This is an easy 5 mile walk along quiet lanes with some splendid views of the Devon landscape as far as the Sidmouth Gap and the eastern edge of Dartmoor.

Mauve dashed line shows route. Red dashed line shows optional section.

Start at the Bewsley Hill car park (A) in Copplestone (just below the primary school) and walk to the cross roads on the A377 to admire the interlaced decorations on the listed Anglo-Saxon headless cross - some of the best in Devon.

Headless cross in Copplestone.

Take the footpath along the A377 towards Dulings Farm and just before the old primary school (which Ernest Bevin attended) (B) take the left turn along a lane which leads to Elston Barton (C). Here take the right turn to Lower Elston and Brandirons Cross (D). Here make a hairpin left turn and downhill towards point (E), a T-junction signposted to Woolsgrove.

Woolsgrove Farm

Take this lane downhill past Woolsgrove House (former home of Sir Thomas Bodley, founder of the Bodleian Library in Oxford)...

Woolsgrove House

...and then continue past Higher Woolsgrove to high point (F) where there are splendid views to be had.

Higher Woolsgrove
Looking West from point (F)
Looking East from point (F)

Continue to Newbuildings at (G)

Here you can begin the return leg by turning left which will take you back to the car park, or if you are feeling energetic you can make a visit to Beacon Chapel at H which as the name implies is a high point in the area and a gathering place for local festivities such as the Harvest Festival. This lane is known as The Ridgeway (part of an old road from Crediton to Barnstaple) and leads to Sandford and provides a very pleasant walk if transport back to Copplestone is available.

Posted 
Mar 25, 2022
 in 
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