Three walks for a Summer’s evening

Footpaths, and forgotten byways around Westleigh and Eastleigh

As the summer days get hotter and the daylight hours get longer the prospect of an evening walk has great appeal. When you can combine this with a long cool drink in a local pub why not head for Westleigh. Here in a truly unspoilt location; overlooked by a lovely old church, a mere handful of houses and cottages seem to have tumbled quite naturally into this sheltered hollow. On every bend of the minute winding network of unnamed lanes and alleys, stone walls sprout pink swathes of wild Valerian - regarded by so many as weeds - here they are allowed to flourish. The old cottages owned by the Christie Estate; recognisable by their Green doors; look like images from the Frith photographic archive. Long before the arrival of the Barnstaple to Bideford Turnpike via Instow in 1832 and the Railway line to Bideford in 1855, this tiny community would have been very isolated and only served by a network of narrow inland lanes that run roughly East to West terminating at the banks of the River Torridge. The unsurfaced condition of these rural roads would have been appalling. Hereabouts the lanes would have been deeply rutted by livestock and horse drawn vehicles. The 19^th century Tourist would have travelled by Stage-Coach between Barnstaple and Bideford via Eastleigh and in considerable discomfort! The invention of Tarmac transformed major roads for motor cars but many rural byways remained unsurfaced well into the 1920s. Throughout rural England and particularly here around Westleigh and Eastleigh there are still long stretches of these forgotten lanes, today classified as ‘other roads’. To walk along one of these ancient un-surfaced byways today will give one some insight into the travelling conditions of the rural roads of the 19^th century, silent now in the 21^st century yet strangely resonant with ghostly sounds of past travellers.

Westleigh has numerous footpaths, and several forgotten byways suitable for circular walks, short enough for an evening stroll, longer routes to build up a thirst and right out into the sticks to earn a slap up supper. OS Landranger 180 would be useful.

(1) A small circular walk (locally known as the Island) about 1.5 miles, also crossed by footpaths. Pass the Church on your left and look back at this point for a glimpse of the shimmering river between the old rooftops. Straight on to Blackgate Cross, just keep turning right to arrive back in Westleigh.

(2) Further afield, about 3-4 miles across footpaths and lanes. As above to Blackgate Cross - straight on to Treyhill Farm take footpath opposite on right towards Eastleigh Barton, pass under A39 keep to two field boundary (lefthand) if sown with crops, follow the footpath signs onto the lane, right to Eastleigh, then straight on to return to Westleigh. Turn right at any one of the next 3 turnings, 1 and 2 return via Bradavin and Millway Cross to the the Island, the 3^rd will take you back via Lower Southcott over A39 to Westleigh.

(3) Now out into the sticks. A long ramble of about 6 miles along footpaths, council lanes and some of those forgotten byways. Leave Westleigh Inn and turn right downhill to rejoin the main road from the B3233. Turn left uphill and straight on crossing the A39 by road-bridge. First left onto old green lane (this is always wet and may be overgrown), next left passing through the sleepy hollow of Lower Southcott with its beautiful water meadow full of Yellow Flag Irises. Ahead at the small crossroad – straight on - bear right to pass the back gates of Pillhead House and uphill over hard bedrock onto a forgotten byway. Exit finally onto council road with Eastwood sign on your right. Here turn left - then left again to Woodtown - sharp left and downhill to Little Pillhead - straight on through yard – the next ancient byway passes to right of the white cottage ahead. Exit onto the Ashridge lane. Straight ahead is a long stretch of byway, now gated and locked - sadly there is no longer any right of way along the old Blackdown Lane. Therefore turn left, close - by take the footpath on the right this will take you uphill on to a lane - here turn right to Eastleigh. Pass Eastleigh Barton on your left and join the long footpath section on the left (just before the redbrick farm cottages) then right and left, in next 2 fields ,if sown with crops, keep boundary hedges to your right - the Footpath Sign is visible where you pass under the A39 downhill to footbridge - right to stile – keep left uphill to Treyhill - left to Blackgate Cross – straight on to the Westleigh Inn for that slap up supper!

The ancient and popular Westleigh Inn is tucked out of sight in the village in its own sheltered hollow but has an elevated Beer Garden with an enviable view across the River Torridge. After a walk refresh your thirst and appetite here, rest your weary feet, sit back and enjoy the sunset over the river. PARKING. The Car Park at the Westleigh Inn is for Patrons only please let Duncan - the Publican - know if you intend to walk first and imbibe later! Parking in the village is very limited but there is parking in a lay-by on B3233 by the Bus Stop only a short walk to Westleigh.

This walk was first published in the Bideford Buzz July 2006. You can link these walks with ‘Walking The Dragon’s Back – A stroll around the Uplands of Instow’ published in the Bideford Buzz April 2003.