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Teidaw Survey

3XJuly 2021 by Tony Leigh

Route description

This route offers a less congested and gentler gradient alternative to the SW Coast route (TEIDAW ONE). After climbing quite gently from sea level through the delightful Mules Park it makes significant use of the historic Oak Hill Cross Road, the primary link between the two towns before the construction of the toll road (now the A379) in 1827. Much remains as it was in1827, a track for carters and pedlars at best. The route concludes via several short linking paths to regain the sea front and arrive at Dawlish Station. To fully appreciate the outstanding scenery without the inconvenience of walking backwards you may prefer to walk it from Dawlish to Teignmouth. Stage 1: Madness.Bandstand.Stiff (Teignmouth Station carpark) Cross Exeter Road (A379) at the round-about and follow Hollands Road and Regent Street OR French Street/Pound Lane and Regent Street to the Den Promenade. Turn left and follow Den Promenade as it becomes the pedestrian way, East Cliff Walk. Continue to the entrance to Mules Park, a left turn after crossing the Eastcliff Overbridge over the railway. Stage distance: 710m Cumulative distance: 710m Stage 2: Mules Park Head N on a well-maintained gravel path which skirts the east side of Mules Park. Leave the Park at its NE corner and continue climbing N up a stony path. At the 7- barred metal gate continue N through the kissing gate. On joining the metalled Cliff Road bear left to the A379. Stage distance: 1.03k Cumulative distance: 1.74k Stage 3: Oak Hill Cross Road to Holcombe path junction Cross the A379 and take Oak Hill Cross Road (to the east of the prominent Holcombe Gate Toll House). The surface depreciates gradually until past Middle Holcombe House it reverts to the original stony cart track which served as the major historic artery linking Teignmouth and Dawlish before the 19th century toll road was constructed to accommodate horse-drawn stagecoaches. Stage distance: 1.06k Cumulative distance: 2.80k Stage 4: Holcombe Down junction to Holcombe Road junction A crossing path links the village of Holcombe to Holcombe Down. After a further 130m the route crosses a second junction with Strawberry Lane (un-signposted) to the right and the private Holcombe Park, an Alpaca Farm, to the left. Continue straight on to drop down a steep and very uneven track to cross a stream and pass Westbrook Farm House before joining a metalled section of Oak Hill Cross Road climbing left, with Holcombe Road dropping right. Note: This short but delightful stretch is totally unsuitable for any wheeled vehicle and can be very muddy and slippery in wet weather. It can be by-passed by taking Strawberry Lane and turning left onto Holcombe Road. Stage distance: 500m Cumulative distance: 3.30k Stage 5: Westbrook Farm to Oakland Woods On joining the metalled part of Oak Hill Cross Road, with Holcombe Road joining from the right, turn left up the hill until a clearly signposted footpath off right through a five-barred gate, when the gradient levels off (270m). Take this footpath heading E along the border between two fields and Oakland Woods until a wooden pedestrian access point shortly before you reach the new housing development. Stage distance: 740m Cumulative distance: 4.04k Stage 6: Oaklands Wood Enter Oakland Woods via the pedestrian access gateway and follow the path N until you exit the Wood at John Nash Drive close to a grey painted electricity sub-station. (Be aware that there are two earlier entrances to Oaklands Wood which might be taken. The Woods offer a safe family, environmental/exploratory experience and you may wish to bide your time here. However, it is helpful to locate this sub-station in order to locate the start of Stage 7 on the north side of John Nash Drive). Stage distance: 180m Cumulative distance: 4.2k Stage 7: Oakland Park Cross John Nash Drive by the grey painted electricity sub-station and immediately enter Oaklands Park. Follow the path which skirts the South and East perimeters of Oaklands Park to exit on Coronation Avenue by the junction with the A379, Teignmouth Road. Stage distance: 630m Cumulative distance: 4.83k Stage 8: Lea Mount Cross the A379 at the brow of the hill for the clearest view of often busy traffic in both directions. Start downhill and after 50m turn right, signposted Coast Path, to the viewing point at Lea Mount. Admire the panoramas across Lyme Bay to Berry Head to the South and the curve of Lyme Bay from north to east. On a clear day, you may even see Portland Bill, 40 miles distant. Stage distance: 140m Cumulative distance: 4.97k Stage 9: Boat Cove to the Viaduct and Flippers.Grove.Objective Keeping the railings to your right, continue until you descend the 3 zig zags to reach the cliff bottom at the railway footbridge. Cross the footbridge to Boat Cove. Follow the new concrete wave barrier to the railway viaduct which you will pass under before turning right to reach the end of the trail outside the Station Diner. Stage distance: 680m Cumulative distance: 5.65k

About the surveyor

Coming soon.

Survey Contents

Grading

Path surface grading

3 Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections.

Accessibility grading

X 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.

Photos

Photos from surveys are coming soon.

Facilities

  • Not present at time of survey Public toilet
  • Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet
  • Not present at time of survey Supermarket
  • Not present at time of survey Restaurant
  • Not present at time of survey Vegan restaurant
  • Maybe present Accommodation
  • Maybe present Accommodation < £50
  • Not present at time of survey Campsite
  • Not present at time of survey Bothy
  • Not present at time of survey Free wifi
  • Not present at time of survey Public phone
  • Present at time of survey Mobile Phone Coverage
  • Not present at time of survey Train station
  • Present at time of survey Bench
  • Not present at time of survey Picnic table
  • Present at time of survey Bus stop
  • Not present at time of survey Ferry

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Challenges

  • Not present at time of survey Scrambling
  • Not present at time of survey Wading
  • Not present at time of survey Swimming
  • Not present at time of survey Climbing
  • Not present at time of survey Stepping stones
  • Not present at time of survey Very slippery
  • Maybe present Very muddy
  • Not present at time of survey Very icy
  • Maybe present Likely to flood
  • Not present at time of survey Long grass sections
  • Not present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path
  • Not present at time of survey Diverted path

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Obstacles

  • Not present at time of survey Stiles
  • Present at time of survey Step and kerbs
  • Present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable
  • Present at time of survey Flights of steps
  • Present at time of survey Gates
  • Present at time of survey Kissing gates
  • Not present at time of survey Locked gates
  • Not present at time of survey Disables access gates
  • Present at time of survey Cycle barriers
  • Not present at time of survey Ladders
  • Not present at time of survey Cattle grids
  • Present at time of survey Fords
  • Not present at time of survey Narrow bridges
  • Not present at time of survey Ferry required
  • Present at time of survey Acceptable road walking
  • Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking
  • Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings
  • Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads
  • Not present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads
  • Present at time of survey Railway crossings
  • Not present at time of survey River crossings
  • Not present at time of survey Cattle possible
  • Not present at time of survey Horses possible
  • Not present at time of survey Tidal area
  • Not present at time of survey Potential falls
  • Present at time of survey Exposed to elements
  • Not present at time of survey Remote area
  • Not present at time of survey Mountainous area
  • Not present at time of survey Military training area
  • Not present at time of survey No visible path
  • Maybe present Seasonal nesting birds
  • Present at time of survey Other hazards

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Accessibility

  • Present at time of survey Free of stiles
  • Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs
  • Not present at time of survey Free of flights of steps
  • Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles

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Measurements

The narrowest part of the path is 50.00cm

The steepest uphill gradient walking East 20.00%

The steepest uphill gradient walking West 25.00%

The steepest camber: no data

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places

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Successfully completed

  • Small Pug-sized dog
  • Small Labrador-sized dog
  • Large St. Bernard-sized dog
  • Standard pram
  • Off-road rugged pram
  • Standard wheelchair
  • Off-road rugged wheelchair
  • Standard mobility scooter
  • Off-road rugged mobility scooter

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Expert recommendations

  • Small Pug-sized dog
  • Small Labrador-sized dog
  • Large St. Bernard-sized dog
  • Standard pram
  • Off-road rugged pram
  • Standard wheelchair
  • Off-road rugged wheelchair
  • Standard mobility scooter
  • Off-road rugged mobility scooter

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Terrain

11.00% of the route is on roads

27.00% of the route is paved

4.00% of the route is lit at night

12.00% of the route is muddy

25.00% of the route is over rough ground

There is no data on long grass

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