Timberscombe-Luxborough- Philippa Reader Cutcombe Circuit
Route Summary
A fantastic route that takes in the beauty of the Brendon Hills. You start low in Timberscombe and gradually climb up into the hills where you meet the Coleridge Way. The route follows a ridgeline with beautiful views before descending through a wooded valley back to Timberscombe.
Route Overview
Category: Walking Length: 19.220 km / 12.01 mi Last Modified: 25th July 2020 Difficulty: Medium Rating: Unrated Surface: Rough Date Published: 25th July 2020
Description
1 / 5 Park in Timberscombe and follow the road around to the eastern side of the village where you pick up a bridleway that climbs up and over Timberscombe Common.
There are several bridleways that cross this open grassland. Head across to the woodland and continue up through the Croydon Hill plantation to a track junction at Withycombe Common.
From the top, drop down Monkham Hill through more coniferous woodland to the parish of Luxborough.
On the edge of Kingsbridge village you will pick up the Coleridge Way which takes you past Pooltown, up through farmland and over Lype Hill, the highest point of the Brendons at 423m.
The Coleridge Way continues along the ridgeline with fantastic views of Dunkery Beacon, Dartmoor and across the West Somerset coastline to South Wales.
The bridleway gradually drops down to Cutcombe where you leave it and follow a sequence of footpaths down through the wooded valley of the River Avill back to Timberscombe. This is a stunning route.
Waypoints
Start in Timberscombe (51.16861; -3.49511) Park in the village on the corner where there is public parking opposite the shop. Follow road around bend and turn left to start of track
Turn right by buildings (51.16878; -3.49013) Follow track up through trees until you break out onto the common. There are a number of bridlepaths that cross the common. Aim diagonally left for treeline on the other side.
Enter woodland here (51.16196; -3.47914) Follow track up Croydon Hill through coniferous plantation
At track junction take second track on your right (51.14449; -3.45428) Follow track down Monkham Hill, through Monkham Wood plantation to the road that leads to Kingsbridge at the bottom
Turn right onto the road and then right again (51.13200; -3.45075)
2 / 5 Walk through Kingsbridge and on to Pooltown
Follow road around to the right (51.12648; -3.45185) You are on The Coleridge Way, follow the beautiful finger signs with yellow feathers. The road follows the valley and then turns right up the hill where the bridleway bears off left.
Turn left off the road (51.12520; -3.45919) Follow the Coleridge Way signs along track and past the farm
Turn left (51.12592; -3.47873) You join another bridleway here
Turn right up spurline (51.12394; -3.48061) The Coleridge Way goes up and over Lype Hill, the highest point on the Brendons and has the most stunning views of South Wales, Dunkery Beacon and Dartmoor.
Cross the road (51.12405; -3.51122) Continue through fields along the ridgeline almost until you reach Cutcombe.
Go straight on into Cutcombe (51.13882; -3.53103) Follow the road through the village until you reach the church, there is a footpath on your right opposite the church.
Turn right onto footpath (51.14236; -3.52881) Follow the footpath across the fields, traversing the hillside initially the path then descends diagonally into the wooded valley.
Cross the river (51.14156; -3.51578) Follow the footpath that follows the other side of the river through woodland.
Turn right onto the footpath (51.15019; -3.51831) Follow the track up the hill to Oaktrow Farm.
3 / 5 Turn left onto footpath (51.15379; -3.51322) Go down narrow valley to Bickham Wood and left onto short section of bridleway that meets the A396 at Pitt Bridge.
Turn right onto footpath (51.16041; -3.51264) Just before you reach the A396. Follow footpath along edge of woodland and continue onto the bridleway past Bickham Farm to Ford Bridge.
Turn right onto the A396 (51.16750; -3.50167) This is a short but unavoidable section on the road back into Timberscombe.
Turn right off main road (51.16853; -3.49789) Follow village road back to the start point.
Finish point (51.16857; -3.49523) You're back in Timberscombe.
4 / 5 5 / 5