I love walking the public footpaths of Newton Poppleford, either to Aylesbeare common, along the river to Otterton or towards Harpford and Tipton, there’s so many different routes to take through this lovely little village. I had a lot of interest in the walks I do from Newton Pop to Tipton St John, so I’ve decided to write down this 5 mile circular walk that takes you through public footpaths, woodland, along country lanes and then back along the river.

There’s plenty of places to park in Newton Poppleford. I prefer to park in School Lane car park, its a free car park opposite the Primary School, just turn right after the traffic lights (if coming from Exmouth/Exeter) on the main road and the car park is on the right. Alternatively, you can park along back lane (by the recreation ground). From School Lane car park, there’s a public footpath in the corner, by the garages, that leads down past St Luke’s Church on the right. I walk down this path and usually have a look at the red telephone box book library on the left, before turning right down the road, past some lovely thatched cottages.

A map of Newton Poppleford and the telephone box book library.

After a short walk down the road, I soon pass a carpet and interiors shop on my right. From here I carefully cross the road and turn left onto Back Lane, walking past tennis courts and a play park on my left. Soon I spot a public footpath leading to fields to my right, I ignore this path (I’ll be coming back that way though) and instead turn left where I soon spot the garden plants for sale outside someone’s house. This is one thing I love about Newton Pop. It has such a community feel to it, you’ll find a lot of houses selling their local produce if you walk around and explore the village. Just before this house with the plants for sale is a gravelled path with the Orchard ahead of me and a metal kissing gate to the right;. I take this path through the kissing gate and into some woodland. From here, I follow the path ahead, being careful not to trip over tree roots underfoot.

The Orchards to the left, the footpath to the right.

The woodland walk, part of the East Devon Way.

Soon I come to a choice of two paths, one going up some steps to my left, and the other going down and over a bridge towards a field to my right. I turn left here and climb the steps, eventually I see some steps to my left, this footpath leads to the Orchard. Although a nice walk; I’m not going this way today, instead I carry on ahead, where eventually I walk up more steps and through a wooden gate leading to a field.

There’s a clear path on the outskirts of the field that I follow all the way down, through a kissing gate and where I can hear, and then see, the stream trickling underneath. This path turns left, where I then notice some interesting old trees, with roots wrapped around one of them. (If you do this walk, you’ll know the one I mean!) I soon leave this path and follow the footpath arrows pointing me up a hill. Once at the top of this hill, I take a quick break to take in the views below. From here I spot Fire Beacon Hill, Mutter’s Moor, Peak Hill and the trees in the Orchard.

After following the footpath through two more kissing gates, it soon leads onto Lynch Head road. From here I turn right and walk up the road which soon descends into the small village of Venn Ottery. Before I arrive in this village, there’s another great view point at the top of the road, over a farm gate. I stop for a moment and take in the views, spotting Tipton St John to the left, nestled into the Valley.

Tipton St John nestled to the left of the Valley.

Once in Venn Ottery, I follow the road around to the right, where I also see a sign telling me this the way to Tipton St John. I’m soon treated to yet more beautiful views of the East Devon Countryside over a poppy field to my right as I edge closer towards the village. Once I arrive at the top of this road, I walk down the road to my right which leads into Tipton St John by the local Primary School.

Yet more beautiful views, over a poppy field.

Once in Tipton St John, I always admire the beautiful thatched cottage to my left, by the Primary School. The elegant windows really do stand out due to their interesting shape. If you’re doing this walk and want to cut it short, you can turn right at this junction, past the school and find the footpath before the bridge, which will take you back to Newton Poppleford via the river. Today I chose to walk further up the river towards Ottery St Mary. I turn left at the school junction and pass the Church of St John the Evangelist on my left, continuing up the road (Tipton Vale) with a stream to my right, until I spot a public footpath on the right.

I follow this footpath straight ahead, with fields on either side of me. Soon I cross over a stream via a little footbridge, then pass through a gate where I’m greeted by the River Otter with the old railway bridge (now a footbridge) just ahead of me. From here I carry on walking alongside the river, here is a great spot for dogs and children to play in the river, just by the bridge.

The Old Railway Bridge over the River Otter.

Once I pass under the old railway bridge, I carry on walking ahead until I meet a footbridge crossing right over the river. I decided not to carry on ahead towards Ottery St Mary today, instead I cross this bridge, passing Tipton Mill on my left, and turn right along a footpath into some fields. Here the river soon turns into a stream on my right as I enter some woodland and cross a couple of stiles, then walk alongside a beautiful garden that has the stream passing through it. From here I soon leave the footpath and enter into Tipton St John again.

Tipton Mill, currently under restoration.

Be aware, if walking with a dog, there may be livestock in these fields.

Tipton is a lovely little village, as I turn right, towards the river, I pass another telephone box library on my left, a community stores on the right and then the local pub, ‘The Golden Lion’ with a beer garden that looks very welcoming in the sunshine. After walking past the pub, I cross over the river via a bridge that is decorated with beautiful flower boxes.

Beautiful flowers on the bridge overlooking the River Otter.

From here, I join the riverside walk via a footpath to my left. Again, this stretch of the River Otter has plenty of places for dogs to dip in and out of the water for a paddle. There’s some lovely views of the rolling hills to my right, and plenty of butterflies and dragonflies darting about between the river and the wild flowers. I follow the path along the river, passing through several gates.

There’s plenty of places for dogs and children to paddle in the river.

Eventually, this footpath opens up, normally with cows grazing in a field to the right. From here, I soon spot the familiar sights of Newton Pop ahead, as well as Harpford Parish Church over the river to my left. I ignore the red bridge to my left which leads to Harpford, this is a lovely walk too, which I’ll hopefully document another day. The footpath to my right also leads back to the woodland that I started the walk in, by the gate to the Orchard. I continue on ahead, where I soon leave the fields through a gate onto Back Lane once again. From here, I walk down towards the tennis courts, then turn right onto a footpath, keeping the tennis courts to my right and a stream flowing to my left. I follow this path all the way along, until I reach a road to my left (Meadow Drive). From here, I walk up the road, and soon spot the familiar red telephone box on the other side of the road. Here I carefully cross the road (there is a pedestrian crossing to the left) and follow the path up beside the church, to end the walk back in the School Lane car park.

Harpford Parish Church on the other side of the River Otter.

Hopefully this walk is clear enough for those of you who have asked me to document it. It’s an enjoyable walk to do, especially on a warm, sunny day, when you can sit and relax by the river, watching dogs and children playing and cooling down in the water. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can make this walk even longer by walking further up towards Ottery St Mary. For those of you interested, I’ll post more about that walk another day.