Exe Valley Way and Coldharbour Farm (Circular)

Approximate Time: 1½ hrs

Distance: 4½ miles/7km

Type of Walk: A moderate walk that follows paths, roads and crosses fields. Requires walking up and down hills, crossing an old level crossing and stiles.

Directions:

1. Begin at Station Road Car Park. Exit the Carpark and turn left along Station Road in front of The Swan. Cross the main road to Bridge House.  Turn left up the narrow ‘High Street’ with the war memorial on your left. The area by the bus shelter was once the bridge over the railway (1884 to 1963), the Station Master lived in Station House.
2. Continue uphill to the second lane on the right which has an Exe Valley Way (EVW) sign. At the top turn left through a field gate also signed EVW. Walk up the field, hedge on right, to stile in corner. There is a lovely view to the right with Birchdown Farm nestling in the valley.
3. Take the downhill track left then ascend to the top left-hand corner of the field to go over two stiles then through the kissing gate on the right. Look for the footpath sign on the fence left and turn right up hill keeping to the left-hand side of the trees.
4. Go through the kissing gate at the top and walk diagonally across the next field to the gate in the corner, EVW sign on gate post. Take the broad grassy footpath across the middle of the field then through the gap in the hedge following the footpath sign to the left. Turn immediately right following the EVW finger post. Walk along the grassy track.
5. Go straight through the metal gate in front of you, EVW sign on the gate post. Wonderful views with Exebridge to your left. Ahead Brushford (once the location of Dulverton station) and Dulverton both in the Barle valley. Morebath, the source of Shuttern Brook, to the right with Haddon Hill and the Brendon Hills on the ridge beyond.
6. Walk downhill towards Coldharbour Farm with the bank on your right. Go through the gate and diagonally left across the field to the gate at the bottom. Walk straight ahead keeping the hedge and ditch on your right-hand side. Go through the pedestrian gate, down the field to take the path across the ditch.
7. Bear left up to and through the pedestrian gate. Ignore the track on the left and go through the gate on the left with the public footpath sign on the post. Walk along the sunken track and through the gate onto the road.
8. Turn right for 0.25 miles (0.4km) to Blights Farm on your right.
9. Walk along the road for approx 0.75 miles (1.6 km) to Lodfin at the T-junction with the B3190, Morebath Road.
10. Turn right on the often-busy road for 600 yards (0.5 km). Lodfin level crossing, for the Exe Valley Line, was at this T-junction, the former crossing keeper’s cottage is on the left, and the line of the railway and the Shuttern Brook can be clearly seen.
11. Continue along the B3190 until shortly after Chilthorpe Farm.
12. As the road bends sharply to the right, cross to the left and take the track ahead.
13. Follow the track as it turns sharply left and continues uphill. At the crest take the kissing gate on the right. Take care as the exit is stony and steep. Walk down the field with the hedge on your right. Go through the sheepfold, negotiating the gate and stile.
14. Continue up the next field with a fence and then a hedgerow on the left. Go through a gate and stile in the fence at the top. Continue up the next field and immediately after the gate at the top turn left, through another gate. Cross this field diagonally downhill to a gate in the hedge. The stone barn conversion on your left is Higher Arthur’s Hayne built in the 17th century.
15. Cross the next field diagonally, making for the stile visible in the hedge ahead. Climb the stile and follow the closely fenced path downhill. There are superb views of the motte and bailey (now the football field) and of Bampton itself.
16. Climb another stile to enter a rough field. Bear right on the path to a gate onto Morebath Road. Take a short detour left to go up the well-made steps to the top of the motte. The effort is rewarded by wonderful views.
17. Cross the road and turn right. Walk along the road taking the second turning on the left, Frog Street, continue downhill then left.The three pairs of listed semi-detached Nissan Houses on the right were built in 1922 and named ‘Wembley Terrace’ after the newly opened Stadium. Further along, Old House on the right was part of the complex of buildings forming the 19^th century site of one of the Bampton tanneries. The water needed was taken from the Shuttern Brook behind the tannery. Continuing along note the amphibian themed cottage names. On the right after No.7 Riverview, look over the wall to see where the Shuttern Brook was channelled underground in 1860. Until then it ran down the centre of Brook Street, formerly known as Duckpaddle!
18. At the junction with Castle Street, turn right and cross the two roads to the White Horse Inn. Turn right along Fore Street to Newton Square. Take the narrow path to the left of the telephone kiosk to the Church. Walk up with the Church on left and exit the churchyard to return to the Car Park ahead.
    

With thanks to Bampton Heritage and Visitor Centre for this walking route. Photograph courtesy of: Bampton Heritage and Visitor Centre