County Gate - East Lyn Valley - Wilsham - SW Coast Path - County Gate

The route starts with a scenic and gradual descent into the upper East Lyn Valley, where it joins The Coleridge Way. (This long-distance trail, denoted by quills on the footpath signs, meanders for 51 miles between Nether Stowey in the Quantocks and Lynmouth, loosely linking places which are connected to Coleridge and his poetry). On some older maps this may be called 'The Samaritans Way SW'.

The next section follows the valley, passing the settlements of Leeford, Brendon (of 'Lorna Doone' fame), Alderford and Rockford before leaving the valley and The Coleridge Way by ascending the right-hand valley side and heading cross-country to Barna Barrow on the A39. The experts have concluded that there is no archaeological significance in the name – it is simply a barrow-shaped hill!

From here the route descends to the SW Coast Path (a route of over 600 miles between Poole and Minehead which is marked by acorns on the finger-posts) and starts to return to County Gate. The route meanders along the coast but there is no access to the shoreline along this section.

At Waymark 12 the route enters Glenthorne Estate. This land was acquired by a Reverend Halliday in 1829 and he went on to design and oversee the building of Glenthorne House. Our route (and the SW Coast Path) passes along a short section of the drive, which at three miles long and with a descent of over 300 metres is one of the longest private drives in the country. Here there is a wayside shrine called Sisters Fountain. It is thought this name originated from the four sisters who were Rev Halliday's nieces. The route then ascends via 'The Combe' and returns to County Gate car park over Cosgate Hill.

England - South West England - Devon - Exmoor

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Walk id: 8030

Walk grade

Moderate Walk

Length

9.3 Miles

Height gain

590 Metres

Duration

4 Hours 44 Mins

Average rating

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