Men’s Walking Programme 2023

14 March
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx		Hunter’s Inn to Woody Bay - Our old favourite for the start of the season. 5.5 miles along the old carriageway, returning
along the coast path or vice versa as the mood takes us.
Lunch at The Hunter’s Inn
28 MarchWistlandpound, Twitchen and Hunnacott - An easy circular route of 4.5 miles through a pleasant area of fields and woodland starting from the car park at Wistlandpound Resevoir.
Lunch at The Fox and Goose
11 AprilMorte Point – This 4 mile walk starts from the Pay and Display car park in Morthoe and follows the road towards Woolacombe
for a short distance before picking up the coast path round Morte Point and continuing along to Bull Point lighthouse.
After a short further coastal stretch, we head inland up a gentle valley eventually picking up
the tarmac road back to Morthoe.
Lunch at The Chichester Arms
25 AprilA Circuit to Hele Bay and Comyn - This is a short coastal walk of 3.5 miles starting from the lifeboat station in Ilfracombe and proceeding via the south side of the harbour to take the coast path to Hele Bay.
The return route is via Comyn and Chambercombe Manor.
Lunch at The Hele Bay
9 MayPinkworthy Pond to Moles Chamber - 5.75 miles taking in Chains Barrow. The guide describes this as Exmoor pure and simple with views out to sea and to the sheltered lands below. It is definitely one for a sunny day.
Lunch at The Black Venus
23 MayLynmouth to Hillsford Bridge - The walk starts from the free car park on the north side of the east Lyn River and follows the river to the National Trust cafe at Watersmeet. It then follows the Hoar Oak Water to Hillsford Bridge before joining the Two Moors Way and Tarka Trail for the return to Lynmouth.
Lunch at The Rising Sun
6 JuneCombe Martin and The Hangman Hills - This is a variation on one of our well-trodden previous walks. Starting from the beach car park in Combe Martin we follow the coast road for about 0.5 miles before heading inland and eventually crossing the high street and climbing steadily to the high ground to the east of the Hangman Hills. We then return via the Hangman Hills to the car park. The total distance is 5.5 miles and there are two or three steady ascents on the route.
Lunch at The Sawmills
20 JuneBarna Barrow – Foreland Point Circular - If we include the coastal section round Foreland Point, this will be one of our more adventurous walks but those with a dislike of heights and precipitous drops can avoid this section. The walk features some of the most stunning scenery to be found on this part of the South West Coast Path and, hopefully, this year the fog will be absent so we might get a chance to see it.
Lunch at The Blue Ball Inn
11 JulyLee Bay, Borough Valley, Slade circular – A varied 6 mile route taking in part of the Tarka Trail by the Slade reservoirs. There
is a short steep section at the top of the Borough Valley but otherwise it is easy going.
Lunch at The Grampus
25 JulyLynton and Valley of The Rocks – Starting from the road outside the candle factory in Lynton the route heads up behind the
cemetery before dropping down to the valley floor and continuing to Lee Abbey. There is then a short circular section
through Six Acre Wood and Caffuns Heanton Wood before rejoining the coast path and taking the spectacular seaward
route for our return to Lynton. About 4.7 miles.
Lunch at The Hunters Inn
8 AugustCroyde Bay, Saunton Down circular – We start from the National Trust car park on the road to Baggy Point and walk across
Croyde beach to join the South west Coast Path towards the Saunton Sands Hotel from where we head steeply uphill and over
the top of Saunton Down for our return to Croyde. About 4 miles.
Lunch at The Thatch
22 AugustWest Down, Little Comfort and Spreacombe Woods – Our old 4 mile circular jaunt around the West Down locality starting
from the Parish hall.
Lunch at The Woodpecker
12 SeptemberTrentishoe Down and Heddon’s Mouth Cleeve – Starting from the car park close to Hunters Inn we head along the road before
picking up a path to take us to Ladies Mile and then over the west side of Trentishoe Down to join up with the South West Coast
Path and Tarka Trail. We return to Hunters Inn via Trentishoe Church. At 6.75 miles with some steep ascents and descents this is one of our more challenging routes.
Lunch at The Hunters Inn
26 September Chittlehampton, Pitt Wood and Umberleigh – A 6 mile ramble in a very rural and unspoilt area of North Devon across easy
going fields and pretty woods.
Lunch at The Bell
10 OctoberArlington, Loxhore circular – A 7 mile circuit taking in some of the beautiful surroundings of Arlington Court before heading
south to Lower Loxhore and returning via Loxhore and Deer Park Wood. If there are howls of protest that 7 miles is too far for
our aging limbs the route could be shortened to about 5 miles.
Lunch at The Black Venus
24 OctoberExmoor Loop at Parracombe- Starting from The Fox and Goose Inn in Parracombe this is a moderate circular walk with a total
ascent of 270m and includes a high moorland stretch with wide ranging views.
Lunch at The Fox and Goose
7 NovemberBraunton Burrows - Starting from the parking area at Velator Quay, this is a longish walk (5.8 miles) but over easy ground. The route passes through Bruanton Burrows, circuits Braunton Marshes and passes the Great Field.
Lunch at the Williams Arms
21 NovemberWoolacombe, Putsborough and Return – This is an easy 4 mile stroll along Woolacombe Beach followed by a return over the
dunes to Woolacombe.
Lunch at The Red Barn