This short route links the Sid Valley Ring route at Buckton Lane with the East Devon Way at the top of Buckley Plantation.
It can also be used as a variation of the main East Devon Way route to avoid a very steep ascent through Buckley Plantation. Passing through grassland and woodland it offers the chance to see a range of woodland and hedgerow birds.
Launched in 2019, the Sid Valley Ring is a 13 mile/21km signed route that circles Sidmouth showcasing the fantastic range of scenery in the Sid Valley area.
Additional Information
A landscape of history
There is evidence of human settlement in the area for the past 1500 years with Iron Age forts and Burial Mounds. To the south east, Sidmouth on the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast has been a popular seaside town for generations. The Poet Laureate John Betjeman is said to have been captivated by the town and wrote a poem about it in 1962. There are also royal connections as Queen Victoria had childhood holidays in the town.
Directions
1. Leave the Sid Valley Ring...
...follow the footpath over a stile and uphill alongside the hedge on your left.
2. Go over the next stile into woodland...
…and continue along the path past a picnic bench to a junction of footpaths
3. At the junction of paths go left...
…and follow the footpath along and uphill until you eventually come out alongside a field.
4. Go through a kissing gate
...and turn right along a track to join the East Devon Way.
From here you can:
- Turn left and follow the East Devon Way to Sidbury.
- Turn right and follow the East Devon Way towards Farway and Northleigh.
This route was originally developed by James Baldwin and checked by Ted Swan. It was reviewed and updated in 2025.