Walk Reports 2026/2
Mileaters Broadmayne Walk 26th March 2026
23 walkers set off on a late March day which promised good weather but had a chill in the wind. Our fingers were crossed that the farmer had not yet got around to fertilising or ploughing the large field which made up the first leg. Luckily, there had only been a light dressing with slurry but this was dried up by the previous day’s wind and did not dirty our clean boots. St Martin’s church, Broadmayne, has an unusual style of architecture which is seen on our walk from the reverse.
Just along the way, at our first stop, we read about the part played by Broadmayne in the build up to the D-Day landings. There were two large camps housing several thousand American troops preparing to land on Omaha beach.
From here we walked along the valley passed the former brick works towards the Watercress beds which looked like a deserted mill and water works. The beds housed the quietly growing product in the crystal clear chalk stream waters.
Rising up to the heath land on the ridge, we listened to the fabulous birdsong. At this point, we were passing alongside the redundant sand and gravel quarries, now filled with deep water and dangerous water. Down, through a lovely woodland section, just a week or two from being flooded with Bluebells. The trickiest part of the walk was navigating a small stream minus any visible bridging or any decent dry foot placements.
In the New Inn, at West Knighton, I think all agreed that it was a very pleasant walk we and that we all deserved a nice lunch.
Martin & Lesley Usherwood
Mileaters – Fleet of Foot : 9th April 2026
After 23C the day before, there was a welcome return to average temperatures for our fortnightly walk. Setting out from The Elm Tree in Langton Herring (re-opened last year after an amazing fund-raising effort by the local community) 20 Mileaters plus Molly and a guest appearance from Peggy, took the familiar path through Higher Farm and Ten Acre Plantation where the first bluebells were showing. “Highly rated” was the score on the doors for the loos at the caravan site, and then it was onward down to The Fleet for some birdwatching – egrets, herons, terns and mergansers were spotted as we stopped for coffee on the beach below the Coastguard Cottages. 80 plus years ago it was here that Barnes Wallis's bouncing bombs were put through their trials prior to the Dambuster's Raid.
The Coast Path was followed past Rodden Hive where the eagle-eyed amongst us spotted a Red Kite soaring above, to eventually arrive at the lane near Lower Farm; here some chose the shorter option for a quick return to the pub (I wonder why !) whilst others took the longer option via Rodden Ridge to enter Langton Herring from the valley to the north, thereby completing a 5 ¼ mile circuit of great views and varied landscapes. The very popular Elm Tree awaited our custom.
Nick Priddle
Mileaters on Holiday 20-23 April 2026 :
This year 28 Mileaters stayed in Exmouth to explore part of the East Devon AONB. The first afternoon’s walk comprised a five mile circuit on Woodbury Common, taking in heath and woodland and ending with a fine view over the Exe estuary.
Day two’s walk started from East Budleigh and followed the coast path looking over Devon’s fine red cliffs and back over Lyme Bay towards Portland. The sun was glorious, but the wind buffeted us at times making a sheltered coffee stop at Brandy Head Observation Post welcome. This simple single storey building was built in 1940 as a bombing range observation post monitoring the gunnery training range of Lyme Bay. Today it provides a place to sit and enjoy the coastline and even basic Airbnb accommodation. Continuing on, we left the coast path and headed inland to the village of Otterton where we occupied the village green benches for our lunch before heading back along the River Otter. There was no sign of the local beavers or otters but lots of ducklings and some large trout.
Day three started with a short train ride to Topsham and then a walk along the Exe estuary back to Exmouth, passing through Exton where the pub was conveniently open for coffee and then on to Lympstone where we found another village green to sit and eat lunch. Fortunately, the trains ran half hourly and made several stops along the way so those with weary legs were able to cut short the eight miles!
We stayed at the Manor Hotel, built pre-1790 as a coaching inn and the oldest hostelry in Exmouth. The location meant we were just five minutes’ walk from the beach and town centre whilst the views over the estuary had to be some of the best in town! Those who didn’t wish to walk could enjoy the esplanade, bird watching on the estuary, retail therapy in Topsham and even a visit to Exeter on the train. We were very lucky with the weather this time and hope everyone enjoyed their trip.
Frances and Rollo.
