Walks Around Bampton
- and beyond
Bampton is centred in an area of countryside well loved by walkers - the town itself is near the end of the long distance route, the Exe Valley Way. Many booklets and leaflets give details of the best spots, so only a small selection can be suggested here. Details of a walk which explores the town itself can be downloaded here: 'Bampton Town Trail'
A Devon map of local paths is available on line - here. It is very remarbale and you can zoom down to very small details. Try it!
Useful O.S. maps are: |
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Minehead & Brendon Hill area |
Landranger 181 |
Exmoor |
Touring Map 5 |
Exeter and the Exe Valley |
Explorer 114 |
Exmoor (Bampton is just off the edge!) |
Outdoor Leisure 9 |
As with all rambling, local knowledge is extremely helpful, and Ken Dives has provided some really useful booklets from walks originally published in the Mid Devon Gazette.
Book 1: Circular Walks - 14 country walks in and around Mid Devon. Bampton farmland, Ashclyst Forest, Winsford and Tarr Steps, Crediton - Shoebrooke Circular, Bishop's Nympton - Mariansleigh, Brendon Hill & Wimbleball, Sandford and the Creedy Valley, Barle Valley, Chittlehamholt Woodland Byways, Kentisbeare - Culm Vally, Shillingford, Dunkery Hill, Tiverton, Uffculme. For each walk there is advice on where to park, a map, a route description, and additional notes about the area. |
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Book 2: Circular Walks - A further 14 country walks in and around Mid Devon. Winsford Punchbowl, Chawleigh Village, Lapford, 'Buzzards' N.T. walk, Exmoor woodland, Bampton Down, South Molton, Sainthill, Exmoor southern fringes, Morchand Bishop, Mole valley, Uffculme, Chawleigh, Exe Valley bridleways.
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Bampton Bounds - 16 circular walks in and around the parish of Bampton. NOW OUT OF PRINT - a new version will be appearing soon. This new 2nd edition book also by Ken Dives brings together the best of the above two (which are almost out of print), plus a few alternatives which have been added. Green Lanes, Woodland Walk, Wellington Ride, Stony Lane and the Quarries, Exe Valley, Bampton Woods & Bowbier Hill, Coldharbour and the Motte, Clayhanger, Bury to Haddon Hill, Skilgate and Somerset Borders, Huntsham and Bampton Down, Oakford, Clatworthy Reservoir, Shillingford Lanes, Wimbleball Lakeside, and Exmoor Southern Fringes. |
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Bampton Walks: a leaflet showing two medium-length circular walks starting from the centre of Bampton. Available at the Heritage Centre in the church. |
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This leaflet produced by Mid Devon District Council was written by Ken Dives and J.Hill. It describes two circular walks, one of two and a half miles going south of Bampton via the Exeter Inn, and the other of three and a half miles northwards, a predominantly field walk. |
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A leisurely walk around Bampton itself will give you a good idea of the history of Bampton, the best way is to follow the 'Bampton Town Trail': this is a walk which takes you around the town, and introduces you to historic sites and buildings. Along the way you will also be able to enjoy 'Bampton in Bloom'. |
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The South West Lakes Trust publish an excellent leaflet 'Walks at Wimbleball Lake'. South West Lakes Trust, Higher Coombepark, Lewdown, Nr. Oakhampton, Devon EX20 4QT - or click on the logo on the right. |
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North Devon & Exmoor Walking Festivals. These currently take place April/May and in September. |
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There are over 6100 km of public rights of way in Somerset. They are comprised of footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and a few byways open to all traffic. Several of these paths are promoted as part of popular regional or national trails, such as the Coleridge Way, River Parrett Trail, South West Coast Path and West Somerset Coast Path. Click on the Somerset logo for information. |
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Other books which contain useful information are:
Pub Walks in Exmoor and North Devon Charles Whynne-Hammond - Countryside Books - ISBN 1 85306 333 9 |
Exmoor and the Quantocks Brian Conduit - Jarrold/O.S. pathfinder guide - 0 7117 0459 7 |
Circular Exmoor Walks - Coastal and inland walks throughout Exmoor Chris Adams - £2.95 - 1 899183 63 9 |
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The right to roam? Not quite. New rights, new responsibilities. What the new countryside access arrangements means to you. |
Further afield, try the website www.Walking-Routes.co.uk - it contains links to over 600 websites which give detailed directions, maps and descriptions etc. of an estimated 3000 walks throughout the UK, some of which are in and around your area.
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National Trails - including the SW Coastal Path |
