This short flat route provides a largely traffic-free riverside link between the villages of Newton Poppleford and Harpford.
There is a wealth of birdlife on the River Otter. Look out for moorhens, mallards, kingfishers and grey herons all the year round.
Additional Information
Newton Poppleford’s claim to fame is the King Alfred daffodil which was bred by the Hill family and received an RHS Gold Medal in 1899. The original daffodil field has now been built over, but groups of bulbs were planted around the village and can be seen flowering every March.
The Church of St Gregory the Great in Harpford has features dating back to late fourteenth century and a list recording the vicars back to 1209.
Directions
1 - 5 1. Start from the free public car park in Newton Poppleford...
…behind St Luke’s Church. Take the footpath to the left of the church out to the main road.
2. Turn right and walk along the pavement to reach the light controlled crossing. Cross the road and turn left along the pavement.
3.Take the first right into Meadow Drive.
4. Take the footpath on the right alongside the stream.
5. At the path junction turn right and follow the footpath past the playing fields to Back Lane.
6 - 8. Turn left and follow the road until it bears left.
Turn right through the double gates onto a footpath.
7. Follow the footpath alongside the River Otter to the junction of paths near Harpford Bridge.
8.From here you can:
Turn left and follow the East Devon Way to Woodbury Castle.
Turn right over Harpford Bridge and follow the East Devon Way towards Lyme Regis.
This route was originally developed by James Baldwin and checked by Ted Swan. It was reviewed and updated in 2026.