Further to my previous review. An alternative final stage from Teignmouth Golf Course is feasible but it adds 2k, requires road walking and does not enhance the walk. An alternative route is uploaded (Chudaw 2) which is shorter/more direct, uses mostly off-road tracks and I submit makes an outstanding walk. I repeat my concern that a stretch of Chudaw1 is very dangerous.

Route Description
Overall this is a very enjoyable walk which divides into 3 distinct stages.
WARNING: a short road stretch at the end of Stage 2 is very dangerous and should not be included. This alone accounts for the rating which otherwise would be 4 star.

Stage 1. 4k. Chudleigh (tasks.grins.wakes) to Ideford.
This first section is predominantly along minor metalled roads with neither footpath nor soft shoulder as it exits Chudleigh and navigates the not inconsiderable restrictions of private land (Ugbrooke Park) and a major trunk road (A380). Traffic is quite light and although often fast moving one senses drivers are alive to the likelihood of pedestrians. The two footpaths referred to are unsuitable for wheels, have steep gradients and are muddy and slippery after significant rain.

1. Drop down the ancient and walker-friendly Clifford Street to cross Lawn Drive and Kate Brook and start to climb Tower Hill.
2. Shortly after passing the Cemetery, and immediately past the village boundary sign, take the signposted “Footpath” branching right to climb increasingly steeply for approx. 350m. Exit via a kissing gate (currently broken) onto another unclassified, metalled road. Turn left and follow for 80m before branching right over an obvious but un-signposted shorter section of path to by-pass the road loop to Biddlecombe Cross.
3. Re-joining the minor road drop down past the entrance to Ugbrooke Park, pass under the A380 at Wapperwell and climb to a junction of 5 roads and lanes. (NOTE the un-signposted Hamblecombe Lane which will be referred to in a route variation below.)
4. Turn left along Longthorne Road (signposted Ideford and Luton) to the “Ancient Saxon Village of Ideford”.

Stage 2. 8k. Ideford to N of Holcombe Village. This section is almost entirely along tracks or very minor metalled roads with very light traffic. In general the tracks include sections with very broken and uneven surfaces and are not suitable for wheels. Included are popular off-road strolls such as Three Tree Lane.

1. Take the right turn by the Royal Oak, Town Farm Lane.
2. Turn left and cross a stream by a narrow bridge along Hamblecombe Lane. (Photo)
3. Keep to the main loose stone path (bearing left at a fork).
4. Turn left on reaching Hestow Road and right after 50m onto a metalled road (signposted "Humber and Bishopsteignton"). Pass Lindridge Park.
5. Take a left turn onto the un-metalled Three Tree Lane at the sign “Unsuitable For Motor Vehicles”. Despite its name the lane winds and climbs delightfully through private (as frequent signs are wont to state/Photo) forest/woodland. Initially this is over a very poor broken surface not appropriate for wheels but improves to crushed stone in its later stages.
6. On leaving Three Tree Lane cross the minor road to enter and cross Teignmouth Golf Course.
7. The route now follows brief stretches of the B3192 and Holcombe Down Road.
WARNING: the B3192 has the dubious reputation of being among the most dangerous roads in Devon. It is particularly dangerous to walk and cross at this stretch (blind corners, impenetrable banks, no footpath or verge and with heavy and speeding traffic in both directions). Holcombe Down Road to Breakneck Hill, a notorious rat-run, is little better though traffic is significantly lighter and anticipates the possible presence of pedestrians which is not the case on the B3192. This reviewer considers the route should not be adopted by Slow Ways solely because of these two short but dangerous stretches.
8. When Holcombe Down Road makes a 90 degree left turn, just after Breakneck Hill, continue straight ahead.
9. The metalled road now rapidly deteriorates to a mud track which drops down to Holcombe Village.

Stage 3. 3.6k Holcombe Village and SW Coast Path to Dawlish.

1. Cross the mud track Oak Hill Cross Road, through a gate (signposted Holcombe) and proceed along a very clearly defined path through 2 further gates before entering housing. The route through the village is straightforward with some “Footpath” signposts. Turn left at the Castle Inn and follow Forden’s Lane to the A379.
2. Cross the A379 and enter Windward Lane. The sign-posted South West Coast Path goes off left after approx. 30m.
3. This path is generally well-drained but can have soft, muddy stretches following rain. What was once an open path with glorious open views is now sadly fenced on both sides – the fate which befalls heavily and not always considerately used national trails in conflict with local landownership. It climbs steadily and has a bench from which the magnificent scenery both out to sea and back inland can be viewed, before dropping left at an ever-steepening gradient terminating in 50 steps and a narrow bridge crossing a stream. It then climbs 8 steps and a gentler gradient to terminate up a 23 step wooden staircase to the A379.
4. Turn right and follow the residential Old Teignmouth Road which ends in a short path to the A379.
5. After a further 30m take the sign-posted entrance right to Lea Mount and follow the path past the lookout. Keep the railings to your right, and then drop down the 3 zig zags to cross the footbridge to Boat Cove.
6. Finally, follow the sea front along the new wave barrier and finish by passing under the Viaduct to Dawlish Station.

Two variants are more direct and can shorten the overall length by just over 1k.
1. Towards the end of section 1 take Hamblecombe Lane to by-pass Ideford (poor surface: uneven, muddy and subject to sections of extensive puddling following heavy rain; not recommended for wheels). This will save around 0.3k. However, Ideford is an old village dating back to Saxon times and worthy of visit. It also has a pub.
2. A more direct route is available from the junction of Chudaw1 north of Holcombe where it crosses Oak Hill Cross Road (N 50.33.986 : W 3.29.110). This route is already documented in Slow Route Teidaw2 and so is not repeated here. It will save around 0.8K.
3. Avoiding the B3192 and Holcombe Down Road rat-run.
A possible alternative route may be found using Shepherds Lane from the Golf Course and making one’s way through new housing to New Road and the Oak Hill Cross Road but this is untested. I will post a review following further investigation. This will add an estimated 1.5k to the route.

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