The River Taw and Bouchers Hill

Situated in fertile countryside to the north of Dartmoor, the small rural town of North Tawton has long been important for wool: in times past the main product was serge, a hard-wearing cloth made from the fleece of the Devon longwool sheep. But North Tawton is also currently home to two of West Devon’s largest businesses: Gregory’s Transport (founded in 1919 by Archie Gregory, who hauled coal from the railway station to the wool factory by horse and cart) and the Taw Valley Creamery, both of which give the town a sense of pride and purpose. North Tawton has a literary claim to fame, too: the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes lived in the town from 1961 to his death in 1998.

The coming of the railway

The London and South Western Railway reached North Tawton in 1865. Plans for a branch line to Bude were dropped, and the railway was extended to Okehampton in 1867, Lydford in 1874, then on to Plymouth, creating a route round the northern and western rim of Dartmoor. The railway boosted the town’s fortunes – cloth from the woollen factory, established in the 18th century and a major employer until 1930, was transported out by train, while coal to work the mill machinery and for domestic use was brought in. Meanwhile cattle and sheep went to and from Exeter’s market, and children to grammar schools in Crediton and Okehampton. Regular passenger services stopped in 1972, but freight is still carried to and from the quarries at Meldon, 3 miles (4.8km) west of Okehampton. The Granite Way cycle track follows the line of the old railway from Oakhampton to Lydford. 

The walk starts from the Jubilee clock tower (1887) in The Square. With your back to the Town Hall bear right down Fore Street, signed ‘Winkleigh’. Pass No. 23; cloth was produced here before the operation moved to a larger mill on the River Taw. Follow the lane out of town to cross 15th-century Taw Bridge.

Turn right on a quiet lane lane, signed 'Winkleigh/Tarka Trail'. Pass Week Farm and later Bridge Farm.

Soon after, where the lane bears left, bear right on a footpath. By a big oak bear left through a kissing gate. Follow the path above the river (detours may be necessary to avoid very muddy patches), via occasional Tarka Trail signs, and eventually through a gate into woodland (bluebells in May). The riverside path reaches a gate onto a track.

Turn right over single-arched Yeo Bridge and go through a gate into a field. Bear right past a barn and along a hedged track to a gate onto an unmetalled road opposite Cider Cottage. Turn right, soon passing the entrance to Yeo Farm, and walk along a lane.

About 100yds (91m) later, turn left through a gate and climb steadily up a narrow, embanked path. Cross a stile and turn left up the edge of a huge field, still climbing – soon enjoy fantastic views over Dartmoor. At the top bear right to cross a double stile in the hedge. Cross the next field, aiming for a kissing gate.

Go through this, and immediately right through another. Keep ahead, and by a gate on your right, bear left across the field, dropping downhill to pass through a field gate. Turn right downhill, along the hedge. Go through a gate and cross a stream to reach a footpath junction. Keep ahead here on a narrow hedged and banked path, under holly trees. Cross a double stile at a field link. The path eventually kinks right then left.

At the next right kink, turn left through a kissing gate, then right down the edge of the field, with views over North Tawton ahead. At the bottom turn left to find a kissing gate in the corner. Pass through and follow the narrow path downhill through the allotments, to meet a track between houses, and emerge onto Fore Street. Turn left to return to The Square.