Devon-Walks.co.uk- The Home of Walking in Devon

2011-11-30T09:07:00.001Z

A picture of the gardens at the National Trust Killerton near Exeter in Devon.

The NT people at Killerton are prolific tweeters and I thoroughly recommend you follow them on twitter if you are interested in that sort of thing.

I have yet to visit the property but it is on a to do list that is as long as a blue whale's penis (which is fair long even from this distance). There are so many great places still to visit in this wonderful county. I think the diversity of the countryside here in Devon is what makes it so captivating. You can be high on rugged moor, entombed in fog and within the hour be down on sandy beach in blazing sunshine.

Of course no to do list is complete without it's fair share of chores. Household work seems to be a never ending mountain. Painting the fence, cleaning out the loft, grass that needs mowing even though it should have settled in for winter, cut the hedges, take down that bird table that is leaning at an obtuse angle and has been the demise of many a poor sparrow that has alighted there.

Still it's a nice day so they can all go on the backburner, the boots can go on and we can set out on another soul enriching ramble.

Across the Field

2011-11-28T17:21:00.003Z

Long time no post! And isn't that true of so many blogs on the Internet. We all start out full of excitement and with the best of intentions but it soon falls away as day to day life takes over and we find we have little time to commit our thoughts to the interwebs.

Anyway, I'm back but with no promises of regular blog updates, I just wanted to relay this one small anecdote that happened over the weekend.

We set out from our house for a walk, which is not something that we do too often so to walk locally was a novel idea.

We headed round the back of the town and up onto a large field. Following the footpath we soon came to a metal gate behind which was a large horse and the footpath should have continued past the horse along the field boundary. No problem we thought, we can befriend the horse and make our way across the field with no problems. However once we got to the gate we could see that the horse had jumped over an electric fence and was now occupying the full width of the footpath between the field edge and the electric fence. Well, not wishing to startle the horse onto the fence and with no way to shoo it back down the path to a wider area where we may pass it we were forced to turn around and head off further along the field on a separate footpath. Little did we know we had embarked on a path of great length and difficultly. It took us well over an hour to eventually come to the end of the path where it bisected the road.

Although we enjoyed the walk that poor horse had caused us to undertake a 4 mile diversion from our route. Remember you can always have an adventure, even close to home!

Beer Coast Walk

2010-03-30T16:14:00.000+01:00

The latest walk up at the Devon Walks site is a short coastal walk starting from the town of Beer.

A shorter walk this is an ideal route for a sunny summer day to combine with time spent exploring the village or on the beach. The walk also returns to Beer via the entrance to Pecorama and the beer Light Railway, this is a great attraction and well worth stopping in for.

Beer is a very picturesque village with a strong fishing, and smuggling, heritage. In addition, the village has been sustained by the Quarry caves that have been in use as since roman times. The caves were only abandoned in the early 20th Century. The great caverns left behind are now open to the public, which offer a trip into history as well as into the Earth.

This walk also takes in the Hooken Landslide. This occurred around 1789 and was caused by the water draining through the porous chalk and greensands of the cliffs being held at the clay like rock below. Here the water is forced sideways causing instability the result of which is the dramatic slippage. At the time crab pots that had been set out at sea in 10 feet of water were found the next day 15 feet above the water due to a ridge in the seabed being pushed up by the movement.

This whole area is part of the Jurassic coast and is world renowned for its fossils. The landslip here exposed many sections of rock, which are still inspected by eager fossil hunters. As you head along the coast path, keep an eye out for the odd stray dino leg!

I hope you all enjoy this route that reminds me how scenic it is to go walking in South Devon

Image remixed with permission from http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/932052

Cosdon Beacon Walk

2010-03-18T17:10:00.000Z

A new walk is up at the Devon Walks site. This walk starts from South Zeal and shows off some of the best views of Dartmoor by visiting its second highest peak - Cosdon Beacon.

This area is a real treasure trove of early archaeology. There is a comprehensive article over at http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/cosdon_beacon.htm that details all the sites of interest around Cosdon Beacon.

What strikes me is how the way we view Dartmoor has changed since the Bronze Age when many of the settlements and cairns were first established. To those people this was a rich area where it was possible to live a good life. Flint was available for making tools and the local flora & fauna were rich enough and diverse enough to sustain them.

Those people would have had an intimate knowledge of the land and today we speculate that the beacon had cultural significance to them due to the number of important sites here. To them this was home, a place to respect but also a place in which they were entirely comfortable.

Today we see Dartmoor as something of a wilderness, albeit one that has been tamed to a greater extent. In general, it is somewhere we would venture for a day out but the thought of staying out and sustaining ourselves off the land is incomprehensible. The frequent call outs for the moorland rescue team are a testament to how difficult we find it to stay safe out on the moor.

Over the years our standards of living have improved immeasurably and many of the skills need to survive have been lost. This is completely understandable, as we do not need to worry about our day-to-day subsistence any more. However, as we have become detached from the land and from nature we have lost a little of that connection that was so integral to our ancestors health and well-being.

I do not think it is necessary to abandon modern living and 'get back to nature' and nor do I deny that our lives today are longer, healthier and more enjoyable thanks to modern efficiencies. However, what I would suggest to those that walk in this area is to imagine what Bronze Age life was like. How special is the intimate knowledge of the land that most of us have lost and what can we learn from their lifestyle.

Finally, when you are enjoying the view from the top of the beacon be thankful for modern walking shoes, country pubs and the ability to drive home to a nice warm bed!

For more ideas on walking in Devon, please visit the site.

A trip to Lydford Gorge

2010-03-17T09:33:00.000Z

Recently I headed over to Lydford Gorge; somewhere I had been past before but not taken the time to stop. As usual, there are so many great opportunities for walking in Devon that it is hard to know which to do first!

So eager was I to experience the gorge that I actually arrived at the National Trust car park half an hour before it opened. Nor was I the only one looking to make the most of the early morning sunshine. After changing into my boots, the doors were thrown open and in I went.

During the winter there is restricted opening of the Gorge to allow for essential maintenance work, so check opening times before you go. It also meant that the lower river path was closed to visitors, which was a shame for me but provides a reason to go back. As compensation, there is a reduced entrance fee, which felt very fair.

I headed along the top path looking out over the steep wooded gorge. This is a fun windy path with lots of great views and the odd piece of woodcarving for added interest.

The path also performs a clever trick of disguising the waterfall from you so that as you approach it you don't get a sneak preview. Just before you descent to the waterfall you run alongside a fast flowing stream which feeds the waterfall. Here you can see it rushing towards the edge with no idea of the plummet it is about to experience.

There is a choice of two paths down to the waterfall- short & steep and long & gentle. We opted to go down the short and back up the long path. Had the river path been open you would only need to head down one of these paths.

The waterfall is quite spectacular. At first, it is hard to get a sense of scale, appearing quite small to begin with. However, as you stand below it you can feel the force of the water and realise just quite how powerful it is.

Along from the waterfall on the long & gentle path is the remains of an exploratory mine operation that is now home to several species of bat.

Overall, this was a very pleasant walk. It is not too strenuous and the National Trust facilities add a welcome bit of comfort for a leisurely Sunday morning coffee.

For walkers that are more adventurous there is a longer circular walk that takes in part of Dartmoor before returning through the Gorge over at the Devon Walks site.

A Trip to Hay Tor

2010-03-05T16:15:00.001Z

Hay Tor is perhaps my favourite location on Dartmoor and home to some of the best Devon walks. The long views and range of interesting walks available from the starting location are what makes it so great to me. And who can resist taking the scramble up the roughly hewn steps to enjoy the view from the top of the tor.

Because of this I decided that a grey and windy February weekend was the ideal time to pack up a rucksack and go and enjoy a picnic at the tor followed by a walk out across the moor.

Arriving at the main car park the visitor centre was open and the many cars suggested that I wasn't the only one who fancied a yomp across the moor. It didn't feel too cold in the car park but once the boots were donned and we'd left the shelter of the low scrubby trees that back onto the car park it was clear that there was plenty of bite to the wind.

We headed up towards the tor and took shelter on it's lee side to enjoy our thick cut sandwiches and chocolate muffins. Having got a bit cold stopping to eat we headed off across the moor at pace to Smallcombe rocks passing one of the old quarries and the granite tramway that used to serve it. The small pond behind the tor was completely frozen over and with that wind showed no sign of thawing any time soon.

We returned to the car park via the tramway, marvelling at the craftsmanship of hewing the rough stone into tram tracks. We also enjoy the company of several Dartmoor ponies who set off at a graceful canter when one of their number was disturbed by a light aircraft.

It's moments such as these that remind you what makes walking in Devon such a special experience.

North Devon Hospice - Walk for Life

2010-03-03T16:28:00.000Z

More details about the North Devon Hospice Walk for Life event have been added to the charity walks in Devon page of the site.

With 8 great walks being led by volunteers from HM Coastguard it is sure to be an interesting day out which will also help raise money for a great organisation.

This year's list of walks looks great and in some ways it's a shame that you won't be able to take part in them all! For more information on this great event and to enter please head over to the event page on the North Devon Hospice website.

Walking for Charity

2010-02-24T16:25:00.000Z

There's a new page up at the site dedicated to charity walks in Devon. I will be using this page to keep you all up to date on all the great Devon walks you can attend to help raise some money for charity.

They say that there's nothing better than getting paid for doing what you love, but how about raising money for charity doing something that you love. Everyone is a winner, the charity gets so much needs funds and exposure. And you get to go for a good walk and get some exposure to the elements (and hopefully nothing else!).

These charity walks are always great fun with a brilliant atmosphere. They might also get you out on a walk you wouldn't have normally considered. There are some many excellent charitable organisations working in Devon and so many of us walking in Devon that these events can make a real difference to people's lives.

The Lost Village of Exmoor - Found!

2010-02-02T09:33:00.000Z

Insipred by an article on the BBC website about a local historian's quest to uncover more information on the Lost Village of Clicket, we decided to set out and see if we could find it for ourselves, and we did! In fact it was surprisingly easy but is such a lovely walk I wanted to share it with you. However as Clicket is in Somerset I couldn't post it on the main Devon Walks site so am taking a small liberty with the blog to post it here!

The village was abandoned in 1891 and it seems as if the inhabitants made a mutual decision to leave for reasons unknown. To help keep the village still a bit lost my directions are going to be deliberately vague...

We parked in a small village to the north of Clicket. Parking here is limited so please be considerate to local residents. From here head south and you will soon find the footpath to Clicket. We were lucky that there had been some snow overnight and walking through the woods and fields in the snow was absolutly wonderful.

After not too long we came to the footbridge into the village. Here we found some buildings on the route out to the Quarry before heading over the footbridge into the main part of the village. There are the remains of two or three buildings here and it is very interesting exploring their layout and surmising what life may have been like for the inhabitants.We left this area and continued uphill and came to a larger property with a magnificent fireplace.

From here it was a simply walk over the common to return to our car, stopping off at the village pub for a drink first of course.

If you fancy straying over the border please visit my site for more information on walking in Devon

South Devon Walkers Festival

2010-01-29T16:06:00.000Z

A new page on walking in south devon has gone live at the site with details on the South Devon Walking Festival. Although the dates have been released this years programme has not been announced. Following last year's success we are all eager to see what new treats the organisers have in store for us.

Walking in South Devon is a real treat and the enchanting blend of countryside and seaside offers many great oppourtunites. In many cases being able to walk out from the seaside towns and away from the crowds provides an enjoable contrast of the two sides to this county's nature.

With great transport links and easy access to Dartmoor there is a great deal of paths to satisfy the rambler. Newton Abbot, Brixham, Paighton & Torquay all offer lovely walkatunities. Plymouth, the regions largest conurbation is a little harder to set out on a walk from as you have to trapse out through the suburbs. However an urban walk taking in highlights such as the Ho is well worth undertaking as there is much to uncover in the city.

This cluster of seaside towns makes traversing this stretch of the SWCP very easy in terms of sourcing accommodation. Although you should avoid peak season as prices invariably rise at this time.

For ideas on walking in Devon, visit the site!

A quick Tour of the Tors

2010-01-28T12:08:00.002Z

It comes in fits and starts as they say. That's right, another new Devon walk is up at the site. This one is a short walk to a couple of easily reached dors on Dartmoor. This is a great walk for the family who can have fun scrambling over the rocks and tramping over the moorland.

The natural beauty of the tors is a result of the slow process of weathering that is constantly in action. Dartmoor is a huge expanse of exposed granite. At 368 square miles it is the largest expanse of granite in the UK.

The creation of the Tors started in prehistoric times when the rock was still buried beneath vegetation. Water seeping down into the ground ran along natural cracks and fissures in the rock, eroding them so they became more pronunced. During the ice age freeze-thaw action accelerated this process. Water would freeze and to ice in the cracks and expand as a result, forcing the cracks a little wider and letting in more water. Once the rock was exposed the softer rock around what is now the tors was eroded to dust and what we are left with are the Tors.

After that horrifying, confusing and inaccurate geology lesson you'd probably be glad to get out for a walk on Dartmoor!

For other ideas on walking in Devon please visit the site!

New Walk - Westward Ho

2010-01-27T10:27:00.000Z

A new walk in North Devon has gone up at Devon-Walks.co.uk today. Starting at Westward Ho this walk takes you along the south west coast path around Kipling Tors. This area is named after Rudyard Kipling who took great delight in explore the countryside of the area.

If you are completing this walk in the summer, it is well worth taking the chance to pop down onto the smooth round boulders of the beach here to indulge in a spot of rock pooling. At low tide the pools here are filled with a huge variety of life including vibrant pink anenomes, hermit crabs and many shrimps. The 'star' attraction is the small soft starfish that can be found on the side of smooth pebbles. As usual with rock pooling please take care to replace rocks and animals where you found them and do not keep anything you collect in a bucket for too long as they can over heat and be starved of oxygen. Also take care of the tides yourself and do not get cut off.

As the walk heads inland you walk along a quiet country lane which offers excellent views towards Saunton, where the hedges allow!

Once back at Westward Ho be sure to stop for a famous Hockings ce Cream. They only do vanilla but it is a gold medal winning ice cream that is far more sumptuous than anything you can buy in a shop. Enjoy either as a '99' or as an 'oyster'. For true luxury ask for a dollop of clotted cream on the side.

For more great ideas about walking in devon visit Devon-Walks.co.uk.

Broadsands to Brixham

2010-01-12T15:28:00.001Z

Having been left fallow over the christmas period the site doesn't know what's hit it with two new walks in as many days!

Today I have posted another great South Devon walk, this time taking you from Broadsands along to brixham Quay and back. This is a particular favourite walk of mine not only for the fantastic coastal scenery but also for the charming combination of coast and town.

Once at Brixham I am always tempted to visit the Golden Hind replica that works as a visitor attraction in Brixham. Even though I have been before I can't help but want to explore this intruiging story again. This ship is a perfect replica of the vessel that Sir Francis Drake used to circumnavigate the world in the late 1500s. I find a visit to this ship takes me back to an older age. One where walking was a primary mode of trnasport and towns over a days walk away were seldom visited. To imagine a ship travelling completely around the globe would have been inconcievable. In fact to imagine the world as a sphere was still a realativly new idea!

Coming across a poorly maintained stile or overgrown hedgerow access can make you feel like an intrepid explorer but away from the walking world, those with good sea legs were the true explorers of the day and a visit to the Golden Hind helps bring all that to life.

Once you have visited the Hind you still have the return journey to enjoy and walking back up the hill you may wish you had your own ship to help convey you round the coast to the car park!

For more ideas about walking in devon please visit my main site.

New Walk - Kingswear Coast Walk

2010-01-11T09:43:00.000Z

Hello! Long time no speak. Happy New Year and all that. Hope you got that new pair of walking boots you wanted for Christmas!

To get the New Year off to a great start why not enjoy this lovely South Devon walk. Although I've called it Kingswear, it is actually exploring the coastline just south of Kingswear which is owned and managed by the National Trust.

Take care if you are thinking of heading out to do this walk in the current weather. The paths are still likely to be icy and the coast path is well exposed in several places where a fall would be serious and potentially fatal. Don't let that put you off though! In normal weather conditions this is an excellent walk offering some excellent views along the coast.

I hope you are all keeping safe and warm at the moment. The snow was lovely and walking across the fields enjoying the undisturbed snow was magic. I'm sure lots of great photos have been captured of Devon under it's white blanket. However now that it has turned to ice it has made going for a walk an extreme sport. I don't fancy another hip replacement so I haven't been out that much. Still the walking poles have come into their own recently.

On the plus side it has given me time to add this walk to the site. Please have a look and take the chance to enjoy any of my great devon walks.

Walking in Devon- Weather Caution!

2009-11-19T16:35:00.000Z

With the current bad weather I just wanted to remind walkers to be careful as conditions are likly to be difficult at present. Last week saw Devon & Cornwall take the brunt of the Atlantic's fury as storms battered the region.

At the current time walking in Devon could prove to be a challenge and walkers should check weather conditions beofre they go out and be prepared to abandon their walk if the weather turns against them.

The recent heavy rains will have seen river levels rise. On the moors clapper bridges and other river crossings may no longer be usable. Please do not attempt to cross a fast flowing river if the crossing is submerged. If you are out in heavy rain it is also possible that you could meet a flash flood as river levels can rise suddenly.

Ground conditions are likely to be poor, in some areas there may be an increased risk of a slip or fall due to wet or unstable ground.

Coastline walks may also be difficult. High winds or blustery conditions may make some routes unpassable. It is always better to turn back than to risk losing your footing due to a sudden wind.

As always a healthy dose of common sense will keep you safe and allow you to continue enjoying devon walks.

Cornwall walks anyone?

2009-10-23T09:49:00.000+01:00

The Devon Walks crew are off to Cornwall for the weekend. We're hoping to get a few good walks in and praying that the rain stays away. Obviously we can't share these walks with you on the site but if we have any fun adventures we will post them here so if you decide to head further west you can enjoy them too.

Sadly the site has been a little quiet of late in terms of new info on walking in Devon and with the rugged cornish coast bekoning it will be next week before we get to update you on the North Devon walking festival, although you can find more info on that at http://www.walkingnorthdevon.co.uk/

If you've come across any great walks that you'd like to share with us please email info@devon-walks.co.uk and let us know if you are happy for us to put the walk up on the site. Also please include any photos you would like to share and we will put them up on the site with the route description.

Anyway expect to here about a bit more about Cornwall next week.

Happy Hiking!

You can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a Mid Devon man...

2009-10-14T10:04:00.000+01:00

no time to talk! But I do have time to tell you about the new walk around Witheridge up now on the

site. This circular walk in Devon makes use of the long distance two moors way path and is a lovely route across some of the lushest countryside devon has to offer.

Sandwiched between Exmoor and Dartmoor this area of Mid-Devon is often ignored by the casual
visitor but the beautiful pillowy landscape is well worth exploring. Wooded valleys shade gentle
meandering rivers whilst undulating hills offer rich pastureland.

Many of the farms which bring life to the countryside here are listed in the Doomsday book. Although the area was sparesly populated at the time. In fact the middle ages were tough in the moorland fringes in Devon and compared to the rest of the country the area was well behind in
agricultural technology. Many of the basic comforts the population were enjoying elsewhere in the
country were absent in Devon for another 100 years.

The harsh aspect of the village is what inspired it's name- 'Weather Ridge'. It's exposed hillside
position means that it catchs the full brunt of prevailing southwesterly winds and storms. And
certainly this isn't a walk to be attempted in poor weather. Conversely on a clear day you are
treated to some of the most appealing vistas in Devon with views out towards Dartmoor being
especially enchanting.

The area is rich in wildlife too. In particular the Little Dart is home to the elusive otter, as
pictured on http://www.witheridge-devon.com/ (above). Part of this walk does follow along the river
bank although I do not know if it is an area where otter have been sited. Unfortunately I do not have the wildlife enthusiasts temperament, lacking the patience to sit for the amount of time required to see these animals.

If you do attempt this walk please take the time to explore the area further and it really is one of the most unspoilt areas of the county. And of course, for more great ideas for walking in Devon head to Devon-Walks.co.uk!

Attack of the Pheasants.

2009-10-13T09:25:00.000+01:00

There's a new walk at Devon-Walks.co.uk around Molland Common on Exmoor. This is a great Exmoor walk as it offers you the oppourtunity of seeing Exmoor's two most famous inhabitants, the Red Deer & Exmoor Ponies. At this time of year you are also likely to see plenty of pheasants as I did when researching the walk on Sunday. This is the story of that walk.

We parked by the Church in Molland and eyed up the London Inn (http://www.mollandinn.co.uk/Home.cfm), hoping it would be open on our return. As we left the village and headed down the lane we started to see the first of the many Phesants we encountered on the walk. Upon our approach they would leap through the hedgerows or startle us by flying out of a bush just over our heads.

At the top of this lane was our first navigational challenge. You leave the lane to pick up a footpath but just to confuse us the track that you would assume is the footpath is actually just a field access and you have to go through the gate tucked in on the left in the photo below. There is a footpath sign but it is hidden by the hedge.

From there we headed through several fields with the pheasant parade continuing ahead of us as they whooped & ulululed, crashed & flew out of our path. In the final field we headed steeply downhill having to pick our way through the bracken and brambles taking a guess at which muddy sheep track was the footpath and eventually locating the stile amongst the undergrowth.

At the top of the next lane we followed a tarmac farm path bridleway and soon found the source of all these pheasants. In the fields above us we saw plenty of feed bins and can only assume that there will be plenty of tasty game pies on offer at this farm through the winter. The Bridleway carries through the farmhouse garden and we were treated to a real luxury, an electronic gate! This was a novelty I have never encountered on a walk before and was filled with child-like glee as the gate swung quietly open and then closed again after we had gone through.

From the farm the bridleway turns left and heads downhill into a patch of woodland. It was here that we disturbed several red deer in the woods, one of which came crashing out onto the path before jumping a fence and heading off across the field. If a pheasent flying out of a hedge makes you jump try witnessing a deer jump out at you, it's a real thrill. After this we came across yet more pheasents all doing their best to warn each other of our approach so the air was filled with whoops and honks.

After this we came out onto the open moor and found ourselves in the company of some exmoor ponies, including a young fowl. They really are a most enchanting animal with coats that are so evocotive of the moorland colours around them.

Finally it was back on the lanes to Molland and the pheasants had one last attempt at scaring the wits out of my companion by leaping from every bush, tree and any other item of foliage that came to hand.

We returned to the car and set off for home, forgetting about our pub intentions but we were able to recify this with the swift appearance of the black cock inn and a pint of exmoor ale.

For more free Devon Walks please check out the site.

Fancy a stroll? Just from here to Weymouth.

2009-10-07T15:46:00.000+01:00

There’s a new page up at Devon-Walks.co.uk all about long distance paths in Devon. There is a full run down of the options available to you from the obvious like the South West Coast Path to the intriguing, like the Orange Way.

These paths are all well signposted and offer a range of challenges from one week to walk the Two Moors Way unto several months and 3x the height of Everest to walk the SWCP. Local Authorities and independent organisations, like the South West Coast Path Association, put a lot of time and money into creating and maintaining these paths and it is important that we support them. Often they are a great base for shorter walks but to experience them in their full glory is something that I’m sure all walkers dream about.

All of these paths appeal to me for various reasons but nothing is as big a draw as the South West Coast Path. Who hasn’t imagined what it would be like to have the time and the money to attempt this mammoth challenge in one go. Sadly for most of us we have to tackle it over weekends and over the odd week’s holiday. Quite apart from the time required the accommodation costs and logistical challenges would be extensive.

Many people undertake these challenges on behalf of a charity and raise handsome amounts for it too. Quite rightly in my opinion, although they are probably doing something they love and have had designs on for years it is certainly no walk in the park, to borrow a suitable phrase. The personal sacrifice and challenge can be great but no one who has completed such a trip has ever felt dimished by it’s undertaking and people often grow in extraordinary ways in the face of adversity.

If any of you do harbour the desire to attempt any of these paths, I urge you to create every opportunity you can to achieve you aim. You will not regret it and will be elevated among your peers as a doer instead of a dreamer. Go forth & walk!

Of course for those with more modest desires there are still plenty of great Devon Walks that take only a couple of hours to be found on the site.

New Walk- Newton Poppleford in East Devon

2009-09-28T11:18:00.000+01:00

There is a new walk on Devon-Walks.co.uk, the Newton Poppleford Circular. I created this walk partly to highlight the East Devon Way, an often overlooked long distance path and partly because I like the name of the village!

Newton Poppleford was established in the 15th Century and the name roughly translates from old English as New Town (of) Pebble Ford. The Pebble ford was at that time the only way to cross the nearby River Otter. Today it is situated on the main road from Exeter to Sidmouth. I think this is a lovely village that is typical of the pleasant villages you get in this part of the county.

The East Devon Way is a 40 mile path between Lyme Regis and Exmouth. Although there are a couple of climbs the route is not overly challenging and I believe it could make a nice weekend trip with an overnight stay in Sidbury.

The section of the East Devon Way that features in this walk includes the section over Harpford Commom. This is part of the pebble bed heaths that includes Aylesbeare Common. It is home to a rich selection of wildlife in particular there are over 30 species of butterfly. If you are vesting in late summer be sure to look out for brimstone fritillaries.

I hope you enjoy the walk and please keep an eye out for more great Devon Walks coming soon.

New Walking Equipment Page on Devon-Walks.co.uk

2009-09-24T10:16:00.000+01:00

We’ve added a new walking equipment page to the Devon-Walks.co.uk website. Check it out for a quick guide to the gear you need to enjoy walking in Devon to it’s fullest. The article covers all equipment areas including the most important item of kit, the walking boot.

Having a good quality pair of walking boots is an absolute must for maximum comfort when walking. The wrong shoe can be an irritant, say if it’s not waterproof on a wet walk and your feet are damp and cold. Or it could be more serious, where a poorly fitting boot gives you blisters that remain painful for some time. The worst case scenario is that you could sustain a serious injury, to your ankle for example, by tripping or slipping. This could stop you enjoying a Devon walk for quite some time, what could be worse!

The importance of a good boot has become such a focus that some shops offer specialised fitting services. In fact in some larger stores I have seen a plastic moulded bridge of ‘rough ground’ for customers to walk over to test fit and grip on uneven surfaces. I’m not sure I’m entirely convinced that 2 metres of plastic knobbles are really a great aid when trying to decide on a new pair of boots but it certainly makes for great entertainment.

Personally I don’t think you can find one pair of boots that are suitable for all conditions. A main bugbear of mine is that the sturdier boots which have a strong sole that are excellent when walking in muddy conditions seem to have absolutely no grip when walking across rocks. For anyone that enjoys a walk on the coast, or even scaling the odd Tor, having a flexible sole that provides some grip on a smooth rock surface is a must. Admittedly the stiff sole provides the best base for longer hikes but even a wet country lane can prove treacherous in this kind of boot. Therefore I favour a lighter trail boot with more flexibility. You sacrifice some ankle support but it does live you free to bound from rock to rock whilst your boot wearing companions march steadily beside you.

In the summer I like a trail shoe in good weather. These very light low cut shoes are almost a trainer in some respects and don’t look out of place around town. They tend to be well ventilated and being lightweight won’t bog you down in the heat. These are best sorted to shorter walks and I would still recommend a light boot on longer hikes.

Whilst it is best to try boots on in store if you are familiar with a particular brands sizing it is well worth ordering online to enjoy the savings you get with the internet. I personally like to use Amazon as they are an established retailer with good customer services. They are normally thought of as a seller of books, CDs and other media but also stock a good range of walking equipment

New Walk on Dartmoor

2009-09-17T09:58:00.000+01:00

A new walk has been posted on the website- Hay Tor Circular.

This easy 4 mile walk features one of the iconic landmarks of Dartmoor. Hay Tor dominates the landscape but climbing to the top of the tor and you are rewarded with some of the finest views of Dartmoor on offer. In addition there are plenty of free car parks in the area, offering plenty of options for starting points to your walk.

This is a very popular area of Dartmoor so it is best avoided during school holidays as it does get very busy. My favourite time to visit is at dusk on a sharp winters day. Watching the low sun go down in the west, casting long shadows across the mist filled valleys truely is a magical experience.

Climbing is also popular at Hay Tor and it is always worthwhile to stop and watch those brave individuals pit themselves against the rough granite of the tor. There are companies in the area that offer an introduction to the sport if the sight of others dangling from the tor inspires you. Just don't look down!

If you are looking for a more sedate way to enjoy the countryside and wish to explore outside of Dartmoor please check out Devon-Walks.co.uk for more ideas on walking in Devon.

North Devon Autumn Walking Festival

2009-09-09T13:06:00.000+01:00

Following the success of the annual North Devon Walking festival, usually held in May, the organisers have decided to run an additional Autumn walking festival from the 18th to the 21st September.

There will be over 30 events with guided walks suited to all levels of ability. Several walks have a culinary focus with the availability of wild food becoming the main focus of the walks. The fungi forage is likley to be a very popular walk, and it provides an excellent oppourtunity to pick up some expert knowledge on a tricky subject.

Wildlife fans have not been forgotten to with the return of the popular deer search walks led by an experienced Exmoor Park Ranger. There is also the chance to explore some areas of private land not normally open to the public. The guided tour of the grounds of Hartland Abbey is sure to be a highlight of the festival and is a must for all those Jane Austen fans as a cottage within the grounds was used as a location for the BBC Sense & Sensibility adaptation.

All walks should be booked in advanced with ticket prices at around £5. For more information visit www.walkingnorthdevon.co.uk.

If you can't take part in the festival or prefer to walk alone visit Devon-Walks.co.uk to see some of the best walks in Devon

Walking in Devon

2009-09-05T10:20:00.000+01:00

Getting ready for a nice long weekend walk, and guess what it looks like it's going to rain! If you are going to go walking in Devon remember to back your waterproofs. With the summer we've had my mac has seen more use than my sunscreen that's for sure.

We're off to Bratton Fleming for a new walk and hopefully a bit of blackberrying if we're lucky. If it's any good expect to see it on Devon-Walks soon.

Happy Hiking!

Welcome to the Blog!

2009-09-04T09:49:00.000+01:00

Devon-Walks.co.uk welcomes you to the new blog. We will be posting all the

latest news here. Whenever a new Devon walk is posted it will be announced

on the blog. The web site is still in the early stages so expect to see regular

updates over the next few months. We will also use this blog to document our

own experiences of walking in Devon and perhaps a few behind the scenes

reports on how the new walks get put together.

Till then, happy hiking!