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Devon - Shobrooke circuit via lake, river and holy well

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 2 hours 10 minutes

Length 6.7km / 4.2mi

Route developer: Chris Mumford

Route checker: Nicholas Savage

Start location Red Lion Inn. Shobrooke EX17 1AT
Route Summary The majority of this walk is off road on field and track. The meadow on the first part of the walk can be muddy after rain. Part of the walk is on permissive paths beside the River Creedy. There is a gentle climb up through Shobrooke Park.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

By car: It is far easier to get to Shobrooke by own transport, Shobrooke is east of Crediton and to the south of A3072, Devon. Parking is road-side near the Red Lion Inn 

By bus: The bus can get you to the top park gates from Crediton. See  www.travelinesw.com Crediton to Shobrooke.

Description

[1] Walk down hill and just before farm entrance on left turn right into School Close.

(A) Notice the old school bell in the low wall opposite with a list of the school governors.

Then bear left and then right into track leading to kissing gate which you pass through then though a field to a second kissing gate. Walk straight ahead across the meadow with stream on your left. Cross over footbridge, up a slope to another small footbridge.

(B) As you cross the footbridge, note the old disused leat below you. This used to take water to the mill. 

[2] Follow alongside the leat until meeting metalled road beside the old Mill (C). The remains of the mill's water wheel can be seen on the mill wall.

At the road, you turn right and follow the road down to the stream. Then walk up a gentle hill, ignoring the first finger post, but turning in left at the second. Now walk up the field keeping hedge on left until emerging onto metalled road. Cross over the road and turn right through a kissing gate to follow the right hand hedge, alongside the road, to the field corner where you turn left to walk down to a metalled road.

[3] Turn right and just past Westacott Cottages turn in left through a kissing gate onto the permissive way to follow on down to the River Creedy. Walk upstream, over a stile and into a field. Walk straight ahead and then alongside a hedge on the right hand side of the field, separating you from a road. At the gate, cross stile onto metalled road.

[4] Go through a metal pedestrian gate which is to your right, into Shobrooke Park. In front of you is Shobrooke Lake which you pass with it on your left. Walk between the lake and the cricket pitch, through a kissing gate and then continue until you join the drive where you turn right.

[5] Once on drive leading to the South Lodge, look out for an avenue of trees on you left. Walk up this avenue to the wrought iron gates and pass through a pedestrian gate onto a metalled road. Take the road to the right of the war memorial and walk down to St Swithin's Church (D) and Shobrooke Barton where you turn left. The church, St. Swithin, is externally a mediaeval church but was drastically restored and enlarged in 1879-80, when the south aisle was added.

[6] In a few yards turn right into a field through a kissing gate. However before you do, you might walk a little further along the road to view the Holy Well (E). The Holy Well  pre-dates the original church and may be found set in the grassy bank on the right. 

After passing thorough the kissing gate, walk diagonally up the field on a well defined path and then down steps to come out on a metalled road opposite the village hall. Walk down the hill to the pub.

POI information

Shobrooke lies in quiet, unspoilt country, with many fertile "red-land" farms. It formerly had several prosperous gentry and yeoman.  Shobrooke Park was formerly called (little) Fulford. It was bought by Sir William Periam (1535-1605), chief baron of the Exchequer, who built a house here. This was pulled down c. 1820 and a new house built (by Hakewill) called Shobrooke Park. The house became a school, was gutted by fire in 1947, and is now desolate.

Looking at a map of Shobrooke Map of 1887, it appears the name was associated with the Park, church and Barton whilst the village was called Little Silver which still appears on current OS maps.

St Swithin's Church, Shobrooke, is externally a mediaeval church, mostly in Perpendicular style, built of red stone. It was drastically restored and enlarged in 1879-80, when the south aisle was added. There is, however, a good Norman S. doorway (c. 1160) in Thorverton stone. The interior is mainly Victorian and has a number of very attractive stained glass windows.

The Church is situated in a well kept churchyard with panoramic views over the beautiful rolling Devon countryside. It is open every day from 9.00am until 4.00pm.
 

Notes

Map: OS Explorer 114 – Exeter and the Exe Valley

Dogs: on leads near livestock and when requested

Refreshments: Red Lion Inn 01363 772340

SATNAV post code: EX17 1AT

Total walk ascent: 475 feet

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

Acknowledgements

The route was originally devised for Tiverton Walk & Talk, a walking for health iniative.

  • Ariel view of Shobrooke House 1930 from postcard. The house was destroyed by fire in 1947
    Ariel view of Shobrooke House 1930 from postcard. The house was destroyed by fire in 1947
    By - photo from shoebrooke park collection
  • Lake and bridge in Shobrooke Park
    Lake and bridge in Shobrooke Park
    By - photo from shobrooke park collection
  • The River Creedy
    The River Creedy
    By - Nick Savage
  • Holy Well
    Holy Well
    By - Nick Savage
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