown Hills. It partially enclosed a pole-beacon which was a communications signal ready for use when the Spanish Armada was sighted in the English Channel in 1588. Fires on the coast would be lit and then one by one a network of fire beacons set ablaze. This was the signal for all able bodied men to arm themselves, assemble at their local church and await instructions. This is possibly the only beacon hut in the country to survive in its original form. It linked with others at Holcombe Rogus, Upottery and Blackborough. This slit window allowed observers to watch for a light at Upottery beacon.
Return the same way and go back through the gate.
Carry along the lane and just before a house, turn down left (sign posted), over a stile and along a lane to, and through a gate into a field.
[9] Follow the stone wall down hill and then bear slightly away from the right-hand hedge line towards a Nissan hut to the left of the farm buildings. Just before the Nissan hut turn right towards a gate which you pass through and down to another gate, in front of the farm buildings, to cross a concrete drive, over a stile into a field.
[10] Bear slightly right and walk down the field to the bottom right-hand corner and through a gate onto the farm lane. Walk down the lane to its junction with a metalled lane where you turn right. Follow the country lane down ignoring a turning off to the right, past a house called Fairlawn and so on down to the village.
[11] At the cross roads by the school, go straight ahead, over the narrow bridge and back to the war memorial. Take care as this section of road is narrow (especially the bridge) and without pavements.