Devonshire Heartland Way
The Devonshire Heartland Way is an inland route for walkers, which is approximately 45 miles in length. It mainly uses ancient footpaths and bridleways and, in some places, minor country roads. This walk can be made shorter and joined at any point along route. For the benefit of readability, we have broken the route down into three sections: Okehampton to North Tawton, North Tawton to Crediton, and Crediton to Stoke Canon. Waymarkers displaying the Spindle Berry Flower are found along the route.
Devonshire Heartland Way Waymarker with Spindle Berry Flower
Walkers can make the most of connections to the Tarka Trail long distance footpath at North Tawton, the Two Moors Way long distance footpath at Colebrooke, or the Tarka Railway Line at Yeoford, Newton St Cyres or Crediton. There is the great option to begin the walk at Okehampton Station, walk to Crediton and catch the train back to where you set off!
Accommodation, attractions and eateries can be found at points all along the route including the simple and quite unique church of St Mary’s at Honeychurch, The Waie Inn, Down St Mary Vineyard, Shobrooke Park, The Duck at Yeoford and Crediton Parish Church as well as the many shops and eateries in the market towns of North Tawton and Crediton.
Setting Off
The Way’s starting point at its western end is the railway station at Okehampton situated on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park. The route starts to cross through the heart of the Devonshire countryside passing through hamlets and villages with thatched cottages and ancient churches. By using winding and rising deep forgotten leafy country lanes and by crossing open pasture fields, the walk reaches its eastern end in the village of Stoke Canon in the valley of the Exe.
Eastbound Directions from Okehampton to North Tawton
- Fatherford: On leaving the car park of Okehampton station, descend a flight of steps opposite the main building to the bridleway below. Go along this stoned track through the trees and cross the fields until you reach a stile at Fatherford.
- Gypsy Corner: Cross the river by the wooden footbridge and walk up the lane to Exeter road. Cross the road and walk along the path to the petrol station at Stockley Hamlets. Turn left and take the road through the hamlet of Gypsy Corner cross roads.
- Treehill Farm: From the cross roads, take the footpath signed across fields to the hamlet of Corscombe. Pass through Corscombe and walk to the next crossroads. Take the left hand fork and walk the road to a lane on your right. Use this lane and walk across fields to Treehill farm.
- Trecott: After leaving Treehill Farm, use the footpath across fields to Halford Manor. Then walk the road to Rowden Manor and then on to Beacon Cross on the B3215. Cross this road and then make your way to the hamlet of Trecott.
- Bullands Cross, Sampford Courtenay: After passing Trecott, use the footpath to Sampford Courtenay, exiting onto the road near the New Inn. Take the road into the village until you come to a road junction and take the road on your left leading past the village hall to Bullands Cross.
- Honeychurch: At Bulland Cross use the green lane to Higher Cliston. From here, walk along Honeychurch Lane to a gate at its end, then across fields to Frankland Ford Bridge. Take the stile on your left after the bridge and cross to Honeychurch.
- North Tawton: After leaving Honeychurch, take the road to Bondleigh Moor Cross. Turning Left, continue along this road to Bondeigh. On reaching Post-Box Cross, use the road that is signed to Haywoods and when reaching Lake Farm take the footpath through the plantation and across the fields to meet with the Tarka Trail beside the river Taw. After crossing Yeo Bridge, walk along the track to the farm and use the footpaths across fields to the town of North Tawton.
Eastbound Directions from North Tawton to Crediton
- Ashridge Moor Cross: From here, take the road out of the town to Bondleigh. On going up Bouchers Hill, at a road junction, take the road n your right which will bring you to a bridleway leading to Ashridge Moor Cross.
- Down St Mary Mill: Walk along the road to Newton Cross and then onto Baron’s Wood Cross. Take the road signed to East Leigh and you will see on your right a footpath sign post that will take you across fields to the village of Zeal Monachorum. From the village take the lane to Tuckingmill Bridge and turning left use the footpath through the quarry until you come to the old mill of Down St Mary.
- Appledore Farm: After passing the mill, use the footpath to the road leading to Merrifield and then use the footpath to Aller Lane and Gate. Walk for a short distance to the A3072 main road at Clannaborough Cross and carefully cross to the bridleway on the opposite side. Use this bridleway then to Appledore Cottages.
- Colebrooke: On leaving these cottages, walk a short distance on the road to a sign marked as the Two Moors Way. Use this footpath passing the farm and Paschoe Farm and House until you come to Ford. Take the footpath signed on the opposite side of the lane leading to Horwell Barton and on reaching the road, turn right and walk until you come to a footpath sign. Use this footpath passing Brocks Farm and then onto the village of Colebrooke.
- Penstone: After Colebrooke, use the narrow track beside the church known as Drunkards Lane to the road at its end and turn right. From here on the opposite side of the road, take the footpath over this field to the railway line below. Cross to the road leading through Penstone and walk to cross the Ford and to the footpath on your left.
- Gunstone Mill: Take this path beside the railway until you come to railway station and the village of Yeoford (Yeoford is regarded as being approximately the halfway point in the length of the Devonshire Heartland Way). From here, walk the road passing The Duck at Yeoford pub (formerly The Mare and Foal) and take right hand fork at the road junction until you come to a footpath sign post on your right. Walk this footpath to Neopardy. From Ne0pardy Cross, turn left and take the road signed to Gunstone Mill.
- Crediton Station: At Gunstone Mill, use the footpath through the old mill and cross fields to Posbury. Turning left when you reach the road, walk this road until you come to Uton and then onto Salmonhutch. Just before you reach the railway, take the footpath beside the river Yeo cross fields until you come to the road leading to the railway station at Crediton.
Eastbound Directions from Crediton to Stoke Canon
- Crediton Church: Crossing the railway line, take the left hand fork in the road and just after the car breakers yard, take the footpath on your left. This footpath takes you along fields to the back of Crediton. Passing its main school on your left, walk along a track until you come to a footpath on your right that leads down over a very steep field and then into the town. Walk down through the town to the red stoned Crediton Parish Church.
- Shobrooke Park: Just before you reach the church, turn left and walk down Church Street to its end and turn right. Walk to the road junction and take the right hand fork. Walk down to the next junction and take the left hand fork. When you come to a road leading into the trading estate, walk along to the Sports Centre on your left. Walk down the road leading to the centre’s entrance and use the footpath beside the tennis courts and across fields to cross the river Creedy and then to meet the road from Shobrooke. Turn left after crossing the stile and walk along the road to the entrance gate of Shobrooke Park. This park is a Nature Reserve and has many different species of wildfowl and birds to see.
- Shobrooke Mill: Walk up through the park to exit at the top and then take the road leading to the church. From here, take the left hand fork at the road junction until you see a footpath sign on your right. Use this footpath to the village of Shobrooke. Walk down through the village to a footpath marked on the right. Cross fields by this footpath meeting with the road at Shobrooke Mill.
- Langford: From the Mill, walk the road to Newton St Cyres for a short distance to a footpath signed on your right. On reaching its end and the road, continue on by taking the road marked to Shute. Take the next footpath on your right to the railway station at Newton St Cyres. Cross the railway and use the footpath beside the river across the fields to Langford.
- Brampford Speke: At Langford, use the signed footpath which is a green lane called Bidwell Lane, to a footpath on the right which leads across fields to the village of Upton Pyne. Turn left at the road and walk down through the village to a footpath sign on the right. Use this footpath to the village of Brampford Speke.
- Stoke Canon: Turn left and walk through the village and take the road to the church. Use the footpath that passes through the church yard to the latch gate and turn right and take the footpath down the bridge over the river Exe. After crossing the river, take the footpath going to the right and then walk along what at one time was the railway from Exeter to Tiverton and then across fields to the village of Stoke Canon. Cross the railway into the village and the end of the Devonshire Heartland Way walk.
- Dog Friendly
- Family Friendly
Cheese board served at Kitchen@25, Crediton with Waterhouse Fayre Chutney[/caption]
Waterhouse Fayre Chutney served at Kitchen @25[/caption]
The Bakehouse Café Bar, Cullompton[/caption]
Appledore Farm Eggs, served at The Bakehouse Café[/caption]
Wellhayes Vineyard Tour[/caption]
Wellhayes Winery Tour[/caption]
