03 Walk around Upottery and Beacon Hill, Yarcombe

Blackdown Hills AONB, Devon

This is a long, circular walk across into the Otter Valley, passing through the beautiful village of Upottery. It’s mostly along quiet country lanes, but it does cross a few busy A-roads, where you may need to wait a few minutes for a break in the traffic. There are a few steep climbs in the first half of the walk, but you get amazing views of the Yarty Valley towards the end. There are two potential pub stops* along the route.

* We recommend checking pub opening times before you set off, as many pubs here have limited opening hours.

• Total distance 11 miles (17.8km)
• Estimated time 5hrs 20mins
• Elevation 348 ft at lowest point, 872 ft at highest point
• Total ascent 1592 ft

There is an option for a pub stop in Upottery at The Sidmouth Arms, and a second one just off the route at the Yarcombe Inn. For more information and contact details, check out our Local Pubs web page – we recommend you do this first as many pubs here have limited opening hours.

These instructions start at Ley Farm, Yarcombe, EX14 9LW, however you could also start it from either of the two pubs. The Yarcombe Inn has limited parking though.

1. Leave Ley Farm turning right out of the gate onto the lane (heading south). After a few minutes you’ll reach a lane heading up the valley to your right – take this lane.

2. At checkpoint 2 where the lane starts to flatten, on a clear day you should have a great view looking back across Ley Farm up the Yarty Valley with Yarcombe village to the north. Keep to this lane which crosses the top of the hill, passing a small farm on the right (Wytch Farm) before falling steeply to a junction.

3. At the T junction, go right and head directly uphill. This is the toughest part of the walk. Keep to the lane which carries on uphill gradually bending to the right, passing a lane on the right before turning left near the top of the valley (viewpoint here, with view down the Yarty valley across Stockland village towards Axminster). Eventually you’ll reach a crossroads.

4. Turn right at the crossroads onto a flat, straight road – Take care walking along this road as it can be busy at times with cars driving fast. The road ends at the A30 – Take care crossing the A30, heading onto the road straight across the junction.

5. You’re now in the Otter Valley. Take the road heading downhill, passing a cream house. The road winds its way down the side of the valley. Keep to this road until you reach Upottery village, where you’ll pass the village hall before continuing right past the church, turning right at the war memorial then arriving at The Sidmouth Arms.

6. Turn right when leaving The Sidmouth Arms, heading through the centre of the village then passing the school on your right. Keep to this road heading north out of the village, gradually rising up the side of the valley. After a mile the road flattens. Once you pass Yew Tree Cottage on your right, the road falls into a wooded area with railing on the right. Look out for a right turning heading downhill which has two entry lanes and black and white bollards.

7. Take this right turn heading down the side of the valley. The lane takes a few sharp turns before arriving at a junction with lane on the left – take this left turning here. Where the lane ends turn right onto a lane that takes you back across the bottom of the valley, arriving at a junction with Twistgates Farm (and Twistgates Cottages).

8. Turn left here, soon crossing a ford then heading up the side of the valley. Keep to this lane, ignoring the turning off to the left. The lane turns a U bend just before reaching the top where you’ll eventually get to a junction with the A303. Take care crossing the A303 heading straight across onto the grass verge. Turn left, walking along the grass verge before taking the road off to the right.

9. Head down this road, which eventually starts falling into the Yarty Valley. After the road starts to fall take the first lane on the right which starts with a short uphill (passing ‘Heavens Mouth’ cottage). Continue along this lane and when it starts to fall look out for footpath 26 signposted on your right, heading through a metal gate into a field. At this point should you wish to visit the Yarcombe Inn, stay on the lane then turn left at the end heading down the A30. Otherwise, head through the gate.

10. Head along the top of the field following the footpath, heading towards the gate at the top of the hedge opposite. You are high above the Yarty Valley with stunning views from this field on a good day. See if you can spot Ley Farm in the middle of the valley below (look for the large barns behind the Farmhouse). Once through the gate, turn right heading uphill on a rocky path. Continue along this path keeping to the high track, eventually crossing the A30.

11. Take care crossing the A30 – This can be a bit tricky given you’re crossing from the inside of a sharp bend! Once across head around the gate and continue along the track. Where the woods end you pass through a wooden gate. Continue along the track now heading steeply downhill, eventually arriving at Broadley Farm. Turn left onto the lane where the track ends. Keep to this lane heading downhill. After a sharp right turn just past a cottage on your right, look out for footpath 24 on your right.

12. Cross the stile, then head downhill across the field before crossing another stile and then heading across another field towards a gate with stile. Once across, turn right onto the lane. Continue along this lane before arriving back at Ley Farm.