Uplyme to Cannington Viaduct Loop
This walk starts in the village of Uplyme in East Devon, on the Devon/Dorset border. We begin the walk at Uplyme Village Hall (What3Words///mailings.robes.captures), you can find roadside parking, or park in the village hall car park for a donation (check the signs outside the hall for more information). It’s a 3.5mi/5.6km walk along local footpaths, country lanes, and some woodland in the local pinetum. It’s a dog friendly walk, but be aware of keeping them on leads along public footpaths, especially if there is livestock grazing in fields. Sturdy footwear is definitely advised, this walk has uneven paths, inclines in places as well as the potential for the fields to be muddy and waterlogged in the winter. There are no toilets or cafe stops on the walk itself, but across the road from the village hall is The Talbot Arms pub, with a lovely beer garden, as well as the Black Dog Tea Room further up the road.
Cannington Viaduct
The public footpath along Venlake Lane
From the village hall car park, take the gate through the field and continue straight across until you reach a little bridge, then a gate in front of you, with a footpath sign stating ‘Venlake/Holcombe and the East Devon Way. Be sure to pass through this gate and then turn left (don’t go through the rusty gate on your left leading to a football pitch), following the permissive footpath sign around the field edge. It was in this field I heard a green woodpecker calling out as it then flew past and into the trees ahead. We also spotted several little mushrooms on the ground, the first signs of Autumn coming. You’ll soon meet a gate at the end of this field, directly in front of you. On the day we did this walk, the field was dry but there was evidence of cows being in the field at one point as the ground was churned up near to the gate here, so be aware, and don’t wear your best shoes! Once you come out of this field, turn left onto Venlake Lane and walk along the road until you see a public footpath on your right. Take this path up the hill where it will soon become shaded by trees as you pass though a gate, then into a little woodland. Here we heard the ‘tick tick’ sound of a robin calling out as we followed the winding path over tree roots, then a slight slope before meeting a kissing gate. Once passed through the gate, continue along this route, where it will soon pass a field on the right. It was here I spotted a kestrel flying over then landing on the power lines in this field, so keep an eye out as you walk past!
Crossing the boardwalk through the woods
Looking back at the views after leaving the first field
You’ll soon cross over a boardwalk then up some steps before entering into a field through a gate. Take the trodden path up the hill where you’ll meet a stile next to a metal gate. Cross over the stile to leave this field then enter the next field directly in front of you. But before you do this, be sure to look back and enjoy the views of Uplyme and the countryside behind you. We saw several swallows flying around and dipping down low into this field in early September. Once in the second field, walk straight across it, towards a footpath sign to the right of a house up ahead. Cross over the stile and leave the field, turning right down Cuckoo Lane. Here it’s sheltered by trees that are home to squealing goldcrests and rooks that we heard flying over. When you reach some beautiful houses at the end of this lane, take the blue arrow signed bridleway to the right, down the hill. As you reach the gate you’ll get your first glimpse of Cannington Viaduct. Continue through the gate and straight ahead though the field until you reach a kissing gate at the bottom, leading onto Cannington Lane.
The first glimpse of Cannington Viaduct
Turn right down Cannington Lane, walking under the viaduct, then passing Cannington Farm on your right (when we did this walk recently, there were roadworks along this lane and the road was closed to vehicles, but was still open to pedestrians). Ignore the footpath sign on your right leading to a field, instead continue along the lane until you reach a junction. Turn left up the road pointing towards Holcombe, ignoring another public footpath sign and stile on your right. We heard long tailed tits in the trees on the left as we walked up Holcombe Lane, passing houses on both sides of the road. Eventually up the hill there will be a public footpath sign on your right, it’s a little hidden by the hedges, but keep an eye out for a metal gate next to it. Once passed through the gate, keeping to the field edge continue ahead, soon crossing over a stile and into another field. Keep right around the edge of this field, and then when you reach a metal gate on your right, pass through it and walk up the field to the top corner (be aware of any cows grazing in this field), there are some lovely sea views in the distance as you walk up this field, you should also be able to spot Cannington Viaduct too.
Walking under the viaduct along Cannington Lane
Views from the top field, the viaduct in the distance
Leave this field through the gate, you now have a choice of turning right and walking straight down the hill towards Uplyme or you can first walk through Prescott Pinetum to the left of the track opposite. We took the path through The Woodland Trust Pinetum, it’s a beautiful woodland with giant redwoods, hydrangeas, rhododendrons and mossy stones and logs. It was so peaceful here, listening to the sounds of the birds: nuthatches, coal tits and wrens, as well as spotting a little mouse scurrying around on the forest floor. You’ll eventually climb some steps and soon leave the pinetum, here we turned right and continued along a path through more woodland. We heard a bullfinch calling out along this route as we walked down hill. Keep an eye out for blue bridlepath signs on your right, when you see them, take this path and turn right down a track which will soon open up onto a lane, passing houses as you go.
Prescott Pinetum
Walking through the Pinetum
As this track opens up make sure to take in the views on your left of the hills and sea in the distance. There were also countless butterflies on a purple buddleia plant here, including several beautiful clouded yellows. After passing The Carriage House with its impressive gardens on your left, you’ll soon arrive back at the entrance to the pinetum with a view of Cannington Viaduct ahead at the field we left earlier. From here, turn left down the hill (Woodhouse Lane), passing houses on your left and keeping the view of the viaduct on your right. When you arrive at a crossroads, turn left along a lane, passing a house, then a public footpath on your right. Enter the field ahead through this public footpath and follow the trodden path down the hill where you’ll now arrive back at Uplyme Village Hall where we started. If you enjoyed this walk around Uplyme, I’ll soon be writing up the Uplyme to Lyme Regis walk, be sure to keep an eye out for it!