Village and Countryside Walks

Around Buckland Monachorum.

Starts from: The car park opposite Long Ash Garden Centre PL20 7LL

Distance: 5.5 miles

Difficulty: Quite an easy walk but there is one  steep road to walk up.

Description: This walk takes you through through the village of Buckland Monachorum which has an excellent pub the Drake Manor  and a lovely church. You will explore the footpaths down to and along the  river Tavy  and walk up and  on to the northern end of Roborough Down passing an Iron age camp.

Yelverton to Buckland Monachorum 

 and back.

Starts from:  Any one of the dispersal bays on the old wartime airfield near Roborough Rock Yelverton.

Distance:  6 miles

Difficulty: Easy walk no long steep hills and mostly  footpaths and minor roads.

Description: Countryside walk from Yelverton to Buckland                Monachorum and back via the Garden house a 19th Century house surrounded by 10 acres of beautiful themed gardens. The footpath goes through the edge of the grounds but to see all of it or visit the cafe you will need to pay an entrance fee. 

Bridestowe and Sourton

Starts from: St Bridgets Church  in Bridestowe

Distance: 6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate as there is a climb up to the top of Sourton Tors.

Description: A moderately easy 6 mile walk out and back through mostly level farmland and then all the way up to the top of Sourton Tor to see a magnificent view from the top. You will come back via Pig Leg Lane and also go past the Highwayman pub said to be Britain’s most unusual pub.

Four Bridges

Starts from: In the village of Horrabridge  

Distance:  6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate as there are a few ups and downs.

Description: A part moorland part river valley walk to go under or over 4 bridges including the Grade 1 listed bridge in the village as well as the magnificent Gem Bridge built in 2012. This is also a Bustop  walk that starts at the bus stop on the A386 and visits 3 of the 4 bridges.

 

Gibbet Hill

Starts from: The very edge of Mary Tavy where the road to Brentor meets the open moor.

Distance:  7 miles

Difficulty: Moderate if you walk to the top of Gibbet Hill but easy if you decide not to.

Description: A walk from the the edge of Mary Tavy to go through the village of North Brentor and back over Gibbet Hill. There is a bit of road walking but mostly footpaths tracks and open moor. There is an excursion to see the church on top of Brent Tor. Included with Dartmoor walks as there is a moorland section.

Horrabridge to Huckworthy

Starts from: The middle of Horrabridge near the bridge.

Distance: 5 miles.

Difficulty: Easy walk.

Description: A leisurely 5 mile ramble  from the middle of the village out to the hamlet of Huckworthy and it’s picturesque bridge returning via Knowle common. A mixture of little lanes and footpaths.

 

Peter Tavy to Cox Tor.

Starts from: The Church approach road in Peter Tavy

Distance:  6 miles or a 3.5  mile walk if you do the shortcut.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Description: This walk will take you up out of the village to the lower slopes of Cox Tor skirting the very edge of the open moor and then returns to Peter Tavy via the  edge of Mary Tavy by twice crossing  the river Tavy.  The walk can be shortened to a 3.5 mile walk if you wish. It could be extended to 9 miles if you join it to the Cox Tor circuit walk in Dartmoor Walks.

Tamar Tavy Trains and Tracks

Starts from: Bere Ferrers quay just down from the Old Plough Inn.

Distance: 7 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate

Description: A rural  and woodland walk all around the southern half of the Bere Peninsular with only a small amount of road walking. This is also Walk 2 of the Tamar Valley Walks except that this walk starts in the village and not at the  Railway station.

Whitchurch stone stiles and kissing gates

Starts from: The Whitchurch Inn next to the Church in the village of Whitchurch by the Church.

Distance: 4 miles.

Difficulty: An easy walk with just one short steep path at the end.

Description: A very varied but mostly rural walk from  Whitchurch to Plasterdown via the moorland edge  hamlet of  Middlemoor  returning via Fullamoor lane and over a mile of just footpaths.

Milton Abbot Meadwell and Marystowe

Starts from: St Constantine Church in Milton Abbot

Distance: 8 miles.

Difficulty. Moderate as there are a few ups and downs.

Description: A countryside walk  that goes from the church in  Milton Abbot to the church in  Marystowe and back via Chillaton. There is a bit  of road walking but mostly tracks and footpaths with some splendid West Devon views.

    Walkhampton Church Walk

Starts from: The centre of Walkhampton  Distance: 3.75miles                                Difficulty:  Moderate as its a  bit of a hill up to the church. 

Description: A walk that takes in fields as well as a bit of moorland and some very old footpaths. Except for the hill up to the church its an easy ramble with some lovely views.

Germansweek and Roadford Reservoir

Starts from: The lay-by close to the bridge over the north east corner of Roadford reservoir.

Distance: 5 miles.

Difficulty: Generally an easy walk  with a few minor ups and downs.

Description: A delightful walk with magnificent views that takes you past as well as over Roadford Reservoir and along footpaths and tracks around the village of Germansweek which has a lovely little church.

          Brentor Church and Parish Walk

Starts from: The church car park on the opposite side of the road.

Distance: slightly over 4 miles.

Difficulty: Generally an easy walk discounting the initial climb up to the church

Description: The walk will take you to the top of Brent Tor and the 13th century church of St Michael De Rupe and then down the   other side to visit North Brentor village. You will then return to the Church car park by walking the little lanes and public footpaths where you will see Brent Tor Church from all angles.

Meavy village to  Burrator Reservoir

Starts from : The Royal Oak in Meavy

Distance: 2.5 miles

Difficulty: An easy walk but you do have to walk up hill at the start.

Description:

Starting from the pub in Meavy you will walk up to the moorland edge and onto the disused track bed of the railway that once served Princetown. You will pass the waterfall from the Devonport leat that now flows into the reservoir. On the way back you may well pass  an ice cream van but you will walk through a  lovely wooded area and see some writing on a wall.

Lyd and Lew Valley

Starts from: Burley Down Wood car park

Distance: 6 miles

Difficulty: A moderate walk with several non strenuous hills. 

Description: A countryside walk taking in some quite long countryside and woodland footpaths plus some minor road walking but you would be unlucky to see more than 2 cars. A walk to explore this sparsely populated area of West Devon.  

Stickle path and South Zeal 

Starts from: Sticklepath

Distance: 4.5 miles

Difficulty: A generally moderate walk with a couple of steep paths

Description: A village, moorland fringe and woodland walk that crosses the river Taw and also goes past 4 pubs. A really picturesque walk.