Blackdown Hills AONB, Devon
This circular walk heads to the south of Ley Farm, and climbs Beacon Hill to provide a great view up the Yarty Valley. It is mostly on quiet country lanes with some rough tracks and footpaths. You have a potential pub stop* close to home.
* We recommend checking pub opening times before you set off, as many pubs here have limited opening hours.
- Total distance 6.3 miles (10.1km)
- Estimated time 2hrs 53mins
- Elevation 191 ft at lowest point, 609 ft at highest point
- Total ascent 737 ft
The route loops back through Stockland village with a highly recommended pub stop at the Kings Arms, Stockland, just over a mile from home. For information about pubs 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 The Kings Arms pub in Stockland.
- Leave Ley Farm turning right out of the gate onto the lane (heading south). After a few minutes you’ll pass a lane heading up the valley to your right, and then shortly after, take the lane heading down to the left (Lower Lye). Immediately after passing through Lower Lye, head straight on and you’ll drop down into a gully with a rocky path with stream alongside. At the end of the path turn left onto the lane which then takes you down to cross the River Yarty at Long Bridge – Look out for the old warning sign on the bridge; you’re now in Stockland parish which had historically been an exclave of Dorset until the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844. After crossing the bridge turn first right at the cross roads.
- Follow this lane south along the bottom of the valley until you get to Lake Farm, and a junction with sharp left turn uphill signposted towards Furley.
- Ignore the turning uphill and head straight on along the lane (signposted towards Membury). The lane winds its way along the side of the valley. Soon after you pass a large old oak tree on the left of the road, the lane starts to fall and you’ll reach a lane on the right and a track on the left – carry on straight here and the lane will head downhill before rising to another right turning (signposted to Stockland) with a house opposite.
- Take this right turning towards Stockland. After you pass a lane heading off to the right, the lane falls to cross an old bridge over the River Yarty (Case Bridge) and a few minutes later you’ll read the end of the lane at a T junction (Crandons). Turn left (signposted towards Kilmington and Axminster) – note, this is a relatively busier lane so watch out for vehicles. After a flat section the lane starts to climb – this is the start of the climb up Beacon Hill. Keep to the lane, and after a steep climb you’ll reach a junction with a house on the left and a turning on the right (signposted ‘Unmetalled Road’).
- Take the ‘Unmetalled Road’ off to the right, which heads directly uphill. The lane splits with the left turn marked ‘Private Road’ and the right turn onto a rough track. Take the right turning onto the rough track, which continues uphill passing a lane off to the left before reaching another left/right split. Take the right turning again, which continues to climb up Beacon Hill. After passing a woodland on the right, the view should open up looking north up the Yarty Valley. Keep to the track, passing a left turning before heading downhill finally reaching a lane and the small hamlet of Heathstock.
- Turn right onto the lane, passing Heathstock Farm before dropping down and eventually reaching a crossroads (Marlpit Cross). Turn right here heading downhill before reaching a another junction with a left turning (Langlands Cross).
- Ignore the left turning and continue on the lane heading downhill, passing the turning into Rakehill Farm, then passing Aller Farm before a short rise to a road junction (Cokers Elm Cross).
- Turn left here, heading uphill toward Stockland village. After the road levels you’ll pass a small school (on your left), then Stockland village hall (on your right) before entering the village. When you get to the middle of the village you’ll see an old telephone box, and opposite, a right turning uphill which is the route back to Ley Farm. However, The Kings Arms Inn is straight ahead in case refreshments are in order.
- Once done at the Kings Arms Inn, head back to the junction in the middle of the village and take the turning uphill signposted towards Yarcombe and Chard (opposite the old telephone box). After passing Battens Farm the road will curve left before you see a left turning with a white thatched house on the opposite side of the road (Road End Cross).
- Take this left turn continuing uphill a short way. Keep to this lane, first passing the track you took earlier down to Lower Lye, then passing a lane heading uphill to the left, eventually arriving back at Ley Farm.
Ley Farm Cottages 