East Devon Way - Part Two

Sunday 09 April 2023

Another fine day beckoned so we left one car at Knapp Copse Nature Reserve and drove back down to Aylesbeare/Harpford Common to start where we left off yesterday.  20 km today :-)

We started with a pleasant stroll across the common and woodlands.  

We then skirted around the north side of Newton Poppleford. The origins of the name come from the pebbles around this area.  Over 300 million years ago a river, ~5 km wide, flowed from Gloucestershire to France and laid down a gravel bed and sandstone ('Bunter sandstone').  There were pebbles everywhere yesterday on Woodbury Common and in the first part of our walk today.  The paths were pretty and I loved this creative gate comprised of garden tools and wine stoppers hanging above.

We then crossed the River Otter (in a dry way) and walked into Harpford.

As we entered Harpford Woods we realised we'd been here before, when we did the Coleridge Memorial link walk the other year (shame on me, I didn't blog it).  We remembered the fun tunnel though, a Victorian relic from the days when the railway ran down here to Sidmouth.  I went through it, of course, and on my route back took a shot of JC photographing from inside the tunnel out.  Love the silhouette!

We walked under the disused railway bridge and on up to Beacon Hill.  It was a stiff climb but the views were magnificent, although a tad hazy.  Once at the top we bumped into the Sid Valley Ring walk which we'd done in June 2022 (again, not blogged.  I'm going to sack my agent).  Somehow I forgot to take any photos, probably because I thought I'd already photographed the trig at Beacon Hill, East Hill Strips and the walk down to Sidbury before.

Anyway, we squelched our way down to Sidbury, me being very grateful that the cows who had blocked the gate last time (so much so that we had to detour around another field or two) were absent.  We popped into the Red Lion in Sidbury where everyone was in a happy Easter mood and we put our feet up, temporarily, with a drink and crisps.

It was a very stiff climb up through the Buckley Plantation.  At one point JC spotted a tree - "go on," he said, "stick your head through".  "Go on," I responded, "why don't you?".  And the rest is history.

Then it was a pleasant walk along the ridge, especially as the blustery southwesterlies were behind us.  Despite the lack of sunshine, the views were still lovely. 

Further on we entered a small conservation area complete with board walks.  I do so love a board walk.

And more beautifully-Devon gorse bushes.

Not so excited about the sign for the field. 

More down and more up.  Then a final drag up via Lower Mincombe Farm which apparently did a fine line in hedgerow daffodils.  The Knapp Copse was a pretty nature reserve, will need a revisit.

Rain stops play tomorrow (yes, I am a fair weather walker when I have the luxury to choose it) and then we have a Luxembourg interlude so EDW Part Three will be a while.