Walk
Beautiful paths and the sea, to uplift your spirit, just minutes from our front door .
A selection of spectacular walks from our doorstep
A selection of wonderful
walks from the doorstep of Cranleigh House
Short easy walks:
a.
From Cranleigh House down
to the sea and back
b.
From Cranleigh House to St
Peter’s church and back.
Combe Martin Bay
Key to walks: Level 1:
relatively easy. Level 2: intermediate. Level 3:
challenging.
Walk One: Cranleigh House to
Little Hangman viewpoint
Time:
One and a quarter hours there and back. One and a half hours if you stop to
enjoy the views!
Level 3:
A steep hill, a stile, slippery stream/path worth it for the fabulous
view
From
Cranleigh House, turn right, walk 2 minutes and turn left up Shute Lane,
take the next left into West Challacombe Lane, walk up this quiet lane to
the National Trust Holiday house: West Challacombe Farm. In the banks are
beautiful wild flowers. Turn left at the farm and go through the large
wooden five bar gate up the stream/path (it is both depending on what the
weather is doing). Wind up to the top and go over the style and enjoy the
wonderful view down to Wild Pear Beach.
Take the path up the hill to your right and keep climbing up. It is a
pretty steep climb, with lovely views down over the sea and cliffs and
inland over the green hills of Combe Martin.
When you emerge from the gorse bushes you turn left and keep walking
up to the summit of Little Hangman. From here you can see all the way down
the coast in both directions. Exhilarating. Come back down the hill and
instead of going back over the stile you can take a right along the cliffs
until you reach a gate. Turn left and progress down the steep steps to West
Challacombe Lane. Turn right and follow back to Cranleigh House.
Edible
plants: sheep sorrel, wood sorrel, wild watercress and strawberries, navel
wort and garlic, depending on the season.
View
over Little Hangman
View over to Holdstone Down
Walk Two: A variation on walk one, taking you down the winding cliff path to Wild Pear Beach.
The steps have washed away at the bottom and someone has kindly
installed a rope to hang onto as you slide down the shale to the beach.
The
beach is spectacular, it is a naturist beach if you like skinny dipping.
Same
level and same difficulties as Walk 1
above.
Wild
Pear Beach/Broadsands Beach: tide in and tide out.
Walk 3:
Circular walk via the beach, up to the cliffs and back down steps
through the sheep fields and along the lane to Cranleigh House.
Time:
One hour
Level 3:
A steep hill from the sea up to the cliffs, steep steps down to the village
again, no stiles.
From
Cranleigh House walk down to the beach, (there are various ways to do this
that you will see on the maps we have here). Walk up through the car park
behind the beach and climb up Cobblers
(the lovely green grass hill overlooking the sea). Continue up and
along the coast path, enjoying views over the sea and inland. Walk along
until you reach a gate, take the right hand path immediately before the gate
and take the steep steps down to West Challacombe Lane, turn right. When you
reach the T junction take a right down onto the High Street, turn left and
Cranleigh House is immediately on your left.
Walk 4: Cranleigh House
circular walk up to Great Hangman back via Girt Farm and Knapp Down Lane.
Level 3:
Steep Hills, slippery
patches, stiles etc
Time:
3 hours
Details
available at Cranleigh House
View
from Great Hangman
Walk 5: Coastal Walk,
Cranleigh House to the Holy site: Holdstone Down, Exmoor and back along the
coast path. (our
favourite as you get fabulous but different views along the coast in both
directions and, the energy on top is exhilarating)
View
from Holdstone Down towards Lynton
Walk 5: Variation: from the
summit of Holdstone Down back via Holdstone and Knappdown Farms along
Badgaver and Skirhead Lanes to the High Street.
Level 3:
Very Steep climbs up and down, stiles, slippery in places.
Details
available at Cranleigh House
Newberry Beach, Combe Martin
Walk 6: Lime Kiln Circular
with village and sea views.
Time:
One hour fast, longer slow.
Level: 2
Fairly steep climbs up and
down. One stile.
From
Cranleigh House turn left up the High Street, you will see The Pack o Cards
pub on your right and just past this The Pet shop, take the next right down
into Water Lane. Follow this track over the River Umber and notice the old
lime kiln on your right hand side. The lane narrows into a path and goes up
the hill along a rocky path enclosed with banks and trees. When you come out
onto the farm track turn right and follow along until you see a path
branching off to your right, which follows the hedge and trees. Beneath, a
big oak tree climb over the stile and follow the footpath across the field.
You will see the old lime kiln on your right side (it looks like a large ivy
bush). Keep going until you reach the gate. Follow the path straight ahead
and keep going until you find yourself at the top of the lane overlooking
the beach. Follow the lane down and turn right on the beach road. Return via
the High St to Cranleigh House. (You can stop for a cream
tea/ meal or snack, several places along the way….)
View
over the village and Little Hangman from the Lime Kiln field
Walk 6 variation:
slightly longer time but
same level of difficulty as Walk 6
Instead
of branching off right and going over the stile into the lime kiln field.
Carry straight on up the track to West Park Farm. Before you reach the farm
there is a green field on your right, cut across this down to the corner
where there is a gate. Follow this path down to the stream and walk along
the stream through Crackalands Farm down to the beach road. Follow the road
past the sea and up the High St to Cranleigh House.
Edible
food: wild garlic, blackberries, elderberries, rosehips, depending on the
season.
View from the coast path to Hillsborough, Ilfracombe
Walk 7: Ilfracombe via
coastal path and back. Spectacular views
Level 3:
steep ups and downs, stiles,
some slippery places
Time:
One way, enjoying the views,
up to 3 hours
Ilfracombe is a great town with a picturesque harbour, beaches, cafes and
some quirky shops.
Details
available at Cranleigh House
View
down towards Combe Martin from Little Hangman
Walk Level Information:
Level 1: Relatively easy:
No steep hills, stiles or other big obstacles. There may be some
slippery patches, rocky surfaces.
The
only easy walks in Combe Martin are down to the beach and back, either down
the high street or back through the lanes that run parallel to the High
Street or via Water Lane, along
the river Umber to St Peter’s Church and back down the High Street past the
Chippy.
Level 2: Intermediate:
Walks with hills, some obstacles eg Styles and slippery surfaces.
Level 3: Challenging:
These walks are for the fit and well prepared walker, steep ups and
downs, obstacles and other excitements like steep cliffs on one side of the
path.
If you have transport there
are many other walks in the area but it is quite possible to stay at
Cranleigh House for a week and try a new walk every day.
Local places that you can
reach by bus to walk from:
1.
Ilfracombe
2.
Lynton and Lynmouth
3.
Woolacombe
Please bear in mind that these walks need to be planned as
most buses do not run on Sundays or Bank Holidays and the services often end
in the afternoon about 5pm
View up to Great Hangman
Practicalities: We welcome walkers at all times of the year.
Drop off and pick up at the beginning and end of walks is usually available. We have an airing cupboard to dry boots and a drying area for wet clothes.
"To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue." - Buddha