Walk Reports 2026/1
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.
Mileaters Walk 30th April
We were very blessed with fine sunny weather for our walk from the delightful small village of Plush. There were 12 of us walking on a relatively short walk of 4.5 miles. There was, however, a lengthy climb at the beginning of the walk which got us up to a height of about 800 ft. The view was certainly worth the climb with vistas over Whatcombe Bottom and beyond. We also passed through a number of woodland areas with beautiful displays of bluebells and wild garlic. We found a delightful spot to have our coffee break, sitting down on a banked area with views over the valley. We were also treated to sight of about six deer crossing one of the fields below. After a steepish descent, we made our way back to the pub, where the very friendly and efficient landlord soon had our meals served. The food was excellent and the pub is to be commended for that. Another successful and enjoyable Mileaters walk
Mike Beesley
MARTINSTOWN MILEATERS
14 MAY 2026
It’s not every walk that aims to take Mileaters to somewhere officially described as one of the “worst sites in Europe” – at least not deliberately. But parts of Wareham Forest, on the Sika Trail, were once waterlogged and described in this way by forestry experts – presumably for tree growth, rather than for wildlife.
But there are plenty of trees there now, along with plenty of tracks and paths on the map to choose from – something that twelve tolerant Mileaters and “Molly” soon discovered. Along with pine trees, and stumps, and gorse, there were meadows with fifty or more cows feeding contentedly with their calves – often on the path. Overhead we were lucky to see a Seafire - the naval version of the iconic Supermarine Spitfire fighter. In the pools we saw sundews – a stunning carnivorous plant, and in the distance a Cuckoo was calling, the first of the year for most of us. The elusive “lookout” that hid from us on the way out, was visited by some on the way back.
Maybe we went slightly further than had originally been planned, but compensation came in the form of an excellent and tasty lunch at the Drax Arms in Bere Regis – served speedily after we arrived.
All in all, definitely not a “worst site” at all.
David and Barbara.
