The West Downers Men’s Walking Club
We are a club for reasonably active blokes who enjoy a morning ramble for a few hours followed by a pint or two in an inviting hostelry.
We walk fortnightly during the second and fourth week of each month usually on a Thursday.
Please meet at 09.00 a.m (unless stated otherwise) in the Parish Hall car park where we can share transport.
If you would like to join us and for more information please contact Ian Rothwell on 01271 871018 or Tony Stafford on 01271 871712
Walks for 2018
January Pop-up walk around Knowle – 5 miles .. date to be confirmed subject to weather – Lunch at The Ebrington Arms
February Pop-up walk around Lee – 4 miles .. date to be confirmed subject to weather – Lunch at The Grampus
March 8th Hunter’s Inn to Woody Bay – our usual start to the walking year with a 5 mile walk along the coast path and returning by the old carriageway. – Lunch at The Hunter’s Inn
March 22nd Clifton – East Down – Bugford – a 6 mile walk with lovely views, quiet woodlands and picture-postcard villages. – Lunch at The Pyne Arms
April 12th Monkleigh, Tarka Trail and Frithelstock – an 8 mile circular through the countryside west of Torrington and along the River Torridge on a splendid walk – Lunch at The Bell Inn, Monkleigh
April 26th Rockford to Brendon and Dry Bridge – 6 miles along the East Lyn valley to Brendon and then a climb out up to Shilstone Hill. – Lunch at The Rockford Inn
May 10th Parkham to Peppercombe – a return to the lovely views along the coast path – 6 miles of heaven. – Lunch at The Coach and Horses, Buckland Brewer
May 31st Lee Bay to Caffyn’s Heanton Wood – a 6 mile country walk looking over the spectacular Valley of the Rocks. – Lunch at The Cottage Inn, Lynbridge
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June 11th to 17th Irish Week – we fly to Cork for a 6 day special taking in 4 walks in this wonderful country. Full details to be published separately.
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June 28th Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows – a 6 mile ramble through the sand dunes and along the beach. – Lunch at The Williams Arms
July 12th Dolton, Huish and the River Torridge – 08.30 start for a long walk of nearly 9 miles around the remote and undulating Torridge Valley – steep and muddy in places. – Lunch at The Rams Head
July 26th Braunton to Georgeham trail – this beautiful 7 mile walk passes through open countryside, farmland and the villages of Nethercott, North Buckland and Lobb. – Lunch at the Aggi
August 16th Dunkery Beacon – a return to the highest point on Exmoor and the wooded valleys of Horner Water and East Water for a 7 and a bit mile hike to Luccombe village. – Lunch at the Crown Hotel, Exford
August 30th Chittlehamholt to Warkleigh Circular – a 6 mile walk around the wooded valleys and hills by the River Mole. – Lunch at The Exeter Inn
Sept 13th Malsmead and Brendon 5 miles to enjoy again the views along the East Lyn river and the moorland as we walk the fields and quiet country lanes. – Lunch at The Staghunters
Sept 20th Crediton to Salmonhutch and Posbury – an early start at 08.30 for this trip to mid Devon to walk for 6 miles plus along the River Yeo and the Devonshire Heartland Way to Posbury. – Lunch at the Lamb Inn, Sandford
Oct 11th Marwood, Ash Barton and Boode – a fairly local 8 mile walk through very lovely and quiet countryside and passing by two very interesting old manor-houses. – Lunch at The Muddiford Inn
Oct 25th 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
Nov 8th Beaford, Great Barlington and Roborough – a fairly level 5 mile stroll along quiet lanes, across open fields, through woodland and across streams. – Lunch at The Globe Inn
Nov 22nd Appledore, Diddywell and Northam Burrows – we start along the quay for this 6 mile circular walk with the familiar views of Clovelly to Baggy Point visible before we join the coastal path around the links golf course. – Lunch at The Beaver Inn
Current Walking Club Contacts
Chris Dee 01271 870130 chris_w_dee@hotmail.com
David Maidment 01271 864349 david@woodhaven.fsnet.co.uk
Eric Philipson 01271 865480 philipson8ra@btinternet.com
Ian Rothwell 01271 871018 ihrothwell@btinternet.com
John Morley moles1983@gmail.com
Paul Robbins 01271 865712 mrprobbins@yahoo.com
Roger Parry 01271 855678 randnparry@hotmail.com
Tony Stafford 01271 871712 toestafford@gmail.com
Photos from past memorable walks
Monkleigh, Tarka Trail and Frithelstock
12.4.2018
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- For once Eric had nothing to say….
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- Some of David Pepper’s old aquaintances decided to look him up!!
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- Tarka Trail
Clifton – East Down – Bugford
22.3.2018
North Pole….here we come
David Pepper tying Eric up in knots in the Pyne Arms
Pop-Up Walk – Lee
22.2.2018
… and guess who’s Compo !!!
Hawkridge and Anstey Common
“One boot Eric – muddied and bloodied” – “Roger, Eric, Ian and Chris … the long hard road”
27.10.2017
Winford Hill
Paul, being an old Briton, holds the Caractacus Stone on the top of Winsford Hill whilst we munch our flapjacks.
14.9.2017
Wills Neck and Triscombe Combe
Blue skies made for a spectacular walk on the Quantocks. These Hill ponies were very friendly…possibly because Eric had some tasty morsels to share with them!!
10.8.2017
Arlington Court and Loxhore
Roger was torn between his jug of gravy and a pint of Exmoor at the Pyne Arms, East Down….the pint didn’t stand a chance!!
27.7.2017
Lundy
Many thanks to Chris and Mandy for arranging a great day at Lundy….their enthusiasm and guided tours made up for some rather drab cold weather…and we all got to see the Puffins!!!
29.6.2017
Dolton and Cherbeer
Lovely day for a walk … and a special occasion as Eric had TWO pints!!
25.5.2017
Hurlstone and Selworthy Beacon
Passing some Exmoor ponies near Selworthy Beacon
13.4.2017
Hunters Inn and Cherryford Hill via Woody Bay and Martinhoe Common
Another great walk on a very sunny day. The waterfall at Woody Bay was in full flow due to some pretty poor weather in the days leading up to the walk.
9.3.2017
Woolacombe to Putsborough returning via Woolacombe Down
Ian and Eric striding out
12.1.2017
Baggy Point and Saunton Down
……… “smilers” !!
27.10.2016
Chumleigh and Eggesford Forest
Club members considering whether this mode of transport will get them to the pub sooner…the only problem is the Red Lion doesn’t have a landing pad!!
13.10.2016
Dunster Park and Withycombe Hill
Another lovely walk and the Somerset weather didn’t disappoint.
Dunster Castle in the background
(30.9.2016)
Bampton and Morpeth
And our intrepid leader Tony quotes……”Chaps – lovely walk – thank you for the support, criticism, banter and beer!!”
(25.8.2016)
Withypool and Tarr Steps
Happy walkers by the River Barle
(14.7.2106)
Hunters Inn and Woody Bay
Best of the year so far!! – first walk of the season – after some very poor weather we struck a piece of gold in the sky….this was Devon at it’s best!!
(10.3.2016)
Slade and Borough Valley Walk –
“…..walking is Man’s best medicine…..”
(14.12.2015)
Sheepwash Walk – A good 6 mile walk around the village of Sheepwash with David contemplating his next house move!
(30.9.2015)
Valley of the Rocks Walk – Fabulous weather today for our walk along the Valley of the Rocks – here above Lee Abbey.
(10.9.2015)
Exford and Room Hill Walk – Lyncombe Hill – Flapjack time for Smiler, Truly and Foggy on a lovely Friday morning. Special thanks to Compo for his fine photographic skills.
(4.9.2015)
Lundy – a lunch break by Gannets’ Rock during a great trip to Lundy Island last Thursday
(16.7.2015)
Buck Mills – Eric looking a little sweaty half way through our circular walk from Parkham via Buck’s Mills
DaveWellings – Dave persuading Eric to have a dip
SkinnyDip – Eric and Dave getting very cold
DunkeryBeacon – Mike Lehan (from Australia), Eric, Tony and Ian reaching the heights on a beautiful September day
CountisburyHill – a beautiful 8 mile walk ending on the Coast path looking towards Lynton
Slim v Tubby – David and Tony sporting their physiques!!
Coddenhill – David, Ian and Eric munching Pippa Stafford’s fantastic flapjacks on Codden Hill