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Rackenford in North Devon (just) with a little bit of Latin

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 2 hours 40 minutes

Length 9.0km / 5.6mi

Route developer: Chris Mumford

Route checker: Nicholas Savage

Start location Village centre, Rackenford, Devon.
Route Summary This circular walk takes in a mixture of countryside with views over Exmoor to the north and Dartmoor in the south. It walks a section of the Two Moors Way. High ground, good views and no steep ascents.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

Own transport is recommended as the village is not well served by public transport. The village of Rackenford is sign posted off the A361 (North Devon Link Road) about 10 miles/15 minutes from the centre of Tiverton. The walk starts near store/post office & pub

Description

[1] From the village store walk to the pub and turn left. At the cross roads go straight over, passing the war memorial to your right, and follow this road past the Rackenford Club and the farms of East and West Nutcott.

[2] Take the first right, sign posted Knowstone and Molland, and follow the road through wood. Where the woods end, and at the sharp left bend, go straight ahead through a narrow gate into a field to follow right-hand fence/hedge. Go through three gates then left around some trees and onto a pedestrian gate onto metalled road.

[3] Cross over the road onto moorland. Turn left to walk parallel with the road to a group of taller trees and a pond.

(A) Rackenford and Knowstone Moor is owned by Devon Wildlife Trust. It is the largest remaining block of Culm Grassland in Devon. As you look out here, the distinction between the green of the improved grassland and the brown of the unimproved Culm is very clear. To your right are views of Exmoor (if the weather permits!)

After passing the pond on your right, bear right to follow the wide track or fire break over to a metalled road and turn left along the road to a “Two Moors Way” finger post.

[4] The next section can be very wet. Come off road in direction indicated by the finger post and follow right-hand hedge line (taking the route way-marked for pedestrians) and then turn right alongside the beech hedge using the board-walk and follow it into the hedged drove road. Follow the drove to its junction with metalled road at Backstone Cross

(B)To your left is a former toll house. This toll house was owned by the South Molton Turnpike Trust which was set up in 1759 to improve and maintain the major roads in the area. The semicircular porch allowed the toll keeper to see vehicles coming from both directions. They would have to stop and pay a toll here.

[5] Cross over and bear right along the road signposted to Creacombe. Follow the road until you reach a driveway to Creacombemoor Cottage. Turn in left (finger post) and just before gate marked private, move left off driveway to go around farm with it on your right. Just past farm go through gate into paddock and in a few yards go through small gate on left into the field. Go diagonally across field through a gate onto farm track which you follow to your right, cross in front of elegant farm house (West Backstone) and having crossed a cattle grid, turn down right through a gate and into a track.

(C) As you walk through the gate above note the slate and its inscription.  “Te pauper ambit sollicita prece ruris colonus” and translated by a James Rutherford as “You the poor farmer circles with begging prayer”

[6] At the bottom of the track, follow left-hand hedge and pass through two pedestrian gates. Then go over a bridge followed by a short sharp climb and steps to go through another pedestrian gate. Keeping in roughly the same direction, go up the slope and across to pedestrian gate. Then bear right, in the direction of the way-mark and head for a 2-in-1 gate in a gap in the hedge. Now bear left to walk down to the bottom left hand corner of that field. The pedestrian gate takes you into a sunken track which ascends the hill. N.B. Steepish to start with and then levels out.

[7] Follow the track until at the top it turns sharp right. Take the far left hand gate (way-marked) into a field and follow right-hand hedge to metalled road where you turn left. The road then bears around to right, then take first right having just passed the Old Rectory and Stables, which brings you back to the start.

(D) On your right, just before the church is the well-house which shelters the village pump. Mains water did not come to the village until the 1950s.

POI information

Rackenford is a large North Devon parish, covering 4000 acres of high ground below Exmoor and between Tiverton (8 miles) and South Molton (10 miles). About 300 of the total population of 400 live in the small village of Rackenford itself and the very small hamlet of Creacombe. Both are ringed by farms, and agriculture is still the largest single source of employment. Unlike so many small villages, they still have a school, a social club, a village shop, and a traditional village local, The Stag Inn, rumoured to be one of the oldest pubs in Devon and to contain beams from the Mary Rose.

All Saints Church The village church, situated in the middle of the village, previously named Holy Trinity. The earliest reference to this church is 1239 although the present building is mainly 15th-century; however, the arch for the south door is 14th-century.

Another feature to admire is the great west arch. The church is a small and ancient building of stone in the Early English style, consisting of a chancel, nave of four bays, aisle, south porch and an embattled tower containing six bells; the font is of the reign of Henry II.

For more information on the wildlife of Rackenford and Knowstone Moor see the Devon Wildlife Trust website: http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/reserve/Rackenford+and+Knowstone+Moor/

Notes

Map: OS Explorer 114, Exeter & the Exe Valley

Terrain: Country roads, field, track and a little moorland. A few undulations but nothing serious. It can be wet & muddy after rain. Way-marking is mostly good.

Stiles: none

Dogs: on leads near livestock and when requested

Refreshments: There is a pub in Rackenford. 

Total walk ascent: 427 feet

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • The reason for the board-walk.
    The reason for the board-walk.
    By -
  • The beech drove
    The beech drove
    By -
  • The Latin inscription at West Backstone
    The Latin inscription at West Backstone
    By -
  • The Well House in the village
    The Well House in the village
    By -
  • All Saints Church at Rackenford
    All Saints Church at Rackenford
    By -
  • The toll house
    The toll house
    By - Nick Savage
This route has been viewed 37 times
Reviews
1 review
Overall rating:
Jun 29, 2013
linda
(1 reviews)
Most enjoyable walk in the heart of Devon, instructions good and the walk itself is well signposted with a couple of points of interest. Varied paths including country lanes, moorland and woodland and stunning views as well, however I'm not sure if the Pub is still open, it was closed Saturday lunchtime.
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