Best Kenn & Haldon Walk

breathtaking views
View from Kenn
1 hour walks

This walk offers a journey into the past through a rolling landscape, blue-belled woods and along ancient tracks.

parkingNear Kenn Church
parkingwhat3words ///rush.downs.incorrect
  
parkingPostcode:EX6 7UW
Point of InterestWhat to explore?
  • Village of Kenn
  • Oldest Fingerpost in Devon
  • Haldon Cafe
  • Haldon Forest
  • Ancient Tracks
Tranquil Lane

Difficulty

Distance: 6 miles

It starts near Kenn and follows the river of the same name with a steady and not strenuous climb up Haldon Hill.

Carpets of bluebells
A photographer's dream end of April

It follows 2 very ancient tracks, Holloway Lane and St Andrew's Lane.

Holloway Lane, now a bridleway, starts next to the entrance to Exeter Lodge.

There is one steady climb.

The importance of this bridleway was marked by one of the oldest fingerposts in Devon , headed Devon CC and pointing to Kenn and Kenton.

Unfortunately, it has been vandalised fairly recently!

Fingerpost Kenn Kenton
Vandalised fingerpost

This remarkable lane flanked by trees and shrubs climbs gracefully on an embankment to the top of Haldon with magnificent views on either side - look out for Exmouth on your left.

As you enter Haldon the path becomes a cobbled track carefully hollowed out .

This must have been a very important route designed to take horse and carts to the river Kenn.

Just before it bends to the left , take an almost secret small path sharp right - it initially runs parallel to the lane then bears right and becomes a track. You are now level and the only way back is down !

If you are not following a gps route then use the second map to guide you to St Andrew's Lane.

Beware of cyclists.

St Andrew's Lane also dates back to the Iron Age.

It seems strange that it descends almost in a straight line to a T junction (where you turn left back to Kenn).
However, crop marks have revealed a hill fort at the top of Berber Hill on the other side of the lane. Presumably, the track continued along the hedge past the hill fort to the river Kenn.

GPX Route for Mobile / GPS

 

FIT for Watches / GPS

 

Show on Google Earth

Map of Walk

 

Haldon route to St Andrew's lane

 Walks near Kenn
  
 Kennford
A short walk , with several pubs en route , taking you into the picturesque village of Kenn & past the idyllic Ley Arms
  
 
 Haldon Obelisk
One of our most popular walks with spectacular views of the Exe estuary.
  
 Kenn-Haldon
A delightful walk from Kenn into Haldon.You will be rewarded with commanding views of a part of Devon that hasn't changed for centuries.