Woodbury Castle to Stowford Woods Circular

This walk starts at Woodbury Castle car park (what3words ///icon.insulated.product) on the Pebblebed Heaths. Parking is free, and there is additional parking across the road if needed. It’s a fairly easy going 3.5mile/5.6km walk which is very dog friendly. There are lots of places for dogs and children to play in streams and enjoy the nature and wildlife that the Pebblebed Heaths has to offer. Sturdy footwear is advised, but in the drier months it’s easily doable in trainers or walking sandals. There aren’t any toilets or cafes along the walk, but Clyst Coffee do park their coffee van up in either car park each week (check their social media to find out which days they are there).

The first set of steps leading to Woodbury Castle Fort

Taking the path to the right

From the car park, take the path to the left, past the Woodbury Castle information sign and walk down (and then up!) the steps in front of you which leads to the old castle fort. From here, take the path to the right and continue on ahead until you spot some more steps over a small bank. Once over these steps, turn right and walk down along the leafy path signposted as the East Devon Way.

The steps out of the castle fort

The leafy path that opens up onto the heaths

When the end of this path opens up onto the heathland, take the pebbled track to the left and enjoy the views of East Devon as you continue on ahead. On a clear day it’s easy to spot Peak Hill, Fire Beacon Hill, as well as the sea. I last did this walk in late August when the heather and gorse had really popped with colour. It was also very dry at the time, so the boardwalks you’ll soon walk over weren't necessary that day, but in the wetter months they’re definitely needed to safely cross without getting wet feet! Following this track you’ll soon go down a hill then past a large puddle, again in winter this is much more impressive. Listen out for goldcrests in the trees here, we saw a couple on the right hand side, very well camouflaged in the trees.

Crossing the boardwalk

Beautiful views across the heaths

When you get to a hill, take the path to the right where you’re treated to more views of Peak Hill ahead of you now. Don’t forget to look up too, we saw house martins flying over, still here before making their impressive journey back to Africa soon. There were also plenty of stonechats flying around and landing on the gorse around us. We always hear them before we see them, making their iconic ‘stone scratching’ calls. When you arrive at a crossroads on the track, go straight ahead up the hill. Turn left at the end of the path then turn right, Keep a look out for blank bullet cartridges on the ground, used by the Royal Marines when training on the heaths, we usually find some on this walk. Soon you’ll get an option of a path to the left or straight on, here we turned left, spotting a meadow pipit foraging in the long grass as we walked down the hill.

A blank bullet found on the heaths from Royal Marine training

A meadow pipit foraging beside us

Up ahead you should spot the Royal Marine Grenade Range as you carry on straight ahead, then passing a sign warning you about the Military training site. We stopped at one point to have a look in the stream on the right where we spotted plenty of pond skaters and water boatmen. Turn left at the end of this path and walk up the hill towards some pine trees. When you spot an opening in the trees on the right, find a path amongst them and take this route through the woodland of tall trees and towering bracken. Listen out for birds in here, we heard lots of coal tits calling out to each other and a buzzard continuously calling for food from its parents. At the end of this path you’ll meet a gate, turn right down the track, where you’ll soon spot a wooden bridge over a stream. Walk over this bridge then immediately turn right, taking the path into the woods alongside the stream. Here we heard a green woodpecker as we walked up the small bank on the left and continued following the leafy path straight on until it opened up onto a pebbled track. Turn right over some wooden boards then take the path on the right up the hill, continue along this track, where soon you can choose to take a quick detour down an opening on your right, (opposite a bench). Here there is a great stream hidden away, great for dogs and children to play in. After this detour, continue back along the path following the blue arrow sign pointing at the track straight ahead.

The stream we found water boatmen and pondskaters in

The tall trees and bracken in the woods

When you spot a small opening in the woods on your right, take this path between ferns and very old trees with roots wrapped around their trunks. The stream will once again be on your right now as you walk through this woodland. The path will become a little more uneven with tree roots underfoot, so be careful as you navigate along this route. Follow the path around, walking over branches on the ground used to help cross in wet, muddy weather. Look out for fungi as you turn another corner and walk between trees which then opens up again onto a pebbled track. Leaving the woods behind, turn right and walk up this pebbled track where you’ll pass a ‘pool’ on your right, a popular swimming spot for dogs. We heard long-tailed tits in this area as we continued on ahead, ignoring any paths that branch off of this main track.

The bridge crossing a stream at Stowford

Take a detour down to the stream amongst the trees

You might be able to spot the path we took earlier, on the right hand side of the heather and gorse where the grenade range is. This is a steady track you’re now walking, back to Woodbury Castle Fort, (the trees up ahead surround the fort). When you get a choice of paths to take by a blue arrow post, turn left and continue along this path, ignoring any paths on your right unless you want to walk back through the fort again. We’re taking the track around the outside of the hill fort where soon you’ll complete the walk, ending back at the car park we started in. If you liked this walk, keep an eye out on my instagram page for more walks going up soon in this area.

A popular swimming spot for dogs

Nearing the end of the walk, looking back on the path we walked

Pebblebed Heaths Circular Walk

This walk starts at Squabmoor (free) car park on the Pebblebed Heaths, just on the outskirts of Exmouth. (What3Words: ///blushes.renting.optimists) It’s just under 3 miles long and dog friendly with dog bins at the beginning of the walk and half way along. My 6 year old daughter has no trouble doing this walk but the cafe stop at the stables definitely helps! I would advise wearing trousers for this walk due to a couple of narrow paths with gorse and the chance of ticks, especially in the Summer. Walking boots are a good idea, although I do this walk in trainers in the drier months. There is a little stream you need to cross, so be aware you may get wet shoes. This walk is hilly in places and unfortunately not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.

The start of the walk, Squabmoor Car Park

First glimpse of Squabmoor Reservoir

From the car park, follow the path with the blue arrow pointing down through the trees. This path is little uneven in places due to the tree roots underfoot. Continue following this path where soon you’ll pass a sign saying ‘Squabmoor Reservoir Course Fishery’. You’ll eventually arrive at a wooden fence informing you that you’re now walking alongside Squabmoor reservoir.

Checking for fish, Squabmoor Reservoir

The Lilypads in Spring

Carry on straight along this path, keeping the water on your right, if you do this walk in Autumn you’ll be treated to a range of different mushroom species along the way. In the Spring and Summer months there are beautiful lillies on the water, along with Mallard and Tufted Ducks and Canada Geese. Once you get to the ‘reservoir fishing car park’ follow the trodden path down through the middle of the meadow towards some trees (not the path to the left of the meadow). In the Summer this meadow is alive with a range of butterflies and moths feeding on the wildflowers, when we did this walk recently we saw so many Painted Lady butterflies here as well as the summer sound of grasshoppers around us.

The path through the meadow

Arriving at the stream

You’ll know if you’ve taken the correct path as you’ll arrive at a stream amongst the trees, this is the bit where you might get wet feet! Cross this stream directly opposite the kissing gate on the other side of the water where you’ll see a brick path under the water and some (unsteady) stones that can help you across. Once through the gate, you’ll now be walking onto Dalditch Plantation, from here, turn left and follow this stony path towards the trees in the distance. Both sides of this path will have water trickling alongside it, meaning it can get a little muddy on the path in certain times of year. In the Summer months, cattle are sometimes put on this land to graze the heaths so be aware if you have dogs off lead at this point.

Time to cross the stream!

The gate to the wooded area

When you reach the gates to the wooded area, enter through here and follow the path between the trees. This area comes alive with birdsong especially in Spring when you can hear Blackcaps singing, the repetitive call of Chiffchaffs and the high pitched calls of the Goldcrests and Firecrests. At the end of this woodland, you’ll come to a quiet lane (Dalditch Lane), turn right and walk up it, past some houses, including one named ‘Clover Cottage’. In the Spring this lane has beautiful bluebells and flowering Rhododendrons brighting up the roadside, continue on past the ‘horses and children’ road sign and you’ll soon reach a gate to Budleigh Riding School on the left. Feel free to have a cafe stop here, entering past the stables and arena to the beautiful building at the back named ‘Oak lodge Cafe’ (Note: Opening times vary but they usually open Wed - Saturday, be sure to check times on their website).

The path through the woods leading to Dalditch Lane

Cafe Stop, Budleigh Riding School

Past the riding school, continue up Dalditch Lane until you reach a little path on the right (after a lay-by) leading to a gate which opens up onto Dalditch Plantation again. Once through the gate, turn left and walk up the hill where you’ll have beautiful views of the common on your right. Ignore the gate at the top, instead turn right and carry on along the path. See if you can spot Squabmoor Reservoir where we first began this walk, and if it’s a clear day you may be treated to a sea view in the distance. When you spot a metal gate on your left, pass through it and immediately turn right where you’ll arrive at some steps and a kissing gate.

The path that leads back onto Dalditch Common

Views of the common, on a grey day

You’ve now arrived at Withycombe Common which is a haven for wildlife. Please be aware of any signs on the gate that alert you to keep your dogs on leads if its nesting season for ground nesting birds (typically March - August). This area of the common is home to a lot of wildlife. I’ve spotted Adders, Deer, Foxes, Common Lizards, Dartford Warblers, Yellowhammers and Stonechat along these paths. Turn right and follow the clear path down the hill. This part of the walk can feel long but be sure to listen to the different bird calls. On a Spring day I heard a Mistle Thrush, Willow Warbler and Tree pipit and saw Buzzards circling above being harassed by crows.

Withycombe Common

Arriving at Bystock Pools

When you reach the bottom of this hill, ignore the path on your left and continue on where you’ll soon turn round a corner and walk up a stony path. Sometimes I hear green woodpeckers in this area so be sure to listen out of their laughing call. Carry on walking until you reach a grassy patch on your right that takes you down a narrow path between gorse and heather where you’ll soon meet a kissing gate that leads to a road. Crossing this road will take you to a sign informing you that you’ve arrived at Bystock Pools.

The boardwalk along Bystock Pools

The lilypads at Bystock

Follow this path alongside the pond, as you cross the bridge you’ll notice Beavers have made a dam here, the path then turns into a boardwalk with benches inviting you to sit and enjoy the peaceful view. At the end of the viewing platform, pass through the kissing gate and walk over the little bridge and up some steps which opens up onto heathland. Follow the path to the left where you’ll soon be walking alongside a metal fence on your right. In the Summer I usually hear Spotted Flycatchers in this area, sometimes seeing them fly down catching insects before returning to their tree branches above. As you walk this path, you may notice wood ants in the Summer months crossing the path to their nests on the right. Soon you’ll arrive at a tall kissing gate, exit the reserve here and follow the path ahead through the trees where soon it will open up onto the heaths again.

The bridge at Bystock Pools

Walking the Heathland at Bystock

Continue straight up a slight incline until you arrive at a crossroads on the path. Turn right and follow the path down, keep an eye out for those sea views again. Soon you’ll be given an option of two paths, take the one on your right with the yellow arrow pointing in the direction we’re going. It won’t be long before you reach the end of this path, where you should soon recognise Squabmoor Car Park on the other side of the road where we first began.

The Map in Squabmoor Car Park

Squabmoor Car Park in sight

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