Walk: Exmouth to Woodbury Castle

  1. From Exmouth estuary long stay car park (SY 999 812), keep the estuary on your left. 

Walk (N) towards the boat yard. After 400 yards come away from the estuary slightly to your right and cross the railway line, this leads through houses, then turn left (N) keeping the estuary on your left.

Pass Lower Halsdown Farm (NT) take the new wide cycle route and footpath on the right along the Exe Estuary trail. The original path is on the left and can still be used, this is narrower & closer to the estuary route along its length, they converge at the end.

   2. At the end (SY991 837) as you reach the railway bridge up above you on your left, turn right (E) along the lane.

When you see the big gates of Southtown House at the end of the lane turn left (N) up the lane. Go past Sowden House over a stile and into our very first field, uphill. At the second stile turn right in the field with telegraph poles in.

Follow the field round keeping the hedge on your right, turn left up to the A376. When you reach ‘The White House’ at the cross roads go straight over up Summer Lane passing A la Ronde, a National Trust 18 sided property on your right. You can stop to enjoy the views from the gardens.

   3. Continue past A la Ronde after 20 yards turn right again, with houses to your right and fields to the left.

Go straight over the road and up the path, keeping the residential houses to your right. Cross over the A376 and walk along the path for ¼ mile. Cross over Dinan Way through into another leafy track called Marley Road, turning left at the top for a further ½ a mile.

This narrow road can get busy, you will pass Bystock Wood on your right. At the T junction turn left along the B3179 / B3180 (towards Woodbury Common) for 80 yards then turn right up the lane, then left into Lympstone Common, where there is a car park.

   4. Enjoy a woodland wander through Lympstone Common woodland, you will see pebbles underfoot along the trail.

Where the paths cross (SY 026 850) keep straight on (N), passing through the gate and follow the right fork in the path which bears gradually right (E).

Stay on the path until you meet the turning at Frying Pans (SY 037 850) where you turn left (N).

  5. Blackhill Quarry is a landscape of quarried red sand and gravel, managed by the RSPB it is reverting back to heathland using grazing ponies.

Follow the waymarked tracks (NW) up through this quarry. Go through the woodland and up towards Four Firs car park, walk through and cross straight over the little lane up through the common. Keep the B3180 on your left.

   6. This stage finishes at Woodbury Castle, a perfect place for a picnic.

 Explore: The woodland at Woodbury Castle (SY 032 872) is a magical place with moss covered tree roots, and high ramparts of the castle go round in a half mile circle.Views across Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Brendon and Quantock Hills in Somerset.