Lapcre three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 60.00% of reviewers

Below is the route on rights of way at Middlecott, and the one that should be followed.

I walked this route from Lapford to Crediton and enjoyed it. It is hilly and a good work out, but the views reward the effort. The access issues that the previous reviewer had last year are no longer a problem. I got through all the gates, and passed through several fields with cows, but happily they ignored both me and my dog.
Unfortunately they had made a mess of the tracks around Lowertown, it appears to be a cow highway, so it's wet, muddy and smelly. Not pleasant, but still better than walking on a road. I did find a couple of flooded sections in the same place as Helen C (2nd review). We'd had some rain in the week, but not for a couple of days, so I expect that's a common problem.
I enjoyed this walk, would recommend it, and would do it again.

There are some access problems with the route. In a couple of places there are gates that cannot be opened and have to be climbed over.

Also we were unable to cross the field that adjoins Merchants Corner because of the attentions of some cows who decided to have a run at us. Instead we detoured around using the road. Obviously, whether you get problems with cows in a particular field depends on whether there are cows in it at that time, and what sort of mood they are in. But I think it's better to skirt round the field using the road anyway, given that it's not a particularly busy road.

There were many positives to the route though. We walked it in from Crediton to Lapford. The section from Crediton to Sandford looks, at low magnification as if it follows the main road. In reality (as you see if you zoom in a bit) it follows a nice cycleway that is physically separated from the road by high hedges and a ditch. Sandford itself is a lovely village. If you were walking from Lapford to Crediton, it might be a nice place to stop for a drink to celebrate the fact that you are almost at the end (we were going the other way and had another ten miles to walk, so passed up on that).

Although there is a fair bit of road walking most of the roads are so little used that grass can be seen sprouting up through the tarmac. Some of the footpaths are also seem to be little used, and either overgrown or hard to make out. (Whether that's a positive or a negative depends on your point of view).

Locations of accessibility problems (lat,long)
Gates tied together to block footpath (50.847128, -3.697342)
Broken gate at Moor Farm (50.846047, -3.708270)
Territorial cows near Merchant's Corner (50.847645, -3.727220).

I walked this route from Lapford to Crediton. Note that if you get the train, there is a bit of walking on the A377 to get to the start of the SlowWay.
It is not suitable for wheeled users - there are steps and stiles and steep gradients.
I walked the route in mid November after a couple of weeks rain so I was expecting mud, and I got it. It was only what is typical of the area and the season, but it does make it a little tough going in places. As Tim said in his review, it should be better in drier weather.
At Middlecott, west of Morchard Bishop, a minor tweak is required. From the southern end of the bridleway at Monkswylde, follow the lane south to Middlecott Farm then east through the farmyard and along a public footpath. The plotted route running east from Monkswylde takes you down a private drive to Middlecott Cottage. This is not a public right of way. It joins the footpath though and is not obvious as a private route if walking from the east.
Morchard Bishop was a good stopping point for lunch - the pub was closed when I was there but the village shop is well stocked, with hot food and drinks.
East of Morchard Bishop, there was electric fence across a cross field footpath. I was able to get under it and reported it to the highway authority.
There were a couple of flooded sections on the restricted byways between Moor Farm and Swannaton. In most places not deep and passable by keeping to the hedge bank, but I slipped into one and did get wet feet! I have marked the review down because of these sections but I am sure it was only a result of the recent rain.
The route then followed quiet lanes and the occasional bridleway to Sandford, which has a couple of pubs and a shop. From there it follows a lovely off-road permissive path into Crediton.
A good walk, despite being a little challenging, though beautiful, quiet mid Devon countryside.

In the winter the byway does get muddy. It was when I reviewed it, but I do know it's not always so. The route was passable though. And overall a nice, if quite tough route. Good places to refresh in Sandford and Morchard Bishop with shops and pubs in both.

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