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Eggesford Woods Circular

Terrain difficulty: Moderate- Several Hills to Conquer!

Ease of navigation: Easy-Moderate- easy to follow national trail footpaths

Animal Dangers: Moderate,footpaths cross farmland.

 

Route

This walk starts from the car park of Eggesford Garden Centre - http://www.eggesfordgardens.com/ who are happy for walkers to use their car park. They also have an excellent cafe for refreshments after a walk.

From the car park turn right to head down the lane, and pick up the footpath as you pass the church. At a fork in the track take the left-hand fork and follow the footpath down to the railway line. Cross the railway line and follow the footpath over the road and into the woods opposite. You are now following the Ridge & Valley Walk footpath. Continue uphill on the footpath ignoring tracks that cross the path. Head out of the woods and follow the footpath up to a lane.

Go straight on to follow the lane which shortly takes a sharp left hand turn. Just after this take the footpath on the right as it heads diagonally along a field boundary. The footpath comes out onto another lane, turn sharp right to walk down the lane. Stay on this lane for about 750m and then turn right onto a bridleway down a track. Follow the bridleway beyond the end of the track as it descends across fields to the main road.

The path crosses under the main road and over the railway line. Just after the railway line turn right onto the Tarka Trail footpath. Follow this alongside the river then as it turns left follow it up the hill to Trenchard Farm. When you come out onto the lane by Trenchard Farm turn right to continue following the Tarka Trail down the lane. After 500m turn right onto a footpath, still the Tarka Trail, and follow this with the field boundary on your right as it heads downhill coming back onto the lane of the Garden Centre. Head back past the church and turn left into the Garden Centre for some well earned refreshments.

 Image above resued with permission from http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1776183. copyright - Philip Halling