This walk is part of the trek Devon's Coast-to-Coast : Plymouth to Wembury and on to Lynmouth.
Stage 3 takes us right into the Dartmoor National Park and is where the original Two Moors Way starts. Once out of Ivybridge, past the old Stowford Paper Mill and out onto the moors, you really feel that you're on a long-distance trail. Look out for the MW signs as you work your way across the tops, through Scorriton to reach Holne.
(D) Leave Ivybridge via Harford Rd. leaving the riverside to go past the old mill (Stowford Paper Mill) and up to the Ivybridge Community College. Go straight across Cole Lane (look out for the Two Moors Way stone sign and the Dartmoor National Park plaque, on either side of Harford Rd. on the other side of Cole Lane) and over the railway. Just after a left hand bend, take the well marked Public Bridleway on the right, past some house and then left on another track out into the fields. Follow the track past fields until it opens out onto the moors at a disused quarry. Keep heading northeast up the hill to a marker stone on an old track. Bear left and stay on the track round Weatherdon Hill, past Hangershell Rock, past Glasscombe Ball and the stone rows at Piles Hill.
(1) Follow the boundary stones, almost due north, the bear slightly right at Sharp Tor. Still on the track, heading north west, go west of Three Barrows on Ugborough Moor and along Harford Moor to go close by Left Lake (a disused quarry pit). The track eventually turns right to Quickbeam Hill and round to the left to Brown Heath. Here, the route leaves the track at a marker stone, to head down to a clapper bridge over the River Avon. Follow the river east to find the Huntingdon Cross.
(2) From the Huntingdon Cross, climb up Hickaton Hill to pass a prehistoric settlement and then past Pupers Hill to reach a footbridge over a stream. Here the path turns right along with Scorriton Down and into fields as the village comes into view. Follow the track down past fields on either side (you could see them if the tall hedge wasn't blocking the view). Michelcombe is down in the valley, on the left as the lane bends right. Finally, the lane comes to an end at a T-junction in the pretty village of Scorriton.
(3) Check out The Tradesmans Arms, just up the road to the left. Ignore the road sign for Holne as our route takes us through the fields rather than the road. At the crossroads turn right then left past the telephone box and follow this road all the way to another T-junction. This time, turn left towards Holne, as indicated by the road sign and over Holy Brook. Ignore the small footpath off to the left but keep straight on to take a dirt track slightly left as the road bends right (indicated Unsuitable for motors). Follow this track up the hill to come out onto a tarmacked road and head straight on towards the houses. At a fork in the road, bear left to end the picturesque village of Holne.(A)
Waypoints :
D : mi 0 - alt. 207ft - Ivybridge
1 : mi 3.9 - alt. 1260ft - Piles Hill
2 : mi 9.3 - alt. 1188ft - Huntingdon Cross
3 : mi 12.4 - alt. 443ft - Scorriton
A : mi 13.31 - alt. 600ft - Holne
Make sure you have enough to eat and drink in your pack when you leave Ivybridge as there are no opportunities for refreshment and sustenance until you reach Scorriton. Waterproofs are highly recommended as the high ground is quite exposed with little shelter available. In dry weather, there should be water in the streams and the Huntingdon Cross is a good place for lunch.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
There's plenty to see along the route and a lot of history if you look for it. The landscape is clearly moulded by industry and farming whilst early settlements indicate that people have been around here for quite a while. After the bustle and activity of Ivybridge, the moorland is quiet and probably deserted. Enjoy the route and look out for wildlife along the way. Don't rush, just enjoy the journey and make the most of the moment.
From the edge of the moors into the AONB. A lovely wander following the valley of the River Erme, in an area where the wild beauty of the moor and the mellow delights of rolling South Devon meet and merge.
Walk across high moor above River Erme passing ancient oak woodland of Piles Copse.
A circular walk, some on roads, crossing Hangar Down.
Circular walk from Cornwood, some on roads, skirting the Western edge of Hangar Down.
Mixed road and moorland walk taking in beautiful ancient oak woodland and high moorland views.
Varied walk starting and ending in Cornwood Square. Some road but open moorland, farmland and walled footpaths.
Varied walk including ancient forest, a Quarry lake and open moorland. Fabulous views across to Plymouth Sound.
Amazing views over the China clay works, mica pits, and views across to Plymouth sound in one direction and moorland in the other.
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.