Green Circle 3: Mincinglake Walk
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The start of Section 3 of the Green Circle Walk is at St George Close. It then follows the beautiful Hamlin Lane playing-field with the stream running through the centre. This is all part of the continuing Mincinglake Stream which starts to flow in the farmland to the north of Sylvania Park and on through the former village of Whipton. The walk continues through Mincinglake Valley Park, which was once used as a landfill site for all the city's rubbish. But today it is rich in wildlife, making a great country park with butterflies and meadows full of wildflowers. The reedbeds by the side of the ponds are doing their job and cleaning the water in the stream.
At the top of Mincinglake Valley Park there are fantastic views down the Exe Estuary towards the sea. Once up at the top of Sylvania Park, you can look out over to the Rollestone Estate with its rolling hills and woodland and if you are lucky you can watch the roe-deer feeding out in the open.
Before entering the Mincinglake Valley Park you pass through St Katherine's Road and set back off the road is St Katherine's Priory. The nuns from the priory built a dam over 600 years ago in Mincinglake Valley, to create a lake to provide fish to eat and power to drive the cornmill. The Mincinglake Stream is cut deeply into the wooded valley and the word Mincinglake means 'nun's stream' after the nuns at the priory.
This walk like all the linear walks in this series, gives great views and interesting history along the way and by walking the same route both ways, you can see different things from opposite angles. However, it is also worth completing all five sections in the Green Circle Walk, which gives surprise after surprise with nature reserves, canals and some of the best views from any city in the country.
On all these walks it is a bit like being on the Web; you can get sidetracked and wander off on a different walk other than the Green Circle Walk, such is the choice, so check out the website: www.exeter.gov.uk/countryside
England - South West England - Devon - Blackdown Hills
Features
Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Flowers, Food Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Mostly Flat, Nature Trail, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland
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