British Walking Federation

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OKEHAMPTON  &  BELSTONE   CLEAVE  PERMANENT   TRAIL (PT 145) 
ORGANISED BY THAMES VALLEY WALKING CLUB

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 (Updated 18 Nov 09)

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 and follow road uphill for approx 120m. Turn Right over stile on Footpath signposted ‘Lower Priestacott’ at Tongue End pumping station. Bear Left past 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 poles. 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 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 gate onto 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 and as road bears right uphill continue straight ahead following Bridleway sign. After approx. 75m and at next Signpost, Turn Right onto Ball Hill Footpath 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 wooden gate and follow Footpath through more gates to reach road. Continue straight ahead on road to reach small green on right. At end of green, Turn Left down steps and Turn Left on road next to water wheel.  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 signs with river to your right on Footpath beside river following ‘West Devon Way’ arrow on wooden fence. Go through kissing gate & Bear Right to reach Information Board.

Q3 – What fish is depicted on the Old Town Park information board?

Bear Left across open grass and continue ahead on Footpath signposted ‘Meldon Viaduct’. 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 sign uphill with fence on your right to road. Cross road straight ahead onto track past faded 20mph sign. Follow road and cross main road to Okehampton Station. (NB Refreshments available in Station Building)  Opposite station buildings, Turn Left through metal gate down steps and bear right on Bridleway towards ‘Fatherford Viaduct & Woods’. Go through 5-bar wooden gate and follow Bridleway for approx. 1,200m to reach six-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 other side of 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 (sign Cattle grid to left). Turn Right on road and follow for approx. 800m to reach Belstone Village. At T-junction Turn Left, passing Phone Box 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 2010.