Killerton House to Ashclyst Forest

Killerton is an 18th-century house in Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon, England, which, with a hillside garden and estate. It has been owned by the National Trust since 1944 and is open to the public. This is a really pleasant walk with lots of gorgeous views, and one that you and your dogs will both enjoy.  It’s about a 45 minute drive from Bowerland. Google Maps.

Directions:

1. Start up by parking at Killerton House and Gardens car park. Then cross the lane over to a gate. You will see a path in front of you, follow path into an orchard; this curves to the right to another gate.
2. At this point head left to join footpath to Killerton Post Office. Continue along this lane until just after the motorway bridge. You then turn left onto some steps leading to a permissive path. Once on this path, follow it and keep right of the house.
3. You will then cross the main road onto a track. Then on this track, you will soon turn right onto another path which runs parallel to the track. At the point it joins another track you will need to turn right. During this time, remember to stop and enjoy the scenery.
4. Dogs love to gamble along these paths, and will find lots of interesting smells in the undergrowth. Either take a flask, or a bottle of water, something that you can stop and sit for awhile.
5. After 180m turn left through a kissing gate, just before the entrance to a house. Continue along this path, which will take you through an orchard. Walk diagonally right towards a kissing gate then continue though woodlands beyond.
6. You will then need to turn left at a junction onto a track, and through a gate. Make sure you head in a southeasterly direction which will take you to another gate. Once at this gate head then in a northeasterly direction towards Ashclyst forest. Be careful at this point, as this permissive path through fields is not not clearly defined.
7. When you reach the next gate turn left into Ashclyst Forest following the blue trail. From here all paths are well maintained. You will really enjoy Ashclyst Forest; it is an atmospheric place, especially in the spring and autumn. You then need to head north until you reach a lane. When you get to the lane, turn left and continue along this lane until it joins the main Exeter to Cullompton Road. You will need to cross carefully into Budlake. When you reach the next junction turn left.
8. You will go through a small residential area and then you need to turn right and follow a permissive path, which skirts and finally crosses the motorway. Walk straight ahead onto a path, which eventually leads you to a lane. Don’t forget to keep a look out for a Roman fort, which has been discovered left of the woods. If you turn right at the lane, then left onto a track, this will take you back to Killerton.

We hope you enjoy this beautiful walk. Read more of our Wednesday Walks HERE. And see Devon Dog’s Calendar of Events HERE.

 

Featured image by Gerd Eichmann | CC BY-SA 4.0 | via Wikimedia Commons