Ivykin two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Ivykin here.

This is an alternative route for Ivykin one, which it largely follows but avoiding a section of main road leading out of Ivybridge & an access issue near Loddiswell. It is slightly less direct as a result but does pass through the village of Loddiswell which has a pub & shop as an added benefit.

It is not accessible for all as there are stiles, quite a few steps & some steep gradients as typical of the landscape. It follows footpaths, bridleways, unmetalled roads & quiet lanes. There are a couple of A-road crossings, but good visibility in each case.

Ivybridge has bus & rail links - note that the railway station is not in the centre of town but is a walk via foot/cycle way & pavement.

The route follows the Erme-Plym Trail out of Ivybridge. Follow the waymarked route which leads around the tennis club & recreation ground, alongside the river (the route has not been updated on OS mapping which still shows it following the road which isn’t that pleasant to walk). It then joins the road for a very short section on roadside verge before taking an off-road permissive path, separated from the road by a hedge, to Yeolands.

The route continues to follow the Erme-Plym Trail along a footpath, leading to unmetalled road, beside the river to Lower Keaton. It is a lovely wooded route. Well-maintained. After a short road section it follows cross-field footpaths (kept beautifully clear by the farmer) to Strode where it diverges from the E-P Trail. It offers good views back to Dartmoor.

From Strode it follows part of NCN28 cycle route along quiet lanes for a short while then passes through Modbury. It bypasses the town centre but it is an easy deviation for refreshments.

After crossing a footbridge over a stream after Traine it is a steep southwesterly climb through a field (ignore prominent permissive path waymark here unless you want to go back towards the town).

The route continues along cross-field footpaths to Babland Farm (cattle in last field) & rejoins NCN28 along quiet lanes. The Thatches campsite has a refreshment van, but it was closed when I passed (although I was able to refill my water bottle at reception!).

The route again deviates from NCN28 at Longdon Cross.

It follows a bridleway to Chantry then deviates from the route of Ivykin one just before Idestone Cross following footpaths & quiet lanes to Loddiswell. Through the village it follows surfaced paths (some steps), road & pavement. Loddiswell has a pub & shop. The route necessitates walking on a short section of main road but there is a slow speed limit through the village & a partial one-way system so it felt safe. It then takes the lovely old, unmetalled road down to New Mill & crosses the R. Avon. A footpath leads from there across fields to the main road bridge, with a steep flight of steps on either side, then continues across fields to Culverwell. From there it follows quiet, but quite steep in places, lanes to Combe Royal Farm then an unmetalled road to the top of Kingsbridge. It finishes on pavements, down Fore Street to the bus terminus on the quay.

A good route connecting Dartmoor to the South Devon AONB, with varied landscapes in between.

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