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Sandford just north of Crediton

Difficulty Moderate

Walking time 2 hours 46 minutes

Length 8.6km / 5.3mi

Route developer: Chris Mumford

Route checker: Nicholas Savage

Start location Village hall car park in the village of Sandford.
Route Summary This circular walk takes you high above the River Creedy though fields and along quite country lanes with lovely views of the rolling Mid Devon hills. Interesting buildings along the way include churches, thatched cottages and a disused mill
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Getting there

Sandford is on minor roads north of Crediton. Most sign posts indicate Sandford, Thelbridge or Kennerleigh.

Public transport is available but not frequent. Log onto this web site for bus information: www.travelinesw.com

 

Description

[1] Starting from the village hall car park, come out onto road (Fannys Lane) and turn left and walk towards the church. At the cross roads turn right and walk up this country lane, past the school with an interesting façade and into the countryside. Ignore the first footpath sign (on the right) and carry on up the hill to pass Sturridge Farm. Then look out for lane on right which you enter. N.B. This uphill first section will take 25/30 minutes although is only a third of a mile long. As you ascend, look out for the views behind you.

[2] Walk down this lane which can be quite muddy. On a good day there is an excellent view across the valley to Upton Hellions church which you will pass later on. The lane ends at a metalled road at North Creedy.

[3] Turn left, walk up the road to bear around and down to the right, signposted "East Village". Go over the bridge to turn in right onto a private drive. Once in the courtyard bear around to the left to pass through a gate into the fields. Follow the right hand hedge through several gates. Ignore the path off to the right across a footbridge, instead continue ahead following the right hand hedge through two more gates to arrive out on a metalled road beside a cottage.

[4] Turn right towards East Village.   This is a pretty little collection of buildings, many of them thatched and with an old village pump.

In East Village, go straight on over the cross roads and then just past the converted chapel turn into the field on your right. Follow the right hand hedge, ignore the first gate on your right, and in the second field look for a second pedestrian gate on your right. Pass through this gate and turn left to follow the field headland down and around to a pedestrian gate and out onto a metalled road.

[5] Turn left. Walk down this road and having just crossed a stream on a low stone bridge, turn off right onto a farm lane and up to Bremridge Farm passing a pond on your right. Walk through the farm keeping most of the farm buildings on your left and out onto a track beyond.

This section has some of the best view of the whole walk with the valley of the Creedy laid out below you.

Follow the track up the hill and then down into Upton Hellions where you turn right to walk past the church, between some thatched house,  towards a large house.

[A] St Mary's Church, Upton Hellions has a 12th Century Nave and a Norman font. There is also a 17th century wall tablet to a Jacobean squire and lovely bench ends. The large house is the former rectory and dates from the 18th century with some remodelling in the 19th.

Keeping the house on your right pass through a gate and into a field.

[6] Bear half left and walk down the field heading towards and through a pedestrian gate in the fence. Turn left, walk down towards and through another pedestrian gate onto a private drive where you turn left. Walk down to the old mill, turn in right and walk across the front of the mill with a pond on your left.

[7] Now turn left through a pedestrian gate and then right to walk across this field to another pedestrian gate and into a watery lane. Turn left to walk towards and over a footbridge. Bear left onto a muddy lane, then right to walk away from the old mill to a metalled road where you turn left.

YOU NOW HAVE THREE CHOICES.

[8] EITHER Turn into a field on your right (sign posted) and follow the left hand hedge. Continue into the next field and at the third field walk uphill diagonally to and through a pedestrian gate to follow a narrow track, again uphill to a metalled road. Turn left and walk down to the village where you turn left to arrive back at the car park.

[9] OR take the first road turning to your right. This road will take you directly back to the village hall car park.

[10] OR take the second turning right and walk straight ahead passing houses on you right, then an open field followed by more houses and then into a short lane to bring you out in the lower end of the village where you turn right and then straight ahead into the village square (more a triangle) to the Lamb Inn. Either you abide awhile here or turn right to walk past two churches, across the cross-roads and back to the car park.

POI information

The School's Grade II listed main building dates from 1825, and is notable for its classical Greek architecture and cob walls, thought to be the highest of their kind in the country. It was built by Sir Humphry Davie.

Sandford Church. Built on the site of a earlier Saxon chapel, the present building has some architecture dating back to the eleventh century, when it was dedicated to Swithun, 9th century bishop of Winchester. It is thought the building was enlarged in the thirteenth or fourteenth century. The West Gallery was added in 1657 to accommodate children from the parish poorhouse.

 

Notes

Map: OS Expl 114 Exeter & Exe Valley

Dogs: on leads near livestock and when requested

Refreshments: The Lamb Inn 01363 773676, 

Sandford Community Stores. Opposite the Lamb Inn in the village square.

SATNAV post code: EX17 4NA

Total walk ascent: 752 feet

EWT: 2 hrs 48 mins

Navigation: There should be no problems by using OS maps and way-marks.

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • The Lamb Inn in Sandford
    The Lamb Inn in Sandford
    By - The Lamb Inn
  • Village square 1904
    Village square 1904
    By - http://www.francisfrith.com
  • Farm near North Creedy
    Farm near North Creedy
    By - Nick Savage
  • Upton Hellions church
    Upton Hellions church
    By - Nick Savage
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