ROUTE – Mary Tavy Church and Horndon
DISTANCE/TIME – 2.3 miles; 2 hours
SUITABILITY – Some gradients; stiles
DIRECTIONS
Park at MaryTavyChurch (alternative parking can be found a little further along the road)
From the church, walk along the road in a southerly direction (Church on your left), take the left hand path at the junction of paths (signed bridle-path to Peter Tavy), follow track through a gate by the river (power station over to right) and across the clam (bridge).
After crossing the river, turn left onto less-defined track running alongside the river. Go through a small gate, follow path up hill passing mine workings and old turbine.
At top of hill go through metal gate and continue along path (up an incline) to another gate just before a standing stone. Go through this gate and keep to the right hand side of the field.
On reaching the next gate, turn left along the tarmac road through the hamlet of Cudliptown (this is all uphill), past a property called Higher Manor until the road widens slightly and levels out, where you will see a foot path sign to the left, through a gate.
Walk down the centre of the field, going down towards the river valley. Field dips down and comes to a slight escarpment. There is a gap next to an old leaning tree, go down through this gap to the lower part of the field, taking a path through bracken. Bear around to the right at the lower end of the field, through a metal gate into a wood.
Take the path down into the wood (noticeboard ‘Devon United Mine’). take the path down to the river edge, climb the stile and up onto the clam (bridge). *
Cross clam (bridge) and follow the steep rough track up and through wooden gate. Continue on the track to a tarmac road (houses on right). Walk through this hamlet(Horndon) keeping left at the fork in the road. On reaching the T-junction turn left, sign-posted Mary Tavy.
After about 200 yards, turn left at thefootpath sign, walking down a rough track which turns grassy (between two hedges). This track turns into stream after rain.
Continue until the track turns sharp left. On the right is a stile, climb over this (footpath sign) into a field. Walk across the left-hand part of the field to another stile.
This takes you into a farm lane, turn left into the lane, continue through gate where there are some outbuildings then another gate into a field .
Continue along the right hand side of the field and through a gate, walk a further few paces up the hill and you will see the next stile (at about 11 o’clock) across the field. After crossing this stile, keep to the left hand side of the field, go over another stile.
Then head in a southerly direction across this field and into the far left-hand corner, through a gate (straight ahead) and keep going down the rocky track on the left hand side of the field, passing the Miner’s dry (derelict building with large chimney).
At the bottom of this track, there is a wooden stile to climb over. Follow the grassy path down the right-hand side of the field (hedges either side, right hand one higher than left). Carry on down this grassy track to a wooden gate (private) and turn left (sign-posted public right of way).
At the corner of the field (farm buildings in front of you), turn right (see Church tower ahead). Keep to the right side of this field, towards the Church.
Climb over the stile into the churchyard. Keep to the grassy path on the right side of the churchyard, which becomes a gravel path. Follow the path round to the front of the church and you are back to where you parked the cars.