Synopsis: From just outside Budleigh Salterton this walk begins by following the old dismantled railway, loops over Woodbury Common, continues via East Budleigh, Otterton, then the course of the River Otter.
Today was predicted to be gorgeous, and it started with plenty of sun, so I scrambled together this route during the morning, packed a lunch, and set off for Budleigh Salterton. I felt a little guilty as I set off in the car as, with a little more preparation, this walk could very easily be done by bus from my place, but alas, everything was hurried and I hadn’t the time to consider this.
I parked up in a small hamlet named Kersbrook which is at one end of the dismantled railway on which I wanted to start my walk. Looming high behind where I parked was this large Victorian railway bridge. I walked up to and underneath this bridge not realising that the steps I could see to the left would have taken me immediately up to the old dismantled railway. Instead I walked a short distance along the main road until I came to some houses on the outskirts of Budleigh Salterton and joined the disused railway route there.
Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton dismantled railway line - end of the line: brick wall of someone's garden
The walking along the old railway route was of course quite level and easy going, but after a distance of 0.64 miles into my walk I was faced with the wall of a garden. At a certain point the old railway course has been unfortunately built over (0.64 miles from start). At this point I was forced to climb some steps to the road and snake my way through some a number of streets before once again I was able to pick up the course of the old railway. There’s a short section of the old track that’s now used as a firing range; this is best avoided.
I was rather dismayed that the point at which I wished to depart tangentially from the disused railway was to have been on a lane about 30 metres below where I stood. I could do nothing more than continue along the railway course, but luckily after a short period of time I was greeted with a ‘Permissive Cycle Way’ sign (2.1 miles from start) that, when followed, dropped me down to my desired lane (or is that track).
A little way along this lane I detoured from my planned route as what appeared to be a track on the map didn’t seem as such on the ground. I simply continued further up the hill in the direction of Woodbury Common knowing that at some point I would be able to regain my original planned route.
Woodbury Common - my lunch stop
It was nearly 1 pm when I entered the landscape of Woodbury Common and there’s a lovely scalloped valley that I know which I decided to make my lunch stop. The sun was shining, the day was warm, and there was not a soul about. I was in heaven.
Hayes Wood - pigs and mud - they just love it!
After lunch my path took me down hill until I needed to branch left through Hayes Wood. I skirted the pig farm that I’ve passed on a previous walk of mine. The pigs seem to have grown since I last passed this way. I love the way that if you give pigs a pool of mud they just have to wallow in it. I guess it must be one of life’s pleasures, at least for pigs it must be.
Hayes Barton - home of Sir Walter Raleigh
Moving on from the pigs I took a minor detour up a lane to catch a glance at Hayes Barton, the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh. This is a very picturesque place, so of course I had to take a photo.
East Budleigh - Church of All Saints - bench end
From here my course was down the lane to East Budleigh where I wanted to spend a little time in the Church of All Saints. There are some excellent bench ends in this church, a whole assortment of designs. I picked out a few that caught my eye and snapped a few photos. I’ve come across this kind of wood carving more in Cornwall than Devon, so nice to see this on home ground, so to speak. Interesting to note that there is a Downton House in Wiltshire (Carew Raleigh); I do think that would make a good name for a television costume drama. Also interesting to note the existence of a stained glass window commemorating the laying of the first transatlantic cable between America and Europe.
East Budleigh - Sir Walter Raleigh
East Budleigh is an amazingly quaint and beautiful village. Stepping into its streets makes you feel as if you’ve suddenly been catapulted back in time. There’s even a bronze statue of Sir Walter Raleigh standing at the head of the main street. Well, I suppose it is the village’s claim to fame, so why not.
Otterton - Church of St Michael
I headed out of East Budleigh in the direction of Otterton. I took some time out to once again take a quick look around the Church of St Michael. It seems rather a ‘high’ church for such an unassuming village. The interior decor strikes me as being rather baroque in style, although I understand it dates from mid-Victorian times. There is plenty of marble in evidence, and I believe the roof is hammer beam.
Budleigh Salterton 066
I picked up the lane at the back of Otterton Church which rose gently to the back of the village, and then descended into trees in the direction of the River Otter. This lane follows the course of the river which I followed pass one footbridge, crossing the river at South Farm Road bridge. I stopped briefly for a cup of tea on a bench beside the bridge before making tracks down the road to my car. Note that I deviated from my planned walk at this point as a diagonal public footpath between river and road does not appear to exist on the ground.
It had been a while since I’d done a good walk, and although this walk was neither long or arduous, it felt like a good walk. I always like a walk that entails plenty of variety, and this walk had that. The weather was glorious as predicted, so that added to my enjoyment.
Walk Statistics:
Total Distance: 11.1 miles
Moving Time: 4hrs 00min
Stopped Time: 1:29min
Total Ascent: 377 metres
Maximum Elevation: 100 metres
Buses: (none)
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