Cornwood area, China clay works

Amazing views over the China clay works, mica pits, and views across to Plymouth sound in one direction and moorland in the other.

Technical sheet

4362113
A Cornwood walk posted on 24/11/20 by Maid marian. Last update : 23/08/22
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.33 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 120 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 120 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 223 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 130 m

Description

(S/E) From Cornwood Drive to Piall Bridge, go over the bridge and there is a pull in on the bend. Walk straight up South-West-West behind the car park area into the rhododendron bushes. Follow the track until you come to the open moorland.

(1) Look up to the left and there is a wood. Head left (SouthEast-South) towards it. You will get onto a bridleway which will take you passed a cottage on the right. Look across to the left the big house is Delamore house. Follow along the track until you come to a footpath sign near some sheds, going up a hill on the right.

(2) Look for a track North-West taking you up the hill until you meet an obvious path running around the clay hill at the top. Turn around and look at the amazing views.

(3) Go right (North) and follow this track as it curves left until you arrive at the China clay entrance. Look for the footpath running immediately along beside the first pool you can see.

(4) Cross the little footbridge over the running water. Head up through the woods. You have to keep your eye out for the footpath signs on the right hand side. It’s boggy along through this area.

(5) When you can see some derelict buildings up to the right head for them. Footpath signs are there. Take right in between those buildings.

(6) Keep to the right of the field heading down into the woods. Then into the field which extremely boggy so keep to the higher ground until you get down to the bottom where you’ll find a gate across the river. This path will take you onto the main road.

Go right, ignore the footpath signs on the left. Just ahead on the right hand side of the road is a bridleway taking you up the hill. When you come to a smallish junction in the path go left down the hill through the rhododendron bushes again and back to the car.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 130 m - Cornwood Drive
  2. 1 : km 0.14 - alt. 150 m - Gib Park Wood
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 157 m - Footpath sign
  4. 3 : km 1.71 - alt. 214 m - China clay entrance
  5. 4 : km 2.42 - alt. 180 m - Footbridge
  6. 5 : km 3.26 - alt. 205 m - Derelict buildings
  7. 6 : km 3.57 - alt. 223 m - Buildings
  8. S/E : km 5.33 - alt. 130 m - Cornwood Drive

Useful Information

Lots of good tracks but quite a few boggy patches and the stiles are NOT dog friendly, otherwise good for dogs. Some fields with animals to be expected.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 1 review

Clarity of route description
2 / 5
Clarity of route map
4 / 5
Walk interest
5 / 5
muttee
muttee
• Last modified:

No problems. Enjoyed it, gave us a laugh!

Maid marian
Maid marian

I am really sorry if this was a problem for you. It was the first time I had done one of these walks, so a lesson to be learned for me to look at it from a strangers point of view, because I knew where I was lol.

muttee
muttee

We did enjoy just took a lot longer than we thought.

Delphinium
Delphinium

Hi Muttee,
I am sorry to read your experience hasn't been that enjoyable. I am going to contact the author to see how we could improve the description for future walkers. Thank you for taking the time to share with us.
Enjoy your walks.

muttee
muttee

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 17/08/22
Clarity of route description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Took us 4 and a half hours, missed the first uphill at the sheds and had to backtrack up to hill. Crossed over by pond and found the rerouted path but could not see the derelict sheds. Tried several paths which all ended in dead ends. Decided to pick a path through woods. Lots of electric fences found our way eventually down to a gate. As time was now going on decided to backtrack as we had to get home for shopping delivery. Did a loop back to the stile. Think we ended up on the path we would have ended up on! Lovely views. Did the walk from church without any bother so think we were just having an off day!

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