Medium difficulty. Distance 11km (7 miles), or shorter option 4.5 miles (7 km)
A wonderful, varied walk of fields, woods and heaths, with the added bonus of glorious views.
Starting from Millhayes as described, the walk is about 11 km (7 miles) long. However, the best part of the walk is from Whitehall and, if you start from here, the walk is just over 7km (4.5 miles). There is a place to park cars on Withy Lane about 0.5km west of Whitehall.
From Lower Millhayes, cross the main road, go a few metres uphill and take the lane on the left signposted Withy Lane. Ignore a right turn after 1km and proceed for a further 1km to the little hamlet of Whitehall. Continue a few metres past a left turn with a post-box set in a wall, and take the lane on the right, opposite a thatched house, signposted to Culm Davy. Ignoring first a right-hand and then a left-hand turning, walk uphill 1km to Culm Davy: another little hamlet with a delightful Elizabethan chapel. Continue past the chapel for 100 m and take the second lane on the left by a post-box, heading uphill. This soon becomes a track going through woodland. Follow the track for 1.5 km (ignoring a right-hand fork), to a gate opening onto heathland. Make a note of the gate, because you will be returning by the same track! Go straight ahead for a few metres onto a wide, grass track. (You are now on Blackdown Common, which is criss-crossed with many paths that you are free to walk). Turn left on the grass track and walk 0.5 km to a stony track. Bear left, by a pond on your left, and take the second track on the left. After 0.5 km this brings you to Culmstock beacon; a circular, stone building that was part of a nation-wide system used in times of peril such as the Armada (there is an information board to tell you more). From here there are wonderful views west to Dartmoor.
To return, take the right-most of the several paths that converge at the beacon, and that follows the edge of the hill looking over the Culm valley back towards Hemyock. This will bring you back to the gate and woodland track. Retrace your steps to the post-box and then take the narrow lane immediately on your right. After 300 m, take an even narrower lane on the right (which soon becomes a track) with a footpath sign. Walk down here to a lane. Turn left and continue for a further 1 km to a T-junction and turn left again. You have now returned to Withy Lane, which will take you back to Whitehall and then Millhayes.
Hemyock walk 1
