Branscombe Village and Coast Path Circular

This circular 4mi/6.9km walk begins in Branscombe Beach Pay and Display Car Park (What3words: ///police.nylon.sprain). It takes you alongside a leat, a working mill, an orchard and a forge, then up through the village until you reach the coast path with stunning views of the sea and cliffs before dropping back down into Branscombe, arriving back at the beach. It can be strenuous in a few places with uneven ground and steep inclines, sturdy footwear is advised. There are two pubs and a cafe in Branscombe as well as the National Trust Old Bakery Tea Rooms which you will pass on the walk. (Check opening times online). Toilets are located at the beginning of the walk, as well as National Trust toilets beside the Old Bakery Tea Rooms. This walk is dog friendly, but be aware they may have to remain on lead for sections of the walk due to grazing livestock, and also stretches of road and coast path.

From the car park walk past the toilets behind The Sea Shanty Cafe, turning right on a path that takes you alongside a stream, shaded by trees. Soon you’ll cross over a bridge with a National Trust sign encouraging you to play pooh sticks here. We heard several blue tits and goldcrests along this route as we continued on, ignoring any signs coming off the main path. We also spotted 3 different species of beetle in the brambles on the left next to the wire fence, one being a very shiny and beautiful bronze beetle, as well as another National Trust sign, this one was for a scavenger hunt game. As we crossed over another bridge, we spotted dragonflies darting about in the field to the left, as well as a noisy jay flying from one tree to another as we continued along the gravel path. When you reach a gate, turn left and walk down the track to National Trust Manor Mill, then taking the gate to the right of the steps, with a sign pointing to ‘the Old Bakery Tea Rooms and The Forge’. Walking along the trodden grass track with the water trickling on your left, you’ll soon pass through gates on a bridge, then through another field before entering into an orchard via a ‘snaking’ bridge.

The snaking bridge leading to the orchard

Soon you’ll pass the Old Bakery Tea Rooms on your left and the National Trust visitor information centre and toilets on your right. The Tea Rooms are open on certain days for a refreshment stop (check online for opening times) as is the working forge on the other side of the road. Turn left and walk up the road passing the yellow thatched cottage as you do so. Soon you’ll also pass the church where you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the valley below on your left. We could hear buzzards calling out and circling in the sky above as we continued on up the hill, eventually passing (and ignoring) a footpath sign leading into fields on our left. Be careful of cars passing you as you walk along this road, soon passing Pitt Farm then arriving at a junction in front of a beautiful house named Beehive Cottage. Turn left up this road then up the hill, but keep an eye out for a public footpath to ‘Berry Cliff Coast Path’ just to the right of ‘Rookeries House’. If required, you can have a drink stop at The Fountain Head Inn, just behind Beehive cottage, near the entrance to the footpath.

We spotted a couple of rabbits along this gravel track as it continued up the hill, up some steps and through a gate into Pit Coppice. Here it can be uneven with rocks and tree roots underfoot, as well as a challenging incline. Luckily the steepness doesn't last long before we leave the woods through a kissing gate and into a field. Continue straight through the field, note that there is evidence that cows graze in here so keep dogs on lead if you do spot any livestock. There will soon be a natural trodden path through the contour of the field, you’ll then arrive at a gravel public footpath. Here you can choose to turn left and take a shortened route back to Branscombe via the coast path, or like us, turn right, adding on an extra stretch of the coast path. We took the track through a metal farm gate, continuing ahead with hedgerows on either side, until you reach a stone walled kissing gate. Pass through the kissing gate on the left (marked as a public footpath), and take the track straight ahead through the field. Soon you’ll be able to see the sea on your left as you follow the track, picking up the South West Coast Path by a signpost. From here, turn left and walk the coast path towards Branscombe Mouth. Here we saw plenty of stonechats on the gorse, and heard a dunnock calling as we passed by.

As you walk along the coast path, be sure to enjoy the views of the East Devon coastline behind you. On a clear day you can see Sidmouth, Ladram Bay and Straight point near Exmouth. As we passed through a kissing gate to Berry Cliff Camp, we saw so many swallows dipping down and flying low over us, probably the most I’ve seen in one place. Once you pass through another kissing gate, the path will become uneven and stony before opening up into ‘Fluff’s Car Park’. From here, turn left, then at the end of the track turn right, following the coast path signs for Branscombe Mouth. This part of the track was so peaceful and quiet, listening to the sound of blackbirds and robins singing. This path will turn more sheltered with trees and ferns as you pass another sign post pointing you towards Branscombe, thankfully not down the steps to the left of the gate you pass through.

Looking back at the East Devon Coastline

The woodland path will soon open up to a beautiful view of Branscombe Village with the perfectly placed bench to rest and enjoy the view. We sat here for a while looking down at the valley and listening to a raven calling out in the tree just behind us. There were also plenty of butterflies around this area, enjoying what was left of the summer sunshine. Continuing on, we passed through a kissing gate, where eventually the stony path opened up to the sea views of Branscombe Beach. Once again, there was a bench placed here to enjoy the views before heading down the hill, through a kissing gate into a field, where it then takes you to where we first started the walk beside the beach and car park. If you like the look of the steep hill on the other side of the beach, then there is a lovely walk from Beer to Branscombe (and back) that I have previously posted here.

A perfect spot to enjoy the view before heading down the hill

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Jonathon Cauchois 9/12/26 Jonathon Cauchois 9/12/26

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.

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.

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.

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!

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