To make this walk circular, the first mile is on-road and climbing – but this means you gain height quickly, can admire the riches of Devon’s hedgebanks, enjoy wonderfully expansive farmland views –and the best bits are to come!
Once off the road the paths traverse lush countryside around the river valley, an area of tranquil and wildlife-rich walking that can, time and season permitting, be awash with birdsong. Part of the route goes alongside the Tarka Line, the picturesque train line between Exeter and Barnstaple, on which Yeoford Station sits. Rather delightfully, this is a ‘request’ stop, so if you plan to catch a train you’ll need to wave it down. The walk finishes on the station platform, where a small book-swap is located in the waiting room.
The walk
1. From the bridge over the railway head along the road through Yeoford, passing The Duck (which serves excellent food) on your left. At the road junction take the option towards Copplestone, uphill beside a lofty cob and stone wall. In a third-of-a-mile the road reaches Keymelford Cross. Keep on towards Crediton and Copplestone, admiring lovely views to the right, back across Yeoford and to distant Dartmoor. In 200m turn left at Brandise Corner (it says ‘Cross’ on the map), still towards Copplestone, soon reaching a fine gateway view towards Colebrooke, with its prominent church tower. Continue past the entrance to View Farm on the left and ignore the turning right at Hollacombe Cross.
Keep ahead, and in just over 300m you find a footpath going left down the surfaced drive of South Coombe Farm. Take this.
2. Follow the drive towards a beautiful view: tumbling farmland is all around and Dartmoor is far off to the south-west. At the bottom of the hill pass through a yellow-arrowed gate and keep straight on to another arrowed gate (the farm track swings right and you leave it here).
Walk along the bottom of the field, boundary to your right, with the farm buildings beyond it. At the end of the field go through a metal farm gate and bear right, as the arrow directs, following the fenceline round and passing beneath a magnificent old oak as the path drops downhill to another arrowed gate.
Beyond this gate, walk down the field crossing a marshy area in a few metres (this is where the bit about being well-booted applies!). Beyond the mush the path rises to reach a crossing track in about 20m.
3. Turn left along the track, immediately passing through an arrowed gate. The track ambles along the side of the valley but as it bends right, in about 150m, leave it and keep straight ahead across the field towards the far fence; a stream is down to your left and you’ll see a pond a little further along the valley.
The path goes through a gate in the fence then continues alongside the right-hand hedge of a very long field, a lovely stretch of walking along the rim of the valley, heading towards the building of Penstone Barton. The stream is some way down to your left, surrounded by scrubby areas that are great for wildlife, and another pond comes into view ahead and to the left. We met a host of extremely friendly sheep along here, so please look out – dogs on leads.
4. As you reach the end of the field two gates are ahead of you – aim for the lower, left-hand one that is closer to the pond. Beyond this gate follow the right-hand hedge, pond to the left. The path reaches a wooden gate; beyond it, keep walking along the right-hand boundary, towards the tower of Colebrooke Church.
At the end of the field an arrowed post directs left, still in the same field, heading down through orchard trees to another arrowed gate.
Beyond this little gate turn right on the well-trodden path with the hedge to your right, which shows evidence of earlier laying. The path arrives at a gate; keep ahead beyond it as the track passes through another arrowed gateway. Follow the right-hand hedge through a small field, at the end of which a gate leads onto the road. Turn left.
5. In about 50m the road reaches a footbridge that carries the unwellied over the ford, which may flood the road at this point. Continue towards the railway bridge and just before it take the footpath signed left into the field. The path now follows the right-hand edge of a lovely flat water-meadow, with the stream over to the left and the high embankment of the Tarka Lane up to the right. Occasional small trains may pass, be ready to wave. We are now following part of the Devonshire Heartland Way, a 43-mile, long-distance footpath between Okehampton and Stoke Canon.
The path leaves the end of the meadow, crosses a plank bridge then follows an enticing sylvan path below the embankment, stream to the left.
6. The path reaches a lane. Turn left for a few metres to cross the water, then go right up what looks like rough-hewn stone steps, but which are, in fact, filled sandbags. There’s an adjacent path if you prefer not to clamber. Cross the wooden footbridge then pass through the metal gate and continue along the path beside the Tarka Line. (There’s no signage here as it isn’t officially a public footpath, but this path is used as part of the Heartland Way, so we’re OK.)
The river meanders in and out on the left and soon a footbridge carries the path across the river, right next to the railway now. Stay on the path until it passes beneath the road bridge and arrives at bijou Yeoford Station.
Follow the station path up to the road and you’re back at the start point. The delights of The Duck await.
Simone Stanbrook-Byrne has written a selection of West Country guides including Circular Walks in Central Devon
Compass Points
Start point: The road bridge over the railway in Yeoford. Nearby postcode: EX17 5JB; grid ref:
SX783989
Parking: On Station Road in Yeoford, to the south of the station and River Yeo
Map: OS Explorer 113 Okehampton, 1:25 000 (this scale shows greater detail than the map printed here)
Distance: Just over 4 miles
Terrain: Roads, field tracks and paths. Sections can be very muddy, so be well-booted
Exertion: Easy once you’re beyond the longish uphill start
Dog data: Some road walking. Animals grazing. Expect loose farm dogs
Refreshments: The Duck, Yeoford, EX17 5JD (01363 85273)
Look out for:
Views to Dartmoor
Abundant birdlife
Trains to wave at
Station book-swap
Six things to do while you’re in the area: (check individual websites for details)
1: Take the Tarka Line, one of the country’s more picturesque lines. Its tiny rural stations are often used as the starting points for circular walks.
2: Visit Crediton, an appealing market town with an abundance of independent shops, including an award-winning community bookshop, and a majestic historic church.
3: Lunch at The Duck is a good way to treat yourself after the walk – check their website to see which days they are open at lunchtime.
4: Captain of Coleford is a friendly parrot who has been keeping an eye on the locals at the New Inn, Coleford, for more than 40 years – pay him a visit while you’re in the area.
5: Bow Garden and Aquatic Centre has a lovely restaurant, for further ingestion, as well as great plants and pond requisites.
6: Historic Downes House, just outside Crediton, occasionally opens to the public for pre-booked tours
Birds to look out for
With its thick hedgerows, scrub and plentiful streams, this walk is excellent for those inclined to a spot of ornithology. A few birds that you might see at different points along the way, and depending on the season of your walk include: Kingfishers, treecreepers, chiffchaffs, dippers , nuthatches, buzzards, grey wagtails, greenfinches, linnets, skylarks, blackcaps, great-spotted woodpeckers, swallows, whitethroats and green woodpeckers
