Description
Slow ways; Buckfastleigh to Ashburton..BUCASH two
Difficulty: Stout footwear required. Reasonably flat but uneven and rutted stretches underfoot. For fit walkers only. (Grade 4)
START: Buckfastleigh (weaved.withdraws.returns)
Follow the published route out of Buckfastleigh, over Dart Bridge and left down Old Ashburton Road.
Proceed towards Ashburton, past Fursleigh Mill Hotel. Look for Public Footpath Dartmoor Way on the left. (0.85Km) (W3W: crunching.dollars.rare)
After about 50m take the right hand gate on to the public footpath.
This section of the walk affords fine views over Buckfast Abbey and the moors. Further on, where the hedges have been trimmed back, it may get rough under foot with hawthorn and bramble (hence stout footwear) as hedge trimmings are not picked up.
Proceed to the end of the footpath and through the gate on to Blackmoor Farm Lane (about 900m)
Follow the lane round to the right to re-join Old Ashburton Road. (permit.sprawls.chin)
Turn Left towards Ashburton. Proceed along the road for just over 200m.
Turn left opposite the white building of Gages Farm. (schooling.mice.toggle)
Proceed up the hill and follow the byway to Summerhill Farm campsite. (dating.skate.flagging)
At this junction a detour may be taken down to the River Dart.
The route continues to the right up to the main road.
{To pursue this option take the lane on your left. (Signed Queen of the Dart). This will add about 2.2Km (there and back again) to your journey.}
Cross the main road at Summerhill Cross into Lavender House Lane (lifetimes.fence.unhelpful) {Please cross with care; this is a busy road in the summer}
Proceed up the lane to join the Hele Road. This short section of road is narrow without pavement so proceed with care.
Straight ahead for about 148m to a public bridleway on the right. (inventors.whisk.egging)
The bridleway dog-legs left shortly. Enjoy views over Hele village and Boro Wood on your left.
From here follow it straight ahead for about 500m. to Headborough Road. (lung.flattens.oblige)
Exit the bridlewqay and turn right past Lower Headborough Cottage.
This road will take you down to Great Bridge where you join North Street.
Proceed into Ashburton centre passing The Victoria Inn on your right and The Bay Horse on your left if refreshment is required.
At the junction with West Street turn right to end point. (hill.gobblers.grafted).
Finish.. hills.gobblers.grafted
Slow ways; Buckfastleigh to Ashburton..BUCASH two
Difficulty: Stout footwear required. Reasonably flat but uneven and rutted stretches underfoot. For fit walkers only. (Grade 4)
START: Buckfastleigh (weaved.withdraws.returns)
Follow the published route out of Buckfastleigh, over Dart Bridge and left down Old Ashburton Road.
Proceed towards Ashburton, past Fursleigh Mill Hotel. Look for Public Footpath Dartmoor Way on the left. (0.85Km) (W3W: crunching.dollars.rare)
After about 50m take the right hand gate on to the public footpath.
This section of the walk affords fine views over Buckfast Abbey and the moors. Further on, where the hedges have been trimmed back, it may get rough under foot with hawthorn and bramble (hence stout footwear) as hedge trimmings are not picked up.
Proceed to the end of the footpath and through the gate on to Blackmoor Farm Lane (about 900m)
Follow the lane round to the right to re-join Old Ashburton Road. (permit.sprawls.chin)
Turn Left towards Ashburton. Proceed along the road for just over 200m.
Turn left opposite the white building of Gages Farm. (schooling.mice.toggle)
Proceed up the hill and follow the byway to Summerhill Farm campsite. (dating.skate.flagging)
At this junction a detour may be taken down to the River Dart.
The route continues to the right up to the main road.
{To pursue this option take the lane on your left. (Signed Queen of the Dart). This will add about 2.2Km (there and back again) to your journey.}
Cross the main road at Summerhill Cross into Lavender House Lane (lifetimes.fence.unhelpful) {Please cross with care; this is a busy road in the summer}
Proceed up the lane to join the Hele Road. This short section of road is narrow without pavement so proceed with care.
Straight ahead for about 148m to a public bridleway on the right. (inventors.whisk.egging)
The bridleway dog-legs left shortly. Enjoy views over Hele village and Boro Wood on your left.
From here follow it straight ahead for about 500m. to Headborough Road. (lung.flattens.oblige)
Exit the bridlewqay and turn right past Lower Headborough Cottage.
This road will take you down to Great Bridge where you join North Street.
Proceed into Ashburton centre passing The Victoria Inn on your right and The Bay Horse on your left if refreshment is required.
At the junction with West Street turn right to end point. (hill.gobblers.grafted).
Finish.. hills.gobblers.grafted
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Bucash two
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 10
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Buckfastleigh
Grid Ref
SX7443266183
Lat / Lon
50.48196° / -3.77124°
Easting / Northing
274,432E / 66,183N
What3Words
weaved.withdraws.returns
Ashburton
Grid Ref
SX7555669845
Lat / Lon
50.51512° / -3.75662°
Easting / Northing
275,556E / 69,845N
What3Words
hills.gobblers.grafted
| Buckfastleigh | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SX7443266183 |
| Lat / Lon | 50.48196° / -3.77124° |
| Easting / Northing | 274,432E / 66,183N |
| What3Words | weaved.withdraws.returns |
| Ashburton | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SX7555669845 |
| Lat / Lon | 50.51512° / -3.75662° |
| Easting / Northing | 275,556E / 69,845N |
| What3Words | hills.gobblers.grafted |
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reviews
Claire
25 Sep 2023I walked this route from Buckfastleigh to Ashburton and then turned around and walked alternative paths others have mentioned in their reviews on the way back.
Starting in Buckfastleigh you follow the town out on Station Road and up “Church Steps” I didn’t mind the steps and the hill afterwards was okay to climb. You come out at the Holy Trinity Church Ruins which you can walk around and is quite interesting and peaceful. Descending down the track it turns into rocky and uneven ground. It had been raining off and on the days before we did this walk so it made the surface slippery. One of us slipped and fell, luckily it wasn’t a bad fall but the track is like this all the way down on Fairies Hall until you meet the road. I would do this part of the path if it was dry, but on the way back from Ashburton we followed the B3380 road instead. This goes past Buckfastleigh Station and brings you around to Station Road, even though it was noisy it was pavement and non slippy.
Heading to Ashburton, once having crossed the B3380 and walking past the Strawberry Fields Farm shop, the road is straight and there is a small pavement all the way to Peartree Cross where the Garage is. This bit of the path is fine, we didn’t enjoy it as it was loud and fast cars kept whizzing by but it does the job. On the way back we went via the Dartmoor Way to avoid the noisy road, we had to walk up a hill and once reaching the gate we started walking down the path, only to regret this as it was severely overgrown. Other reviewers have done this alternative route on the Dartmoor Way in Winter and enjoyed it, but if it is overgrown I don’t recommend doing so. I have logged it to be cut but not sure how frequently it is used so bear that in mind if you do decide to take this detour.
The rest of the way into Ashburton is along footpaths and a quiet back road and you can see a boundary stone too.
I would recommend this route from Buckfastleigh to Ashburton it is a simple and straightforward route with alternatives if you wish to take them.
Helen C
20 Jan 2023I walked this slow way from Ashburton to Buckfastleigh. It is a good, direct car or bus free link between the two towns. Both are served by public transport but they’re not far apart and it’s good that it’s walkable.
Leaving Ashburton you could follow the church path footpath for a bit of variation - runs roughly parallel to Chuley Road, which this takes. It is less direct but more scenic (have walked as part of Ashipp).
However, Chuley Road is very quiet and you then pick up a public footpath through woodland. From the garage at Peartree Cross the route then follows the old road parallel to the A38. It is a little uninspiring, but it is on pavement and there are nice views to the surrounding hills. Towards Buckfastleigh there are views to Buckfast Abbey. There is also a pub en route.
Arriving in Buckfastleigh, if you want a more accessible and level route you could continue on the main road to avoid the steep mossy footpath (photo 15 looking back down the hill), although you would miss the old quarry (protected for bats) and lime kilns below. The footpath brings you back to the main road to the end.
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LouRos
22 May 2022I enjoyed learning about the recommendation to take a pathway off the road on the way to Ashburton.
I did follow the route as recommended out of Buckfastleigh - next time, I would skip walking up the STEEP steps (from Station Road), and down the uneven rocky steps. Though this is more scenic - it didn't add to the journey enough for me (and living in Buckfastleigh, I've walked up the steps plenty of times!).
So rather than left onto Dartbridge Road and along Station Road, before going up the steps - just turn right onto Dartbridge Road and pick up the route later.
JosClout's review mentions Summerhill Farm. I walked past, just as they were setting up for pizza evening (Friday from 5pm) - good views - so maybe something nice to do (though would check beforehand) on a Friday's summer evening.
Last bit of bridleway was rocky and a bit muddy.
Otherwise all good (May 22).
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