Two Moors Way: Chagford Bridge to Yeoford

The narrow packhorse bridges at Chagford and Rushford, passed early on the route, were both built in the 17th century, at the time when Chagford was a thriving woollen centre. There was once a woollen mill close to Chagford Bridge.

Drewsteignton is a pretty village with thatched cottages and the unspoilt 18th-century Drewe Arms Inn. It was once called the Druid’s Inn, after an association of Druids at nearby Spinsters’ Rock. It was renamed after the arrival of the Drewe family in the early 20th century (see ‘While you’re there’), one ‘Drogo’ or ‘Dru’ having been given the manor by William the Conqueror. The church has a tall 15th-century tower and a wagon roof with carved bosses, one of which has a face said to be a self-portrait of one of the builders. The Church House also dates from the 15th century and served as a hall and alehouse for members of the congregation.

St Andrew’s Church in the small hilltop settlement of Hittisleigh is mainly 14th century and its granite arcaded aisle has a wagon roof with carved bosses. There is a Norman font of black marble. A sparsely populated parish, at one time Hittisleigh provided the poorest church income in Devon.

Cross the bridge and turn right on a footpath through fields along the riverbank, eventually crossing fields to reach the road at Rushford Bridge.

Turn left along the road, then right as signed between buildings at Rushford Mill. Keep ahead along the riverbank to Dogmarsh Bridge.

Cross the road here and continue along the riverbank. After 0.5 miles (800m) pass through a gate into woodland to find a footbridge over the Teign. Here there are alternative routes to the little village of Drewsteignton, via the Fisherman’s Path along the River Teign or Hunter’s Path above the Teign gorge.

Turn left, away from the river, to join a drive. A short distance up it double back to the right along Hunters’s Path. This passes under Castle Drogo to Sharp Tor, where a detour left can be made to the house. Take the next turn left, signposted to Drewsteignton, eventually joining a road. Turn right, soon following the road left to reach The Square.

Pass the village shop and descend past two junctions to Veet Mill. Take the track ahead at the road bend to pass the mill, then follow it uphill past Winscombe to a road. Turn left and cross the flyover over the A30.

Turn right down Hask Lane. Turn left along well-signed path which passes down over fields, through woodland and crosses a ford to a road by Forder Farm.

Turn right, then left over a stile by the gateway to Forder Cottage. Continue up fields to Hill Farm. Take the green lane to the right of the farm and continue ahead, down to a bridge over a small stream. Continue up between trees and, keeping Whitethorn Farm on your right, take the gateway to the farmyard. Follow the farm drive to the road and turn right.

Keep ahead at Hittisleigh Cross, to pass the church. Continue along the road for 2 miles (3.2km), where the Two Moors Way forks left down a farm track to Newbury. Instead of making this left turn, continue down the road for 1.5 miles (2.5km) to Yeoford. Here is a railway station (on the Tarka Line) and the Mare and Foal pub.