British Walking Federation

LUSTLEIGH  CLEAVE WALK ORGANISED BY THE BWF NATIONAL COMMITTEE

CONTACT :  Roger Baker, 12 Burwood Grove, Hayling Island, Hampshire PO11 9DS   
Tel: 02392 462005     E-mail: trails@bwf-ivv.org.uk

DISTANCE:  13km
ENTRY FEE:  £1.00 per walker  (Cheques payable to BWF))
AWARD:  Cloth Badge at £2.00 each
START VENUE:  Manaton Car Park      Map 180 GR SX750218
COACH & CAR PARKING:  Car park by Parish Hall.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Buses only run on Wednesdays & Fridays from either Newton Abbot or Whidden Down - Devon Bus number 671. For enquiries - telephone 01392 382800.
DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST TOWN:  Bovey Tracey - From A38(T), take the A382 to Bovey Tracey and continue straight over first roundabout. At the second roundabout, by the fire station turn left sign posted "Manaton 5". Follow this road to reach the village of Manaton and in the centre of the village turn right sign posted "Parish Hall". The car park can then be found immediately on your left.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION (Updated 25^th November 2009) 

Leave the car park at the exit nearest to the church. Cross the green and turn left on road. 25m after passing the parish hall on left, turn right onto bridleway signposted to “Lustleigh Cleave”. Pass through gate and continue ahead on bridleway to reach second gate with sign “cyclists slow down”. Continue ahead on sunken track to eventually reach cross tracks. Turn left on footpath towards “Horsham Steps”. Follow path round left hand side of house and at fork, take right hand path through gate towards “Horsham Steps”. Continue on footpath with wall on left to enter nature reserve.

Q1: What is the name of the Nature Reserve?

Follow footpath steeply downhill through woods following steps to path junction, turn left onto footpath signpost “Foxworthy Drive County Road”. (To see Horsham Steps, follow FP straight ahead for approximately 200m & then return). Continue on footpath gently uphill for approximately 700m, ignoring all turnings to reach road by wooden gate. Turn right on lane signpost “Foxworthy for paths to the Cleave”. After approx. 25m, turn right onto footpath by fire beaters. At end of path, turn right over river bridge to reach footpath signpost. Turn right on bridleway towards “Hammerslake”. Follow track with wooden post and rail fence on left and as track turns right by wooden signpost, bear left on bridleway. Go through wooden gate & follow bridleway through woods, following direction of wooden “Path” signs. At junction, go ahead on bridleway towards “Hammerslake for Lustleigh”. Follow well defined path through woods ignoring all turnings, gradually climbing uphill for appx. 1,400m following wooden “Path” signs to reach t-junction of paths by wooden signpost. Turn left towards “Hammerslake” following footpath uphill. Continue on path ignoring all turnings for appx. 300m to pass house on right to reach junction by 5-bar gate. Turn right through gate on sunken path to reach road.  

Q2:  What is the name of the house on the left?

Turn left on road round LH bend and as road bears right turn left up stone steps on footpath towards “Cleave Paths, Manaton, Foxworth and Hisley Bridge”. Cross driveway, cross stile and go ahead across field. Follow footpath into woods and cross stile built into wall. Bear left uphill to pass through gap by large rock. Immediately bear right and after approx. 10m turn right on well defined path. Follow path uphill between mossy stone boulders, ignoring all turnings to reach crest of hill with views ahead over Dartmoor. Bear right and continue to follow well defined path as it meanders high along the crest of the hill with the Cleave on the left. Leave woods and continue ahead, following path through gorse bushes keeping ahead on grass covered ridge ignoring all turnings to reach 5-bar gate in wall by large rock outcrop. Go through gate and bear right in direction of signpost following path downhill for appx. 200m to reach signpost. Turn left and follow path downhill. Go through gate and immediately turn right through second gate and continue to follow path downhill to reach farm buildings. Go through gate in corner and go ahead on farm track. Follow track ignoring all turnings to reach road. Turn left and follow lane downhill to cross river bridges and continue to follow lane uphill. At road junction, ignore left hand turn and continue ahead towards “North Bovey”. Follow lane to reach t-junction.

Q3:    What is the name of the thatch cottage on your right?

Turn left and after appx. 100m, as road bears right, turn left through gate on footpath towards “Manaton”. Follow footpath diagonally across field, passing to right of electric pole to reach corner. Go through gap in wall and bear right across stream to cross stone stile. Go head on path through woods ignoring all turnings. Cross stile and continue ahead passing a row of large boulders on right to reach stile. Continue ahead on path and after appx. 20m turn left on footpath towards “County Road Manaton”. Follow path to reach road, turn right for approx. 450m to pass church and return to car park and end of walk. 

When you have completed this trail please use the  Permanent Trail Entry Form

The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property.  Every effort will be made by the organisers to make this a safe, enjoyable and memorable event.

This trail is registered until 31 December 2010.