09 Walk up Beacon Hill to Dalwood and Stockland

Blackdown Hills AONB, Devon

This is a fairly long circular walk that heads south of Ley Farm into the Corry valley. You climb Beacon Hill and then head through Horner Hill, one of the Stockland Turbaries which is common land owned by the parish and historically residents of the parish have rights to collect firewood and peat. The route passes through the pretty village of Dalwood (look out for the Seed Swap) before looping back along the other side of the valley. You return through Stockland village with a nice pub stop* just over a mile from home. It’s mostly on quiet country lanes with a few sections on rough tracks and footpaths. There are a few steep climbs with one long steep climb up to the top of Beacon Hill.

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

• Total distance 11.1 miles (17.9km)
• Estimated time 4hrs 20mins
• Elevation 192 ft at lowest point, 679 ft at highest point
• Total ascent 1517 ft

This route has pub stops in Dalwood at The Tuckers Arms and in Stockland at the Kings Arms. Check our Local Pubs web page for contact details – we recommend checking opening times and reserving a table (if eating) as some pubs have limited opening hours and can get busy

These instructions start at Ley Farm, Yarcombe, EX14 9LW, however you could also start it from The Kings Arms pub in Stockland.

1. Leave Ley Farm turning right out of the gate onto the lane (heading south). Walk to the end of the lane (Road End Cross). Turn left heading steeply downhill, eventually crossing 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 crossroads.

2. Follow this lane south along the bottom of the valley until you get to Lake Farm, and a junction with a 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. After passing a large old oak tree on the left of the road, the lane starts to fall before rising to a right turning (signposted to Stockland) with a house opposite (Kingsleaze).

3. 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 reach 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’).

4. 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 turn which continues uphill passing a lane off to the left before reaching another left/right split. Turn left and continue along the path until it ends at a lane. Turn right on the lane, continuing uphill for a short while until you see a bridleway turning on the left.

5. Turn left off the lane onto the bridleway. After a short while the bridleway turns right through a gate heading downhill before turning left along the side of the valley. Where the bridleway splits, continue straight on heading uphill. You’re now on Horner Hill, one of the Stockland Turbaries. Historically, the people living within the parish of Stockland used the turbaries for grazing, the cutting of bracken for animal bedding, and as a source of firewood. Today, the turbaries are owned by Stockland Parish Council and residents of the parish have access rights to them, including to gather fallen trees and branches for firewood. Continue along the bridleway until it ends at a lane (ignoring any paths leading off the main bridleway).

6. Turn right onto the lane. Head straight on when you reach a crossroads, then shortly after take the track leading off to the right, which turns into a path crossing fields heading down the side of the valley. The path ends at the edge of Dalwood village. Continue straight onto the lane heading downhill crossing a bridge before arriving at The Tuckers Arms.

7. Once done at The Tuckers Arms continue through the village. Keep to the road heading uphill through the village until you reach a crossroads. Turn right at the crossroads signposted towards Ham and Stockland. After around a mile you’ll reach the small hamlet of Ham.

8. Take a left turn signposted Ridge heading uphill. After half a mile take the first right turn, then after another half mile you’ll pass Goren Farm before the lane ends at a T junction. Turn right heading downhill. Ignore the first right turning. After the lane curves left you’ll reach the second lane on your right.

9. Take this right turn heading down the side of the valley before crossing the brook then rising steeply to a T junction. Turn left continuing uphill until you reach a crossroads at the top of the valley (Marlpit Cross).

10. Head straight on heading downhill before reaching 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 is straight ahead in case more refreshments are in order.

11. Once done at the Kings Arms, 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 curves left before you arrive back at Road End Cross. Take the left turn, eventually arriving back at Ley Farm