An East Devon amble on which Simone Stanbrook-Byrne meets a host of friendly locals
I have a lot of favourite places and the friendly village of Talaton is one of them, not least for its annual Open Gardens event that calls me back time and again. The village sits in relatively flat (for Devon) farmland which may be deeply muddy in winter, so stout boots are required. Footpaths are interspersed with quiet roads, to give some respite from the slush – please keep an eye open for passing traffic.
It is a figure-of-eight route, enabling anyone who wishes to shorten the excursion to peel off at various points and return for refreshment to the inn (please book if you plan to eat) or well-appointed community shop.
Wrap up against the February chill – spring isn’t far away.
THE WALK
1. From the junction outside the village shop and the inn, walk along the road signed towards Clyst Hydon, you soon see a view of the church tower to your right. Just over 200m from the shop look for the footpath going left, between the houses of Middlemede and Westbrook, a narrow path between garden fences – good for blackberries at the right time of year.
This reaches a field; head straight across to the gateway on the far side, enjoying expansive views across the East Devon countryside. In the next field keep straight on alongside the right-hand hedge. Enter a third field and continue, heading towards Parklands Farm and passing a lone oak; the slurry tank over the hedge on the left can be a little ripe – apply the emergency peg. At the end of the field bear left round to the arrowed gate (its arrow is misleading).
2. Pass through the gate, arriving in the farmyard, and go right, walking between barns for a few metres then turning left, still between farm buildings, to follow the farm drive out to the road, passing a few cottages as you go.
At the road turn right, soon crossing the railway line to London. Wave if you have the chance. (Why do the British do this?) This is the hamlet of Newtown.
We now follow the road for just over half-a-mile, enjoying gateway views. Recross the railway on Lil Davys Bridge and immediately after it turn right along the stony track.
3. In just over 100m a fingerpost directs left into a field. Take this and walk ahead across the field, passing a substantial oak with a fallen companion on your right, to reach a ‘hurdle’ gateway in the far hedge with a very polite sign attached, followed by a stile.
Negotiate this then bear right – the footpath cuts diagonally right across the corner, but if the field has crops you will need to skirt two sides of it, alongside the right-hand hedge.
In the corner you find a yellow-arrowed gateway; continue through the next field along the right-hand hedge. At the end of this field pass through another arrowed gateway into the next field.
4. In this field, walk ahead, bearing very slightly right, away from the left-hand hedge – you’re aiming for a point in the treeline opposite about 70m to the right of the left-hand corner, as viewed on entering this field.
When you get to the trees, hop over a damp area and look for the yellow-arrowed stile, tucked into an enclave beneath trees.
Cross the stile and walk through the next field along the right-hand hedge. At the end, pass through the gateway into the next field and continue beside the right-hand hedge. When this turns away, continue across the open field in the same direction, aiming for the right-hand corner. It was here that we met a host of absolutely adorable, friendly goats who all came to investigate us – if you have anything dangling they may have a chew. These are the Boer goats of Westcott House Farm (see their website). We met the farmer who told us that they are very well-cared for which is why they like people so much. We spent a long time rubbing heads and tickling chins (the goats’ not the farmer’s). The farm produces meat, and their commendable slogan is ‘raised with love and liberty’.
In the right-hand corner of the field turn right along the track – the goats came with us. The track leads past barns; stay on it as it bends left, soon passing the main farmyard – follow the track until you reach the road.
5. Turn right on the road – mind any traffic – and follow it for half-a-mile, back into Talaton. If you wish to stop now you can, but we continued on another loop, to extend the walk by just over a mile.
For this extra section, look for the row of cottages on the left: Three Winds, April Cottage, Amara Cottage and The Forge House. Immediately after these take the tiny lane heading left downhill towards the church. Walk past the entrance to the church on your left to join a path running between the environs of the church and some lovely thatched cottages.
This emerges into the churchyard. Bear right around the church and leave via a wooden gate, turning right down the track and soon passing the entrance to Harris Farm on your left. From here a fingerpost directs along a rough track, follow this.
6. The track leaves Harris Farm behind, becomes more hedged and soon passes through a metal gate into a field. There are majestic trees along this stretch. Keep ahead alongside the left-hand hedge – the field slopes up to the right, watched over by the outskirts of Talaton. At the end of the field an arrowed gates points through the next, still along the left-hand boundary, and soon the elegant façade of Rydon House comes into view, up to the left. At the far end of the field a metal gate leads out to the lane. Turn right on the lane and follow it to Bittery Cross in a third-of-a-mile.
7. Here, for another short cut, turn right to return to the village, unless you feel like a little more footpath exploration. In this case, keep along the lane for another quarter-mile, passing the houses of Lashbrook on the right and, a little further on, the entrance to Lashbrook Farm on the left. Just beyond this, on the right, a footpath goes right into the field.
Enter the field and walk straight across, away from the lane. In 200m you reach the outside corner of a hedge, keep in the same direction, now with the hedge to your right. In the field corner pass through two metal kissing gates and turn left after the second, walking along the left-hand hedge to the corner.
Go through another kissing gate and head obliquely right across the next field, towards an arrowed metal footpath gate about 100m away, in the middle of post-and-rail fencing. There’s evidence of horseyculture here. Go through and walk across the field towards a cream-coloured house, passing through various gates and horse-tape fencing.
Near the house go through the gate and descend steps that aren’t designed for big boots, to arrive in the gravelled parking area. Walk away from the cottages along their drive towards the road – spot the thatched footwear on the ridge of The Cobblers.
You reach the road by a noticeboard (which has a lovely plea for the care of minibeasts), opposite the parish hall – a place that purveys fabulous teas during the Open Gardens weekends! Turn right along the road and you’re soon back at the heart of the village.
LOOK OUT FOR
Village church
Pretty thatched cottages
Views towards Dartmoor
Gorgeous goats!
COMPASS POINTS
Start point & parking: Talaton Community Shop. Postcode: EX5 2RQ; grid ref: SY068995
Map: OS Explorer 115 Exmouth & Sidmouth 1:25 000
Distance: 4¾ miles for the whole route – can be shortened
Terrain: Field paths and road walking. Expect mud around the farms
Exertion: Easy
Dog friendliness: Animals grazing and road walking. Some stiles. Farm dogs roaming
Refreshments: The Talaton Inn, EX5 2RQ (01404 822214); Talaton Community Shop, EX5 2RQ, for chocolate supplies and snacks
Public transport: Buses serve the village and there is a railway station at nearby Whimple
While you’re here… a few things to do:
Talaton’s Open Gardens make for a superb weekend of indulgently nosing around private plots. From tiny cottages to grand country houses, the variety is magnificent. Details of when this will take place can be found at W: opengardens.co.uk
Ottery St Mary is an historic town less than four miles from Talaton. It offers lots of independent shops, an extensive garden centre and a cathedral-like parish church
Cadhay House is a delightful Tudor manor just outside Ottery St Mary. The house is regularly (though seasonally) open to the public, as are the glorious gardens
Wildwood Escot is a family attraction with a focus on wildlife and conservation, situated between Ottery St Mary and Honiton
Talaton's plea for minibeasts:
Do...
Leave space for minibeasts in the garden.
Care for them, they help our gardens.
Plant more bug-friendly plants.
Walk or cycle to save pollution – it helps the
minibeasts’ breathing.
Don’t…
Don’t hurt minibeasts, care for them.
Don’t spray pesticides.
Don’t build on wildlife areas.
Don’t cut down trees.
Don’t use bug traps.
Simone Stanbrook-Byrne has written a selection of West Country guides including Circular Walks in East Devon
