Medium difficulty. Distance 6.5 miles (11 km)
The first mile is uphill to Hartridge. Then it is on to Dumpdon Hill for a splendid panoramic view, followed by a gentler descent. Approx. 6.5 miles (11km). A picnic on Dumpdon Hill might be good.
From the phone box walk back towards Honiton. At the edge of the village, turn right down the track to a footbridge over the River Otter. Cross the field diagonally to a stile in the left-hand corner. Continue ahead on the track uphill past the Otterfalls Holiday Complex. The track bends left, then right. Just to the right of the gate to Whippins Cottage there is a stile leading to a narrow path. The path bends and crosses a small bridge.
After the next stile the path bears right and continues uphill. This area is owned by the monks and nuns of the nearby Buddhist monastery, and they use it for contemplation. Go through their top gate and continue on the same line across the next field to another gate. Turn left and almost immediately left again. You are now on Hartridge and you continue on this track for about a mile. Go through a gate and keep straight on, enjoying the view ahead down to the coastal hills near Sidmouth. The increasingly stony track meets a road.
Turn left on the road, into the hamlet of Beacon and continue downhill to a signpost ahead. Take the road to Wick, enjoying the view of tree-topped Dumpdon Hill ahead. Ignore the next signpost and turning to Wick and keep ahead to a little National Trust car park on your right. As soon as you step into the car park turn right, to a gate ahead. Cross a narrow field and walk up the wide grassy track to the hilltop. Enjoy the terrific view, the earthwork ramparts, the sense of history and of course the picnic. There are 62 acres to explore.
Return to the road and walk back to Beacon. At the signpost take the Upottery road for less than 100 yards and turn right, passing houses and a former Baptist chapel. Follow this lane downhill to a T-junction at Pound Farm. Turn left, signed to a bridleway and go through the gateway to Mohun’s Ottery. As you approach the house on your right, note the handsome medieval gatehouse. The bridleway, however, bears left along a stony track.
Continue ahead, through gates and across fields in a straight line until, with Rawridge over to your right, you rejoin the outward route. Turn right, to pass the holiday homes again as you return to the starting point. A very fine walk!
