Continuing his series on his favourite local walks, Tom Davies describes a walk of 4.5 miles (2 hours) along the Upper Creedy Valley with splendid views at every stage. And for even better views you can extend the walk further.
This walk starts from Reedstown Cross on the Sandford to NewBuildings road at NGR 819035 where there is parking for 2 or 3 cars. For walking groups needing more parking space, the walk can start at the village hall car park in Sandford which will add 2.5 miles and another hour. Details of a further extension are given below.
Starting at (A) (Reedstown Cross) take the lane on your right towards Gipsies Corner and at the junction (B) take the right hand turn which leads downhill to Jackbacks Cross (C).
Here turn right continuing downhill to the Kennerleigh road at Stoneshill Cross (D). Turn left and in a short distance take the Dowrich road on your right at Coppice Cross (E).
When you reach Dowrich Bridge Cross (F) turn left and climb the short hill to the entrance to Dowrich Farm where you keep right on the East Village road. Carry on past Priorton Barton until you reach Lillybridge Cottage in a dip at (H). You must turn right here immediately before the cottage along a footpath, the sign for which is set 30m back from the road and difficult to spot.
Follow the footpath in the direction of North Creedy until you reach a collection of houses at (I) and then the public road at (J) where you need to turn left to North Creedy. In a short distance take the bridleway on your right at Rooks Court (K) and climb the hill to (L) on the Kennerleigh road. Turn right and then very soon left onto the footpath to Bawdenhayes Farm which will bring you to the public road at (M) where you turn right and back to the starting point.
A short extension
There are splendid views at all stages of this walk, and even more wonderful views may be had at the price of a short extension. This involves carrying on along the Newbuildings road from (A) to the lane to Middle Henstill at (Q) marked in red on the map.
Through the farmyard at Middle Henstill (R), noting the very remarkable thatched ash house, then continuing to East Henstill (S) and joining the public road at (T). Turn right and soon take the footpath on your left at (U) which brings you to the Kennerleigh road at (V) at which point you turn left and continue as before to (E).
For walking groups
For walking groups needing more car parking space, start at the village hall car park in Sandford (P) and walk along the road marked in red towards West Sandford, turning right at the first opportunity and up the unmarked hill towards New Buildings and point (A). This will add 2.5 miles to the walk starting at (A).
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