Select Your Walk | Walk 1 (3.9 miles) | Walk 2 (5.8 miles) | |
Luton and Ideford Arch | Combe Valley |
The name refers to a ford.
Saxon village, old drover's lanes | |
Ideford the Royal Oak | |
Ideford church , limited spaces |
Walk 1 Luton and Ideford Arch (3.9 miles)
Difficulty:
Note:There are several steady climbs and one steep descent.
This quite strenuous but rewarding walk starts from ideford's pub and follows the Teignmouth & Dawlish Way to Luton, an equally charming village , also unaffected by change and , perhaps importantly, boasting a pub (the Elizabethan Inn)!
From here it heads South then West using old tracks which after heavy rain may get muddy.
Some of these tracks have interesting names and hint at their age:
Hamblecombe Lane, Haldon Lane and Bowdens Lane.
You cross a ford near Larcomb Pond then join the old Exeter to Netwon Abbot road at Ideford Arch.
A public footpath takes you across the bridge. It is hard to imagine that you are walking on the old road dating back to the early 19th century.
Follow the open track then turn right into a path meandering through a wood , part of the old Ugbrooke Park.
When the path bends to the left take care to take a right fork which soon joins an old track, Haldon Lane, through a small gap in the embankment.
Continue along Haldon Lane until you join a country lane, turn right and enjoy extensive views of the Combe valley below.
spectacular views of Combe valley |
Walk 2 Combe Valley (5.8 miles)
Difficulty:
This delightful 6 mile (dog friendly) hike , ideal during the summer months, follows part of the Combe Valley through an impressive forest.
If you park near Ideford Combe (NOT Ideford) the halfway mark is Ideford or Luton, both with pubs.
ideford church , limited space or limited parking on Ideford Combe , a lane off the B3195 |