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 am (unless stated otherwise) in the Parish Hall car park in West Down where we can share transport. If you would like to join us and for more information please contact Ian Rothwell on 07754 315919 or Tony Stafford on 07866 804788.
WALKING PROGRAMME 2022
| 10th March | 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 - Lunch at the Hunter’s Inn. |
| 24th March | Lynmouth to Ash Bridge | Starting from the small car park at the end of Torrs Road the route takes us along the East Lynn river, past the NT Café at Watersmeet and on to Ash Bridge before returning to Lynmouth. 5.5 miles of easy terrain - Lunch at The Rising Sun. |
| 7th April | Baggy Point circular | 7 mile Baggy Point circular – Starting from the car park opposite the Thatch the route takes us across the beach at Croyde and onto the footpath around Baggy Point. An easy route of just over 4 miles - Lunch at The Thatch. |
| 21st April | Fremington Quay to Instow | This is an easy level walk of just over 4 miles along the Tarka trail and coast path. We return by bus to Fremington where we have another short level walk back to The Quay - Lunch at The Boatman. |
| 12th May | Whistlepound, 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 Whistlepound Resevoir - Lunch at The Pyne Arms. |
| 26th May | Lee Abbey Team Room, Caffyns Heanton Wood, Bonhill Wood and Crock Point | A circular route of just over 3 miles, mainly through woodland before returning along the coast path - Lunch at The Queens (Lynton). |
| 9th June | Combe Martin and The Hangman Hills | Starting from the beach car park in Combe Martin we have a steady climb up Little Hangman and on up to Great Hangman before heading inland across fields and then downhill through a steep valley for our return. The views are spectacular and taken at a steady pace the route is not too strenuous - Lunch at The Sawmills. |
| 23rd June | Malmsmead and Brendon | 5 Miles taking in the East Lyn river, moorland, fields and quiet country lanes - Lunch at the Staghunters. |
| 14th July | Lee Bay, Borough Valley, Slade circular | A varied 6 mile route taking in part of the Tarka Trail by the Slade resevoirs. There is a short steep section at the top of the Borough Valley but otherwise it is easy going - Lunch at The Grampus. |
| 28th July | Arlington, 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 Pyne Arms. |
| 11th August | Lynton 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 the seaward route for our return to Lynton. About 4.7 miles - Lunch at The Queens Lynton. |
| 25th August | West 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 Crown. |
| 8th September | Croyde 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 September | Berrymarbor, Hele, Widemouth Head | A 6.5 mile walk starting from the village car park in Berrynarbor and heading out through the Sterridge Valley before climbing over the high ground to Hele and returning to Berrynarbor via the coast path - Lunch at The Globe. |
| 13th October | 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. |
| 27th October | Trentishoe Down and Heddon's Mouth Cleve | 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 the 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 decents this is one of our more challenging routes - Lunch at Hunters Inn. |
| 10 November | Morte 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. |
| 17th November | Woolacombe, Putsborough and return | This is an easy 4 mile stroll along Woolacombe Beach followed by a return over the dunes to Wollacombe - Lunch at The Red Barn. |
Photos from past memorable walks
Click on photos for information.
