08 November 2008 - Garden Visit: Garden House

Synopsis: A trip out with Mum to Garden House, Buckland Monachorum, which was full of autumn colour. A pleasant lunch in the convivial surroundings of the café at Garden House.

Photo Set – Flickr

(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)

Where does one go when stuck for an idea these days? Well, Google of course! So what would I find if I tried "autumn colour Devon". Well, I came up with this link to some photos taken at a place I'd not heard of before, Garden House, near Buckland Monachorum.

The weather forecast was reasonable for this Saturday, as the prediction was that one rain belt should have run through the night before, and the next wasn't due to his the South West until late afternoon. A window of opportunity!

I rang Mum and asked if she'd like to come too, and she said she would. Mum completes a quick circuit with Jaffa and we're ready to set off on for a drive over Dartmoor by about 10 am. The drive itself was pleasant, with Dartmoor looking wild and bleak in the russet hues of withered ferns and faded colours of wind-burnt grasses.

At the entrance to the Garden House we're told today is a 'free day'. How lucky was that? The garden we found to be full of vistas, and much is made of the way way the gardens are sculpted into the hillside. The church of Buckland Monachorum protruding through the trees further down the valley. The light was subdued and generally overcast, but this perhaps made it easier to photograph the spectrum of colours on display. The gardens being an excellent example of what colour there can be even in November. We were slightly late in the season for the best of the colour, but there was plenty of beautiful sights still to see.

Garden House - the house itself, where tea rooms serve excellent meals

We had lunch in the tea rooms which are in the house. This was a pleasant meal in quiet relaxing rooms. The cakes looked magnificent, but we resisted temptation!

 

 

Garden House - brimming with autumn colour

 

 

 

This is a single photo to provide an example of the vivid autumn colours on display in the garden. As the joys of this garden in autumn require few words, I recommend that if you wish to sample further you view my photos on Flickr, for which a link to these is provided above.

 

This proved to be a very worthwhile trip. A lovely day out. I shall definitely put a date in my calendar for next autumn, and spring too, as there are numerous azaleas and rhododendrons planted around the gardens.Garden House - Official Web Site. To find the Garden House see: Location - Google Maps

01 November 2008 - Walk: An Eggesford Woodland Trail (10.5 miles)

Synopsis: Travelled out from Exeter on what is known as the Tarka Line. A nice mix of forest and countryside walking. Also includes two grade II* listed churches although unfortunately on this day closed.

Photo Set – Flickr -:- (Map)

GPS Tracklog Download (.gpx) Microsoft OneDrive -:- Google Drive

 

Tracklog and Photos - Google My Map

Tracklog overlay - OSM – ViewRanger -:- OS – WheresThePath

 

(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)

Walk! Devon

This walk is route 5 from the book Walk! Devon. This is a favourite book of mine, as the walks are very well written up, easy to follow, and each is provided with Ordnance Survey 1/25,000 maps. All the walks are ‘GPS Enabled’, by which is meant that each has a table of waypoint grid references that can be loaded to a GPS unit to facilitate easy navigation. To see other walks from this book that I have completed, use the link under Tags to the right.

I had a flash of inspiration for this walk. I was running out of options for places to get to by bus, particularly with the reduced services of the winter schedule. But then it struck me, perhaps I could get to Eggesford by train. I knew there was a station there. When I checked, not only did I discover plenty of trains running from early to late, but also that I could catch the train from Digby & Sowton, my nearest station, just 10 minutes walk away. Ace! So it was to be the 8:06 that I was to catch, which once again meant a fairly early start. Still, the best of the weather was forecast for early in the day, so probably just as well.

Looking out on Eggesford Forest

This is very quiet country. Apart from passengers on the train journeys, I hardly met a soul all day long. I found the walk to be a splendid mix of cross-country and woodland, as the name suggests. The woods at Eggesford were actually closed for 'forestry work', which I of course ignored (could have been annoying!). I've never known forestry work to take place on a Saturday.

 

Church of St Paul. Unfortunately closed. Reputed to contain a 15th Century stone pulpit and an Elizabethan communion table.

 

 

Both churches I attempted to enter (Eggesford, Grade II* Listed and Brushford Grade II* Listed) were not open, which was a bit disappointing, especially as each is architecturally very interesting (see comments on access added to photos on Flickr). And besides that, boy, was there ever mud! I guess after the wet summer and now the autumn rains, the countryside is just one big waterlogged sponge. I was quite a sight by the end of the walk.

A good day's walk, and the timings were excellent. I had only a 10 minute wait for a train at Eggesford, with trains running very punctually. The self-service ticket vending machine at Digby & Sowton couldn't be simpler to use. Just wish it were clearer what are the 'off-peak' times. If the machine sells such tickets, why not explain what is off-peak!? Grrh! I settled on full-price at £8.50, £2.00 more than off-peak, to play safe. (Addendum: weekends are off-peak, which perhaps I should have known.)

Walk Statistics:

Total Distance: 10.5m
Total Ascent: 518 metres
Total Walk Time: (moving): 4 hrs 17 mins (elapsed): 5 hrs 50 mins
Maximum Elevation: 185 metres
Train: First Great Western from Digby, Sowton - 8:06 (outwards), 15:04 (return)

25 October 2008 - Walk: Drewsteignton and the Teign Valley

Synopsis: A quick look around the autumn gardens of Castle Drogo before setting off on my river walk. The walk followed Mr Drewe’s Path to the River Teign, and then followed the river back to Fingle Glen.

Photo Set – Flickr

(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)

The Teign Valley near Drewsteignton is usually to be relied on for autumn colour. I parked my car in Drewsteignton and then picked up a path found towards the top end of the village. The path joins the River Teign Vally not far from Castle Drogo.

Castle Drogo - Gardens

The day was rather dull and the light quite flat at the beginning of the walk, which made for limited photographic opportunities. I spent a little time walking around the gardens at Castle Drogo. There was a surprising amount of colour for this late in the season.

 

River Teign

 

 

 

I then picked up Mr Drewe's Path, which took me down to Hunter's Path. I Followed this path in the direction of the bridge, which is a footbridge across the river. This is a good location for photographs, one that I’ve previously visited for autumn colour. Luckily the sun came out momentarily just as I arrived at the river.

River Teign - Fingle Bridge

 

I then set off walking along the path that closely follows the River Teign. Eventually I reached the end of the river path at Fingle Bridge. From there I simply followed the road back up to Drewsteignton village.

So, not a demanding day's walk, but lovely sights to be seen. Short but sweet!

11 October 2008 - Walk: The Tiverton Triangle (13.3 miles)

Synopsis: The name Heathcote looms large over the town of Tiverton. This walk provided a nice mix of town and country. Tiverton is worth more time than I could spare it on this day. Had plenty of sun!

Photo Set – Flickr -:- (Map)

GPS Tracklog Download (.gpx) Microsoft OneDrive -:- Google Drive

 

Tracklog and Photos - Google My Map

Tracklog overlay - OSM – ViewRanger -:- OS – WheresThePath

 

(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)

Walk! Devon

This walk is route 8 from the book Walk! Devon. This is a favourite book of mine, as the walks are very well written up, easy to follow, and each is provided with Ordnance Survey 1/25,000 maps. All the walks are ‘GPS Enabled’, by which is meant that each has a table of waypoint grid references that can be loaded to a GPS unit to facilitate easy navigation. To see other walks from this book that I have completed, use the link under Tags to the right.

No ships have ever known to have gone down in the Tiverton Triangle, which is one significant difference it has over it's more famous Pacific counterpart.

Travel distance to the walk is thankfully low, as this is a circular walk from Tiverton. The buses to and from are plenty. I settled for an 8.15 am bus from Exeter Bus Station. Luckily I arrive here at 8.08 am, as we're hitting the road by 8.09 am; I'm not sure this is good practice! Still, it does mean I'm walking in Tiverton by 8.48 am!

 

Tiverton Town Hall, built in 1864, architect Mr. H. Lloyd of Bristol.

I've never really taken a close look at Tiverton. It was, like so many towns, severely vandalised by town planners in the 1960's, but it still has some charming corners. There is some mist lingering and plenty of dew still on the ground. The early morning autumnal light is lovely for photographs. I should get up early more often!

The photograph right is of the rather splendid Tiverton Town Hall, Grade II Listed. Certainly a building making a statement. Described by Pevsner as being of, ‘coarse and confident Franco-Venetian composition’. A building of exceedingly sophisticated architecture that perhaps one might not expect to find in mid-Devon.

 

Old photo of Town Hall 1890, Tiverton © Francis Frith

 

 

Here, to the left, is an image of Tiverton Town Hall as it looked in 1890, from the Francis Frith collection. For more old/new photo comparisons, see the description on my Flickr photo set, link above.

Also of note is the nearby Church of St George, Fore Street, Grade I Listed that I passed but had insufficient time to explore.

The Town Hall and St George's Church, Tiverton, 1928
© Britain from Above

 

This a rather interesting aerial view of both Tiverton Town Hall and the Church of St George taken in September 1928. A number of elegant buildings can be picked out from this photo, a high proportion are still in existence to this day.

 

Looking south down the Exe Valley.

 

 

 

It's a bit of a climb out of the back of Tiverton, up Baker's Hill, but I'm soon in typical Devon rolling hills. As I am about to discover, this will be a walk of some climbs (see total ascent below). Once I leave behind the environs of the dog walkers I soon have the countryside to myself, which is very typical of mid-Devon.

St Catherine's Church

 

There's a rather strange modern-looking church at Withleigh, the Church of St Catherine, Listed Grade II. It's not as modern as aspects of the interior suggests (built: 1847). I note that the listing for this church informs us that, “John Hayward [architect] of Exeter was the leading local practitioner of Gothic Revival church building in the County of Devon from the 1840s to the 1860s.”

Bickleigh Mill

 

 

This walk does not on the whole entail coming across very much habitation other than the occasional farm or cottage, except for the village of Bickleigh which is a tourist honey spot.

After Withleigh the walk picks up the valley of the River Dart (which I can't explain), and follows this down to Bickleigh.

Typical view along this stretch of the walk of the River Exe against a backdrop of rolling hills.

 

From Bickleigh the valley of the River Exe is followed back into Tiverton. I've never before seen this stretch of the River Exe as close up as on this walk. Although there are broad stretches of gently flowing water, there is also quite a lot of white water in places. Not full-on rapids, but quite a force all the same. I did pass a party of canoeists who'd obviously negotiated these the more difficult stretches of the river.

Heathcote Lace Factory worker's cottages.
See: Tiverton, St Andrew Street 1920 © Francis Frith

 

 

 

As I re-enter Tiverton I pass rows of the tiny Heathcote worker cottages. I suppose for the workers these were a welcome haven. I complete my walk by 4.00 pm, and there's a bus waiting!

 

 

Walk Statistics:

Total Distance: 13.3m
Total Ascent: 581 metres
Total Walk Time: (moving): 5 hrs 9 mins (elapsed): 7 hrs 5 mins
Maximum Elevation: 226 metres
Buses: 55 (outwards), 155 (return)

27 September 2008 - Walk: Sheepwash and Buckland Filliegh (7.8 miles)

Synopsis: A name like Sheepwash is probably quite descriptive of a village’s past history. An elegant manor house, an old church, rustic farms, and hay stacks. A fine taster of the best of central Devon.

Photo Set – Flickr -:- (Map)

GPS Tracklog Download (.gpx) Microsoft OneDrive -:- Google Drive

 

Tracklog and Photos - Google My Map

Tracklog overlay - OSM – ViewRanger -:- OS – WheresThePath

 

(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)

Walk! Devon

This walk is route 36 from the book Walk! Devon. This is a favourite book of mine, as the walks are very well written up, easy to follow, and each is provided with Ordnance Survey 1/25,000 maps. All the walks are ‘GPS Enabled’, by which is meant that each has a table of waypoint grid references that can be loaded to a GPS unit to facilitate easy navigation. To see other walks from this book that I have completed, use the link under Tags to the right.

There weren't a lot of bus options for this walk. I believe there are only two buses in and out of Sheepwash, both running on a Thursday. Not a lot of use to me. So this walk had to be done by my environmentally unfriendly car. 

Cottages on the village square

 

 

 

Sheepwash, as my guidebook mentions, has a rather unusual aspect in that it has a village square. Although not unknown of in Devon, there aren't that many of them. It gives the village, with the exception of it's very Devon name, a rather continental quality. I half expected to see men playing boule and sipping wine.

The ideal retreat

 

The early morning mist had lingered long, but was now almost clear. The walk is down lanes, across open fields, along tracks and through woodland. Something for everyone! Buckland Mill is just a few cottages down a dirt track, highly suitable for the person who wants to get away from it all.

Buckland Filleigh manor house, built 1810 (grade II* listed)

 

 

 

The grand manor house at Buckland Filliegh is quite unusual for Devon, in that there aren't that many country mansions on this imposing scale. It was built in 1810 after the previous very early house was burnt down. It has fifteen bedrooms and the whole house is available for holiday lets! Note Buckland Filleigh is not to be confused with Filleigh 20km to the north-east.

Buckland Manor is a Grade II* listed building. In its listing the property’s description states, “This is one of the earliest surviving Greek Doric revival houses and remains very unaltered whilst incorporating probably the core of an earlier house.” The house was built for the Fortescue family, historically one of the most significant families in the county of Devon.

Grade II* listed church of St Mary's, Filleigh

 

 

 

 

I broke my walk to briefly look around the church of St Mary’s, Filleigh. I subsequently discovered that the church of St Mary’s is a grade II* listed building, so well worth a pause. This building has the advantage over the manor house, in that it is open to the public.

 

Old farm buildings of quite some vintage

 

From here I passed through some lovely old run down farms. For me it brings to mind Hardy's Wessex. This looks like bare-bones living. I saw a fox, strangely not paying me much attention for quite some time. I think it had it's mind on supper of the feathered kind, which I fear I may have spoiled for it. Even though the fox was distracted, and therefore I was able to get quite close to it, it still darted when it eventually saw me and my attempted photo contained no fox whatsoever!

 

So, it was a lovely day's walk, the Devon countryside being a pleasant change from the coastal path of recent walks.

Walk Statistics:

Total Distance: 7.8m
Total Ascent: 269 metres
Total Walk Time: (moving): 3 hrs 4 mins (elapsed): 4 hrs 20 mins
Maximum Elevation: 162 metres
Buses: (none, as very inaccessible by bus - travelled by car)