Barnstaple — Simonsbath
Barsim one
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Barsim here.
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Barsim here.
By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021
Description
This is a Slow Ways route connecting Barnstaple and Simonsbath.
Know of a better route? Share it here.
This is a Slow Ways route connecting Barnstaple and Simonsbath.
Know of a better route? Share it here.
Status
This route has been reviewed by 1 person.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Barsim one
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 4
Surveys
What is this route like?
Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.
Grade 4X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
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Description | Note | ||
Grade 4: Route includes very rough surfaces including deep ruts, steep loose gravel, unmade paths and deep muddy sections. Wheelchairs may experience traction/wheel spin issues. Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users. |
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys. | ||
Full grading description |
Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.
Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
Narrowest part of path: no data
The steepest uphill gradient East: no data
The steepest uphill gradient West: no data
The steepest camber: no data
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Clear (1)
Successfully completed
We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.
Recommended by an expert
We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.
Terrain
We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.
There is no data on how much of this route is on roads
There is no data on how much of this route is lit at night
Thereis no data on amount of route paved
There is no data on muddiness
There is no data on rough ground
There is no data on long grass
Report a problem with this data
1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Barnstaple
Grid Ref
SS5606733027
Lat / Lon
51.07846° / -4.05612°
Easting / Northing
256,067E / 133,027N
What3Words
pasta.punt.exile
Simonsbath
Grid Ref
SS7733039252
Lat / Lon
51.13935° / -3.75485°
Easting / Northing
277,330E / 139,252N
What3Words
grand.engrossed.crouching
Barsim One's land is
Barnstaple | |
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Grid Ref | SS5606733027 |
Lat / Lon | 51.07846° / -4.05612° |
Easting / Northing | 256,067E / 133,027N |
What3Words | pasta.punt.exile |
Simonsbath | |
---|---|
Grid Ref | SS7733039252 |
Lat / Lon | 51.13935° / -3.75485° |
Easting / Northing | 277,330E / 139,252N |
What3Words | grand.engrossed.crouching |
Arable | 5.3% |
Natural grass | 5.3% |
Pasture | 74.4% |
Urban | 12.8% |
Woods | 2.2% |
Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018
review
Helen Gough
08 Jul 2023I walked from Simonsbath to Barnstaple and had reservations about the route, seeing that there was a lot of road walking. However, the lanes are very quiet, the roads are pretty quiet too, and walking on tarmac is very easy!
The first 3 miles of the route out of Simonsbath is on a B road, and I thought this was going to be a bad start, but as Simonsbath is (by English standards) remote, the road was quiet. A handful of cars passed me, but the road is wide and the visibility is good. It's mostly tree and hedge lined, but every now and then there is a glimpse of Exmoor, when you finally get off the road you can enjoy a bit of Exmoor walking. The stretch along Great Vintcombe is proper Exmoor - rough ground, views and sheep. It's not long though until you get to a stretch of lane walking. This lane was almost free of traffic, but there was a charity bike ride going in the opposite direction. They were going uphill and it looked like torture to me. The highest part of the walk is on this lane and in breaks in the hedgerow massive views suddenly appear, with Dartmoor in the far distance.
The crossing of the A399 is a bit of a pain, as it's busy. I had to wait a while to get across, and then comes Grange Hill which is another stretch of road walking and leads into Bratton Fleming. I didn't fancy walking this road, but it wasn't too bad. Most of the traffic was heading out of Bratton and again the visibility is good for drivers. The best thing about this road is that suddenly a big view opens up with Barnstaple Bay in the far distance.
Bratton Fleming has a shop, and public toilets. There used to be a pub, but it closed years ago, so don't make plans around it.
The last bit of road walking comes at the bottom of the village, and that's the worst bit for me, but thankfully it's short. Once you leave the road at Bratton the walk is off road for a long way. Its leafy, green and easy to follow, passing through the villages of Stoke Rivers and Goodleigh (pub here, but check opening hours before you make plans). From Goodleigh the route uses a very quiet lane to the outskirts of Barnstaple, and then there are a few fields, until you finally get to town.
I enjoyed this walk, despite the road walking. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. I'm also pretty pleased with myself for doing it all in one go. If you want to break it up, you can get a bus from Bratton Fleming to Barnstaple, so that makes it two 8 mile walks. However, there is no public transport to Simonsbath, so this walk would probably appeal more to multi day (masochistic) trekkers who would laugh at a mere 8 mile walk.
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