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 in West Down 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 07866 804788
2020 Walks
January – Pop-up walk Baggy Point – 5 miles .. date to be confirmed subject to weather
Lunch at The Thatch
February – Pop-up walk – Fremington Quay – date to be confirmed subject to weather
an easy 3 miles along the Tarka Trail and tranquil Fremington Pill
Lunch at The New Inn
March 12th – Hunter’s Inn to Woody Bay – our usual start to the walking year with a 5 mile walk along the old carriageway and returning by the coast path.
Lunch at The Hunter’s Inn
March 26th – Parkham to Peppercombe – a return to the lovely views along the coast path – 6 miles of heaven.
Lunch at The Bell Inn, Parkham
April 9th – Monkleigh, Tarka Trail and Frithelstock – an 7 mile circular through the
countryside west of Torrington and along the River Torridge on a splendid walk
Lunch at The Bell Inn, Monkleigh
April 23rd – Slattenslade – 4 miles from Woody Bay to Crock Point. A stunning springtime walk.
Lunch at The Fox & Goose, Parracombe
May 14th – Dulverton – sparkling rivers, lovely woodlands, open moorlands and memorable views – a short 4 mile ramble as an appetiser for
Lunch at Woods Restaurant and Bar
May 28th – Lee Bay to Caffyn’s Heanton Wood – a 6 mile country walk looking over the spectacular Valley of the Rocks.
Lunch at The Beggar’s Roost
June 11th – Luxborough – a 4 mile tramp in an idyllic area – all that a walker could wish for.
Lunch at The Royal Oak
June 25th – Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows – a 6 mile ramble through the sand dunes and along the beach
Lunch at The Williams Arms
July 9th – Whistlandpound Reservoir, Twitchen and Hunnacott – a 5 mile stroll around a most pleasantly scenic and unspoiled part of inland North Devon.
Lunch at The Pyne Arms
July 23rd – Pinkery Pond – an easy 3 mile walk up on The Chains of Exmoor
Lunch at The Black Venus
August 13th – Haddon Hill & Wimbleball Lake – a 6 mile circular around the lovely valley and a magnificent woodland walk.
Lunch at The London Inn, Molland
August 27th – North Molton – an easy 3 mile walk through delightful water meadows by the River Mole
Lunch at The Poltimore Inn
Sept 10th – 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 24th – Bampton and Morebath – a pleasant excursion via fields and green lanes to the little hamlet of Morebath on this nearly 6 mile from the once important wool and market town of Bampton
Lunch at The Swan
Oct 8th – Trentishoe Down – this inspiring 4 mile walk takes in the tiny church at remote Trentishoe then returns on a glorious gentle path above the woodlands of Heddon Valley
Lunch at The Hunter’s Inn
Oct 22nd – 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 12th – 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 26th – Codden Hill – nearly 6 miles walking from Landkey to the 620 foot summit for a magnificent view of the Taw-Torridge estuary.
Lunch at The Castle Inn
Walking Club Members
David Maidment – 01271 864349 – davrondevon@outlook.com
Eric Philipson – 01271 865480 – philipson8ra@btinternet.com
Ian Rothwell – 01271 871018 – ihrothwell@btinternet.com
Roger Parry – 01271 855678 – randnparry@hotmail.com
Tony Stafford – 07866 804788 – toestafford@gmail.com
David Pepper – 01271 372413 – davidbpepper@gmail.com
Ashley Daly – 01271 814988- rosashdaly@gmail.com
Bill Scholes – 01271 865382 – famscholes@btinternet.com
Photos from past memorable walks
Fremington Quay to Instow
4.1.2020
Weather was good but very breezy….and a visit to the Boatyard in Instow for a pint and some grub capped a pleasant walk.
Baggy Point
23.1.2020
Spot the difference!
First walk of 2020 – circular walk starting at Croyde taking in the fabulous views around Baggy Point.
Greater Hangman and Combe Martin
20.6.2019
Great day for walking up the Greater Hangman which is the highest point on the South West Coastal Path at 1043ft above sea level with cliff face of 800ft which is the highest in England. Its a fair old slog to get up there but worth the effort with the spectacular views on hand.
Watersmeet
28.3.2019
Too early in the season to encounter Countisbury Hill so a leisurely walk from Lynmouth to Ash Bridge was well received on a sunny (but cool) day
Hunters Inn to Woody Bay
14.3.2019
After some wet weather the waterfall at Woody Bay was in full flow
Dunkery Beacon
16.8.2018
A great walk today – if great means that tortuous final climb up from Horner Water!!
As I said to my Aussie friends ……. UK 6 ….. Australia 0
Chittlehampton, Pitt Wood and Umberleigh
10.5.2018
…..into the fairy woods.
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