Green Circle 1: Alphin Brook Walk

John Coombes

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The first section of the Green Circle boundary walk is the Alphin Brook Walk. This begins at the upper end of the brook which continues to flow down through agricultural land divided from the City of Exeter by a ridge of hills. The brook slowly flows down to the historic village of Alphington, where there has been a lot of flood prevention work to avoid further floods after what happened in the mid-Sixties. The views are great and unusual to be found so close within the city boundaries.

The start of the walk is off Dunsford Road, which was once the main road to Cornwall. The little Hambeer Lane is situated at the top of Exeter, giving great views over the city and further down to the south are the Haldon Hills, which can be clearly seen from the ancient ridge.

If, after going down Hambeer Lane to the four-way junction, you go right and through the metal gate and keep going straight down the footpath to the bottom, it will bring you near the 250-year-old Twisted Oak-tree. Also the Twisted Oak is a very nice pub for some light refreshment.

Once back on the route, carry on to the bottom of the hill and by Alphin Brook look out for otters, kingfishers and dippers. In Alphington Village is St Michael's Church, with the red stone tower which can be seen for miles around the area. Opposite the church is Clapperbrook Lane; this was an ancient route to bypass the walled city and later on it was the main route to London. There are also many thatched cob cottages along the walk and Charles Dickens' parents once lived nearby.

Towards the end of the walk you arrive at the Exeter Ship Canal, which was built by 1566. This made the passage of ships into the port of Exeter easy, so imports from all over the world could be supplied to the merchants, which helped to make Exeter prosperous.

England - South West England - Devon - Blackdown Hills

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Pub, Public Transport, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland