Yesterday was very restful for the boys, a few short walks around the lanes and a bit of a run around the fields of Pidgeon’s Farm. They both seem to have recovered from the limps they developed a couple of days ago, but we need to avoid long walks for a few days so Lynnie has planned our route today.
Neither of us can recall previously visiting Budleigh Salterton, if we have it was many years ago, so we decide to start todays walk from there. The added attraction for Lynnie is that she is convinced that she will be able to get an ice cream at a seaside town.
We park at the east end of the town near the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve and head off on the path that follows the River Otter inland. This is a popular route, it is good see people out. The path is well defined and there are plenty of spots to stop and look out over the estuary to observe the wildlife.
After a couple of miles we reach Otterton and briefly cross the bridge to look at the old mill. It is packed here, obviously a popular weekend attraction, so we decide to head on and make a note to return again on a midweek day. We take the bridge back across the river and instead of taking the first footpath that continues north along the river bank we take another a few yards on. This leads towards Bicton Park, on reaching the B3178 we cross and walk down a path besides Bicton church with the remains of the old church standing besides it.
Continuing uphill away from the church we meet a track and turn right. The Obelisk that stands on the hill here has been clearly visible for much of our walk. Now we are close to it and as we follow the path to the road we get good views of it. Henry Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle (1708-1750) built the obelisk in 1742 as a visual attraction in his garden.
On reaching a minor road we turn left and walk beside it for a short while before taking footpath on the right leading into East Budleigh. In the village we turn right and walk to a junction by the church. As we walk we can hear a chap on a mobility scooter talking to someone, drawing closer we see the statue of Sir Walter Raleigh. We immediately assume that the chap has stopped to have his morning natter with Walt, but then as we draw alongside we see another old boy on a bench that was tucked out of our sight.
We share some banter with these old fellows and then proceed down through the pretty village before taking Hayes Lane on the right. This is a quiet lane and in the spring sunshine pleasant walking. Just over a mile along we arrive at Hayes Barton, the splendidly kept home of Sir Walter Raleigh. Apparently Raleigh lived most of his life here, when not off exploring the world.
We continue by retracing our steps for a few yards along Hayes Lane and then turn right to follow the track to Hayeswood Cottage, stopping on the way for Lynnie to take pictures of the pigs basking in the sunshine.
Passing the cottage we enter Hayes Wood and continue through the woods, reaching a bridleway on the far side where we turn right. At a junction of paths we turn left on a track (Shortwood Lane) which after passing Shortwood House becomes a tarmac road. This passes a large caravan and camping site before reaching the B3178, which we cross and take a road almost opposite. From here we walk through residential streets towards the seafront at Budliegh Salterton.
We pass an ice cream kiosk, Lynnie declines because it does not sell the local produce she desires. A decision that she regrets when we reach a second kiosk and find it closed. It is surprisingly quiet along the seafront, a very pleasant spot to be, but undoubtedly it will be busier in a few weeks time when things warm up a bit.
My Suunto Traverse says that we have walked almost 8 and a half miles, which is about just the right distance for Lynnie and the dogs.
To view this route in OS Maps Click Here
To follow this walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 115 – Exmouth & Sidmouth
23rd April 2016
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2016)