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Grab your walking boots
Walks in and around Hatherleigh
If you fancy leaving the car at home and getting active, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Hatherleigh itself has miles of public footpaths and ancient rights of way, across moorland, farm land, woodland and winding country lanes.
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The countryside is home to wildlife, ground nesting birds and livestock.
Please keep dogs on leads and remember to leave behind only footprints.
Passaford & Lover’s Walk
- Walk Length: Approx 2 miles
From the square walk to the right, down Market Street and Bridge Street, to the bridge. Cross the bridge and go straight across at the roundabout past the cricket ground and take the first left signposted to Northlew.
After a short distance you should see a public footpath sign pointing into a field on the left. Go through the pedestrian gate and keep to the riverbank on your left-hand side, walk through the first field. At the hedge, go through the gate into the next field and head diagonally up to the right, to the gate onto the lane.
Turn left onto the lane and follow it down to the left, to the pedestrian bridge over the river loo at pacified. Follow the track to the right turning left into the football field when you reach the end of the lane. Keeping to the right, walk along the side of the football pitch until you find a gated foot-bridge on your right hand side, heading towards the main road. Follow the path and cross over the main road through the pedestrian gate (with a further public footpath sign).
On entering the next field keep left and walk straight ahead, through another pedestrian gate into a small area of woodland. Keep to the right until you reach a timber set of steps with another small bridge leading over the stream. Proceed through the next field until you come to another livestock gate, continue through the gate and onto Lower Moor; Lower Moor is a great area for exercising dogs because there is never any livestock there. To get back to the town centre simply turn left and follow the road until you come down Higher Street. Upon reaching the crossroads, continue straight ahead onto High Street which will then take you onto market Street (bringing you out opposite One Market Street Café and the George Hotel).
Part War Horse Walk
- Walk Length: Approx 2 miles
From The Square, head towards the church and through the gates. Take the path to the right, passing the church on its eastern side and carry on up to the top, through another wooden gate. Proceed up Church Lane and head straight across the road, onto Sanctuary Lane.
Heading up Sanctuary Lane, take the second lane on the Right, before the large farm and sign posted to Lake Farm & Kings Field. Continue to the end of the track and through the metal gate, keep to the right, between the livestock fence and the hedge, then continue down, through the next gate (taking you into a small area of woodland) and over the bridge across a small stream. Climb over the stile straight ahead of you and proceed along the right hand boundary of the field, into the next field. From here, walk diagonally (you will be in the back right-hand corner of the field, you need to be exiting onto the lane in the front left-hand corner).
Turn left onto the lane, continuing until you reach a farmyard on the right-hand side. Continue through the farmyard, keeping to the right, until you come to an opening between two sections of hedge. Proceed along here, down the hill, crossing the stream and turning right into the woodland. Follow the path, continuing straight and then veering to the left, down the hill, crossing the ditch over another small bridge. Proceed up the hill, out of the woodland and continue straight through the field, through a metal pedestrian gate.
From here, you will see a thatched farmhouse with a duck pond (Groves Fishleigh, if you have an OS map to hand), take the pedestrian to the left of Groves Fishleigh, bypassing the former farm yard and then turn left back onto the lane. Follow the lane back and you will find yourself back at the junction of Sanctuary Lane/Oakfield Road.
Feeling more adventurous?
Then try the full war horse walk ... This walk can be extended through Arnolds Fishleigh, over the River Okement, through Nethercott Barton and Parsonage Farm, eventually bringing you out around half a mile from Iddesleigh village and The Duke of York Pub. We recommend using an OS map if you do choose to continue, as some of the field boundaries can get a little confusing if you haven’t walked it before.
Haywooda/Strawbridge Walk
- Walk Length: Approx 2 miles
From The Square, head towards the church and through the gates. Take the path to the left, passing the church on its western side and follow the footpath, into the new cemetery. Keep left, through a pedestrian gate at the end and turn right onto the track.
Follow the track, through a series of gates, under the underpass and over a stile. Follow this section of path and over a small footbridge, crossing the stream. Cross the next field, over another stile, then keep right, along the wooded path – at the end of which there will be another stile, again, go over this and follow the path the left along the riverbank. Continue on this path until you see a small disused railway building on the left. Follow the steps up the embankment and down the other side. This will take you to another pedestrian gate, go through this cross the field, exiting via the gate and turning right onto the lane.
Continue along the lane, until it brings you out to the main road. Carefully, cross the main road and walk up the steeply sloped path to the right hand side. This will bring you out onto Oakfield Road.
Turn right onto Oakfield Road and continue for approximately 500 yds, when you reach the modern houses on the left, turn right into the field (public footpath sign is visible from the road). Follow the hedge to your left. This will take you through three pretty fields and back to the churchyard.
Hatherleigh Moor Walk
- Walk Length: Approx 2 miles
A small amount of free parking is available next to The William Morris Monument on Hatherleigh Moor (EX20 3LL). If starting your journey from here, turn right and follow the road back towards town until you see a house called ‘Yollaberry’ on the right. On your left, opposite Yollaberry, is a pedestrian gate onto the moor.
If starting from the Square, turn left up Market Street and take the first right onto Park Road. Follow the road to the junction at the end, then turn left. Continue past the row of cottages on your right, until you see a house called ‘Yollaberry’. Turn right, through the pedestrian gate opposite Yollabery.
Facing away from town, follow the bridle path signs which will take you diagonally across the moor, down to a gate in the next run of livestock fencing. Go through the gate and walk straight across to a wooded area with a footbridge over a small stream; continue through the gate and walk straight ahead until you reach a gate onto the road. Cross the road and through the gate on the opposite side, picking up the next section of bridle path. Follow the direction of the sign, into the corner of the moor and cross the road again, entering the next section of moor via a livestock gate. Head left, following a well-worn path in the moorland up the slope. As the slope flattens out you will see a flattened out grassed track running to your right. Follow this track until you reach a livestock gate with fixed livestock pens to the left.
If you’ve parked at the Monument, turn right onto the lane and follow until you see another gate on your right. Walk straight up to the top of the moor and you will find yourself back at your car.
If you’ve walked from the square, follow the lane all the way back into town, down Higher Street and High Street. At the junction of High Street (opposite One Market St Cafe), turn right and after a short distance you will find yourself back at the Square.
