HILLZ MEANZ VIEWZ
A RADDON RAMBLE

THE FINEST VIEWS IN DEVON

The woodland paths had been decorated with bright holly berries, strewn with beechnuts, and every type of mushroom seemed to be inviting me to taste. At last, a little weary and rather mud-splattered, I picnicked in the sunshine on top of Raddon Hill. A carpet of web shimmered before me, and the surrounding patchwork dotted with hamlets and villages led my eyes to the distant wooded hills and moorland. Contented sheep chewed, and buzzards circled overhead: the single stalwart pine gently moaned at the wind. I swept the views from distant Exmoor, Dartmoor, then Haldon, Dawlish Warren, Woodbury, and the Sidmouth gap to the hills beyond Honiton. So relaxing. Then a pheasant annihilation commenced in the woods to the north!

The Raddon Hills are just 6 miles north of Exeter, and were once part of a Saxon estate granted to the monks of Exeter by King Athelstan. Volcanic stone in the heart of red Devon: the neolithic summit earthwork has long been ploughed down.

There are two walks: The main walk starts from nearby Shobrooke, through fields and woodland, but returning on lanes. Viewz meanz hillz. And there is plentiful mud, so boots are essential. Take a picnic and warm clothing.
The short walk is a level stroll of 1.5 miles with no mud!

Directions: Shobrooke lies 2 miles east of Crediton. From Exeter take the A377 towards Crediton, then turning right after 1 mile, signposted Langford. After a further 3.5 miles follow signs to Shobrooke for the start of the main walk; for the short walk follow the signs towards Stockleigh to the top of the long steep hill, where a short tarmac track on the right leads to an area used for parking. If approaching from the A3072 this is just south of Stockleigh Pomeroy.

The Main Walk: 8.5 miles: allow 4 hours. Boots are essential.
In Shobrooke follow the road east, over a stream, and at the 30 mph signs turn left onto the public footpath, heading north. Follow the yellow waymarkers along the edges of 5 fields and across a lane, where the path continues uphill through the middle of a field to a wood. Turn right on a path, and on leaving the wood turn left over a footbridge. Continue ahead, leaving the second field into a woodland track downhill to the hamlet of Stockleigh Pomeroy. Go ahead on the lane, but after 200 metres branch right uphill on a narrow lane leading to the ridge. At the top turn left and follow the ridge through fields to the pine tree, an essential picnic spot.
Return to the lane, and turn left, following it steeply downhill for 0.5 mile. Turn right opposite a gatehouse on an unsignposted lane, and then right again on the road back to Shobrooke. Well done: it's reward time! The Red Lion may be open; if not try the Beer Engine by the station at Newton St Cyres; or you may prefer to drive a few miles west for the excellent coffee at the friendly all-day Lamb Inn at Sandford.

Short Walk: 1.5 miles. Park on the ridge and stroll! The reward is in the views.