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Devon - Clayhidon with a little bit of murder on the way

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 2 hours

Length 6.6km / 4.1mi

Route developer: Chris Mumford

Route checker: Nicholas Savage

Start location Clayhidon village, Nr Wellington, Devon EX15 3TJ
Route Summary This circular walk is in the Blackdown Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Certain sections can be wet at times but the views are spectacular.
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Getting there

By car: Clayhidon is in the Blackdown Hills, south of Wellington and over looks the Culm Valley, Devon. Clayhidon is sign posted from Culmstock and HemyockParking is against the churchyard wall or the Inn car-park with permission.

Public transport: Clayhidon is not served with public transport. 

Description

[1] With your back to the churchyard gate, go through the field gate, to the right of the church car park onto a bridleway. Follow the lane and then go through a narrow gate which brings you out onto a stone chipping drive. Turn left to follow along the drive to a metalled road. Go diagonally left and into a farm track opposite, signed posted as a public footpath. Go through Mount Pleasant farm, down the hill to pass anticlockwise around a derelict stone building and onto a narrow footpath through with trees and then scrub-land to your right.

(A) This area of heath and bog is a Devon Wildlife Trust Reserve called Clayhidon Turbary. It is home to insectivorous plant species such as the pale butterwort and round-leaved sundew as well as lizards and snakes. There are also views of the Wellington Monument.

At the end of this path turn right onto metalled road and then left into field.

[2] Cross this field and bear slightly right to a stile. Walk alongside keeping the fence and then hedge to your left until you reach a junction of footpaths. Go straight ahead then turn left down hill to a metalled road which you cross and into field opposite over a stile. Go straight on down the hill to where the slope become more gentle. Then turn right to the corner of the field and then left to follow the right hand hedge line down the hill through two gates to turn left after the second gate. Now follow the left hand hedge to a stile and onto a metalled road. Turn right and then left into field. Now follow the left hand hedge to stile then footbridge into the next field. Bear half right and cross field to the corner of the field. Take the right hand field gate into the field below and turn left and again follow the left hand hedge line to pass Bridge House of your left and come out onto a metalled road (Caller's Lane).

[3] Turn right then left through field gate into track with a river on your right.

(B) This is the River Culm, here not much more than a stream. There are several other walks on Ramblers Routes which follow the Culm for some of their route, in particular "Uffculme and Culmstock and what's in between". The river flows through Culmstock and Cullompton to meet the Exe at Stoke Cannon.

Follow the river until coming out onto metalled road (Battle Street) at Hidon Mill and turn right.

(C) back in February 1853 a gruesome murder was committed just up the road where a William Blackmore was murdered by George Sparkes. The coroners court was held at the Half Moon Inn, Clayhidon. Sparkes was hanged in public at Exeter goal.

[4] Walk down the road to cross over the River Culm then turn left and follow this country road for about half a mile to Lilleycombe Cross (which is actually a T-junction like many crosses in Devon). Turn left down the road with a "Weak Bridge" sign. Look out for a Finger Post to take you into a field on your left. Bear half right, then over a footbridge to follow a old stone wall with it on your right. Cross a stile and then another footbridge. N.B. Next short section up to gate can be very muddy. Follow the left hand hedge up to Bellett's Farm passing the house close on your left hand and out onto metalled road.

[5] In front of you when you come out on to the road, there are two gates. Take the left hand gate and walk up the hill with the hedge on your right, through a field gate, right through the next gate and then left through the next into scrub land with low trees. N.B. This section can be very muddy and the path is not easy to follow. Walk straight up the hill, passing two way-posts, then up a steep bank and onto a grass track in front of large tree with ivy creepers going up its trunk. Turn right to keep hedge and fence on left hand to and through a gate onto a track.

[6] Turn left along the lane to a kissing gate and then follow right hedge. Pass some farm building to your left and continue to Coordwent's Farmhouse which is now an attractive collection of converted farm buildings. Go through this habitation and  a little way after the end of the gardens (to your left) turn left into the woods. (Sign posted). Follow track down through the woods, and out into a field. Follow the hedge to the left to the bottom of the field. Do not go through the gate in the corner of the field, turn right and then through a gate to your left to cross a brook. Now follow the left hand hedge up this steep climb. At the top bear around to the left, up a track to habitation. N.B. Your OS map might differ at this point due to a diversion. Turn right and walk between barn and fence (way-marked) to metalled road. Turn left to take you back to the start.

 

POI information

Clayhidon is a village and parish in the Blackdown Hills in East Devon and lies close to the Somerset border. The parish church is St. Andrews.

Devon Wildlife trust has more information on Clayhidon Turbary on their website: http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/reserve/Clayhidon+Turbary/overview/

If you want to find out more about about the 1853 murder, Google "clayhidon murder 1853" or go to this web site -

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Follow-David-gory-footsteps-murderers/story-13296591-detail/story.html#axzz2KQ4nX7Al

Notes

Map: OS Explorer 128 – Taunton & Blackdown Hills

Terrain: Field, track and country lanes. Undulating with one steep climb (15.7%) near the end

Stiles: 7 or 8 depending whether gate is padlocked or not

Dogs: on leads near livestock and when requested

Refreshments: Half Moon Inn 01823 680291

Total walk ascent: 526 feet

Navigation: Way-marking is mostly good.

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • One of the many spectacular views on the walk
    One of the many spectacular views on the walk
    By - Mumfy
  • St Andrew
    St Andrew's church, Clayhidon
    By - Mumfy
  • The Half Moon Inn
    The Half Moon Inn
    By - Half moon
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