British Walking Federation
British Walking Federation
CONTACT : Ron
Smith, 15 Haroldsleigh Avenue, Crownhill, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 3AW.
Tel: 01752 700795
DISTANCE: 13km
ENTRY FEE: £1.00 per walker (Cheques made payable to
Thames Valley Walking Club)
AWARD: Cloth badge at £2.00 each
START VENUE:
Belstone Car Park, Devon Map191 GR SX621938
Alternative start - Okehampton Station or Post Office.
DIRECTIONS TO START: Take A30 from Exeter and leave at
Okehampton junction, signposted ‘Okehampton B3260’. At T-Junction Turn Left
signposted ‘Belstone’, passing services on left. Take second turning on right
signposted ‘Belstone ¾’. Cross cattle grid and continue to reach Belstone where
car park can be found on Left opposite Village Hall.
CAR PARKING: At start venue
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Train service to Okehampton Station.
Bus service to Okehampton Post Office.
TERRAIN: Urban areas, minor roads, woods and riverside paths.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
Leave car park and Turn Left on road. Follow road ignoring left hand turn and Bear Right through village. At village green take Left Hand fork passing stocks on left and standing stone on right. Pass Greenbank Cottage on right and Turn Left onto common land keeping wall on left. At corner of wall Turn Left keeping wall on left and cleave on right. Follow path along top edge of cleave keeping wall on left for approx. 1,100m ignoring all path turnings, to join path emerging from right from cleave. Bear Left to reach small stone water trough on left.
Q1 – What is written above face on the metal feature above trough?
Continue ahead on path slightly uphill to reach road. Turn Left and as road turns sharp left, continue ahead on Bridleway signposted ‘Sticklepath and Tongue End’. Pass Skaigh stables on left and take Bridleway to left of houses signposted ‘Tongue End’. At T-junction Turn Left over cattle grid and follow track for approx. 500m to reach road. Turn Left through gate (or over cattle grid) and follow road uphill for approx.120m. Turn Right on Footpath signposted ‘Lower Priestacott’ at Tongue End pumping station. Bear Left passing pumping station on right and head over field to gap in field boundary. Bear Right across second field to reach gateway keeping to left of electric pylons. Follow faint path across next field passing lone tree to reach stile. Cross stile and Turn Left on road. Follow road passing ‘Old Thatch’ on right. Continue past ‘Lower Priestacott’ on right and after approx. 450m Turn Right through metal gate onto Footpath signposted ‘Road nr Eastlake’. Cross field to far Left Hand corner. Cross stile and follow Right Hand edge of field. When wall turns right, continue straight ahead through metal gate to reach stile and lane. Turn Right on lane and as lane bears sharp left there is a riding stables on the right.
Q2 – What is the name of the riding stables?
Continue on lane for approx. 750m to pass under road and railway bridges. Turn Left following ‘Tarka Trail’ signs and as road bears right uphill, continue straight ahead following Footpath sign to ‘Okehampton’. After approx. 75m and at next Signpost, Turn Right towards ‘Okehampton Via Ball Hill’ still following ‘Tarka Trail’ sign. Go through wooden gate passing Fatherford Pumping Station on left. Follow Footpath through woods keeping river on Left Hand side to reach five bar gate after approx. 900m. Go through gate and Bear Left through metal kissing gate and follow Footpath alongside stream to reach road. Continue straight ahead on road following direction of ‘Tarka Trail’ sign to reach small green on right. At end of green, Turn Left down steps and Turn Left on road next to water wheel. At green sign post by swimming pool, continue on road in direction of ‘Museum, Tourist Information and Castle’. At next road junction, take second turning on left, in front of Post Office into Castle Road, signposted ‘Okehampton Castle’. (NB Turn Right to toilets. Coffee shop and shops) At fork where road bears right over river, continue ahead following Footpath sign towards ‘Lovers Meet & Meldon Viaduct’ into grounds of castle hospital. Pass hospital building on left and continue ahead on Footpath beside river following ‘West Devon Way’ arrow on wooden fence. Go through kissing gate & Bear Right to reach Signpost.
Q3 – What animal is on the brass plaque on rock by signpost?
Bear Left and continue ahead on Footpath signposted ‘Meldon Viaduct Tors Road’. Follow path as it Bears Left uphill through woods with view of Okehampton Castle on right. Continue following main path and Bear Left to reach signpost & lane. Turn Left on lane following sign ‘Bridlepath Tors Road’. After approx 75m by metal seat, Bear Right and follow Footpath uphill signposted ‘Tors Road’ to reach kissing gate and road. Continue straight ahead onto road following arrow to "Aalen House". Follow road with railway on right to reach Okehampton Station. Continue ahead and opposite station buildings, Turn Left through metal gate onto Footpath to ‘Fatherford Viaduct & woods’. (NB Refreshments available in Station Building) Go down steps and Turn Right on Bridleway towards ‘Fatherford Viaduct & Woods’. Go through metal gate and follow Bridleway for approx. 1,200m to reach five bar wooden gate by viaduct. (IF RIVER IS SWOLLEN – PLEASE FOLLOW ALTERNATIVE ROUTE BELOW TO FINISH WALK) Go under viaduct, through second wooden gate following Footpath to ‘East Okement Valley’. Go under road bridge and continue ahead on Footpath to ‘East Okement Valley’. Continue on Footpath keeping river on left. Continue to reach and go over wooden foot bridge crossing stream. Continue ahead on path, pass through dry stone wall and continue ahead with main river on left. Follow riverside path taking care on slippery rocks. Continue to reach wooden hand rail and follow path steeply uphill beside waterfall and continue ahead with river on left to reach wooden footbridge over river. Turn Left through gate and cross river.
Q4 – What is written on top bar of gate?
Go ahead up grassy bank and Bear Left through gorse bushes. Turn Left on path and follow main path as it climbs uphill and bears right away from river. Continue on path and Bear Right uphill away from cleave to reach dry stone wall ahead. Bear Left along wall to reach corner. As wall turns right, Bear Right and continue to follow wall uphill. After approx. 50m, on brow of hill, continue ahead to reach wall in front of house (Same wall as before) Bear Left and follow wall to reach metal five bar gate at corner of walls. Go through gate and follow track between fences to reach road (Cattle grid to left). Turn Right on road and follow for approx. 800m to reach Belstone Village. At T-junction Turn Left, passing Post Office on left and follow road through village and Bear Left to reach car park and end of walk.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE IF RIVER SWOLLEN
Turn Left over wooden bridge and follow track to reach road. Continue ahead on road for approx 25m & Turn Right under railway and road bridges. Follow road for approx. 1,400m to reach cattle grid. Continue to follow road for approx. 800m to reach Belstone Village. At T-junction Turn Left, passing Post Office on left and follow road through village and Bear Left to reach 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 2009.