Explore Mid Devon for National Walking Month
Did you know that May is National Walking Month? Walking is a brilliant way to stay active, as well as helping you explore your surroundings.
This month aims to celebrate the health and happiness benefits of walking and we thought this was the perfect opportunity to share some of our favourite Mid Devon walks with you!
Mid Devon is a honeycomb of walking trails, from town centre heritage trails to rugged countryside rambles, and everything in between. We’ll be celebrating walking in our beautiful region in more detail later in the year with our first ever Mid Devon Walking Festival, but here’s a taster to get you started.
Lace up your walking boots, grab a map, and head out into the great outdoors!
Exe Valley Way
Mid Devon river valley
No summary of walking in Mid Devon would be complete without a mention of the fabulous Exe Valley Way. The full walk is a long distance route, as the name suggests, following the Exe Valley, showcasing the variety our county has to offer. While the full route is almost 50 miles (80km), the Exe Valley Way is split into 10 shorter stages, giving you plenty of options for taking on the trail! The Exe Valley Way cuts right across Devon, from coast to moor, starting at the Exe Estuary on the South coast and finishing in Exford in the Exmoor National Park.
Five of the ten stages take you through Mid Devon: Stage 3 – Brampford Speke to Thorverton, Stage 4 – Thorverton to Bickleigh, Stage 5 – Bickleigh to Tiverton, Stage 6 – Tiverton to Bampton and Stage 7 – Bampton to Brushford.
Taking on any of these routes will treat you to riverside walks, country lanes, and far-reaching views of our beautiful rural landscape.
View the Route: https://www.exploredevon.info/activities/walk/long-walks/exe-valley-way/
Tips: Do some research ahead of your walk to check out local bus routes, refreshments stops and sites of interest so you can relax and enjoy your day.
Two Moors Way
The Two Moors Way is a challenging long distance route that takes you from Dartmoor to Exmoor, crossing through Mid Devon on your way. The original 102 mile route can be extended even further to make it a Coast to Coast for those that want an extra challenge!
Walking in Mid Devon
The route takes you through wild moorland and remote countryside, giving you a real taste of the two stunning National Parks that Mid Devon sits between. Mid Devon offers a lovely contrast to the rugged, barren beauty of Dartmoor National Park in the middle of the route, with its narrow hedged lanes cutting across the hilly landscape, dotted with farms, hamlets and remote churches. The route then crossed the picturesque valleys and romantic moorland of Exmoor National Park, finishing at the sea cliffs of Lynmouth.
View the Route: https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/two-moors-way/
Tips: The route is well way-marked but does take you through remote areas and the weather can change quickly so having a map and compass with you and knowing how to use them is a very good idea!
The Grand Western Canal Country Park
The Grand Western Canal is one of the jewels in Mid Devon’s crown. The country park and nature reserve follows the canal as it meanders for 11 3/4 miles through our beautiful countryside. The canal towpath offers mainly flat, smooth walking, making it suitable for families and mobility scooters and gentle strolls, as well as those looking to take on the full route.
Grand Western Canal
The canal starts in Tiverton at the Canal Basin where you’ll find a Visitor Centre to help you learn about the fascinating history of the canal and the wildlife to look out for along your walk. The Basin is also the home of the Tiverton Canal Co. one of the last horse-drawn barge attractions left in the UK. The towpath then passes through pretty fields, woodland and villages, which plenty of the heritage of the canal surviving to keep an eye out for.
There are several circular routes, like the Swan’s Neck Circular, that branch off from the canal making it a perfect way to explore the surrounding countryside.
View the Route: https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/the-grand-western-canal/
Tips: Make a day of it and stop off in one of the picturesque villages the canal passes through and visit one of the many pubs, cafes and farm shops you’ll find along the route.
Culmstock Beacon
In its position perched high on the Blackdown Common, Culmstock Beacon offers visitors stunning far-reaching views across the
Culmstock Beacon
landscape. Its location made it the perfect place for the beehive-like Elizabethan beacon, one of a series which would have been used to light fires to warn of approaching enemies.
The beacon is set in the heart of the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which offers some beautiful walks for those keen to explore the area. There are lots of routes throughout the AONB taking you through river valleys, quaint villages and scenic
bridle paths. The walk we feature here takes you from Hemyock to Culmstock through fields, woods and heathland. The climb up to Culmstock Beacon is well worth the effort when you’re rewarded with such breathtaking views (just as you’re trying to get your breath back!).
View the Route: https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/culmstock-beacon-from-hemyock/
Tips: Take a camera with you to capture the beauty of the views from the Beacon!
Bampton
The picturesque historic charter town of Bampton was awarded ‘Walkers are Welcome’ status in 2022. This was a real recognition of the fact that it is one of the best spots for walkers in the county. The town, nestled in a wooded valley, is criss-crossed by countless footpaths that take you along country lanes, through fields and along rivers. The town loves to share its routes and experience with visitors, making a great place for walking holidays and short breaks.
The view from the Motte in Bampton
Bampton Heritage and Visitor Centre runs regular guided walks as well as offering weekly Wellbeing Walks and Town Trails exploring their heritage. They have also put together two excellent walking guides celebrating their walking routes, ‘Bampton Bounds’ and ‘Out of Bounds’, available from several outlets in the town, including the centre.
You’ll find several routes starting from Bampton on our Walking Map, but the one we feature here is the Coldharbour Farm Circular. The walk is taken from the Bampton Bounds book and offers panoramic views across the Exe and Batherm Valleys and over to Exmoor National Park.
View the Route: https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/bampton-walk-2/
Tips: Check out Bampton’s website and get in touch with Bampton Heritage and Visitor Centre ahead of your visit to find out more about the routes on offer and when their next guided walks are taking place.
Want more?
Head to our Walking Map to explore more routes. Not sure how it all works? No problem! Check out our guide to navigating the interactive map to find out more.
Mid Devon Walking Festival 2024 takes place from 14th – 29th September. Look out for special guided walks and tours to take part in, interactive activities, and family fun! More news coming soon.
National Walking Month runs from 1st – 31st May 2024.
Countryside Code
Whichever route you choose, please observe The Countryside Code. Please park your car with consideration to residents and other road users and, most important of all, enjoy yourself and our lovely Mid Devon countryside.
The Countryside Code:
- Respect other people and enjoy the outdoors and the communities you visit.
- Leave gates and property as you find them.
- Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home.
- Keep dogs under effective control.
- Plan ahead and be prepared and use pathways unless wider accesses are available.
- Follow advice and local signage.
- For the full Countryside Code, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code
