Ride 4 in the Exmoor on Horseback series. Print

Haddon Hill Ride (25km)

Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 1

Haddon Hill Ride. Approx. 25km (15.5 miles). Route described anti clockwise. Start from Haddon Hill Car Park (GR 969286, plenty of parking and turning space and toilets). Leave car park by main entrance. After 10m turn left through hunting gate beside locked main gate. Continue down South West Water s tarmac service road. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 2

At wooden signpost (signed Upton) turn right. Follow track down through gate and across open grass field (marked on OS as Deer Park) to gate on far side. Keep to main track through woods with lake below on left, to road. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 3

Turn left downhill for approx. 100m. Take first turn left at Bridge End (signed). Go past cottages and over stream. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 4

At Rainsbury Farm turn left along farm road towards Upton Farm. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 5

At Upton Farm turn sharp right (do not go into farmyard). Follow farm track past Lyddons Cottage to road at Venne Cottage. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 6

Turn right and right again (signed to Upton / Wiveliscombe). Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 7

At T junction turn left (signed Wiveliscombe) 20m down road on sharp right hand corner go straight on up farm track towards Yellands (bridleway BW sign) Turn left on Westcott Farm drive to road. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 8

Turn right (signed to Withiel Florey / Watchet / Wiveliscombe) At next road junction, turn right. After approx half a mile, just past Redgate Farm , turn left (signed Withiel Florey). Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 9

Follow lane past Swansea Farm to Castlehill Farm (marked Trout Farm on OS map.) Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 10

Turn left into farmyard (BW to Wimbleball Lake) and follow blue waymarked BW through field gate on right. Down across field to ford river beside footbridge. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 11

Turn left in a southerly direction down valley following blue waymarks, through several fields and gates along north west shore of lake and down track through Hurscombe Nature Reserve (Note: 10 and 11 are marked on the OS as footpaths, but they are accepted bridleways, and waymarked as such on the ground). Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 12

At road cross straight over through gate (BW signed to Cowlings / Lakeside Walk to Dam). BW runs by water s edge, through gate and follow track below Hill Farm to South West Lakes Trust recreation area (excellent tea shop in car park selling refreshments Easter to September). Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 13

Turn right up access road and follow BW waymarks over road next to Higher Cowlings and keep following waymarks across fields. Follow old track down hill of rough grass and bushes to ford river beside footbridge below Hiccombe House. Follow track up to road and turn left. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 14

Follow road downhill through woods to Hartford. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 15

At this tiny cluster of houses carry straight on passing Hartford Lodge on your right. Tarmac road becomes stony track alongside River Haddeo through wooded valley (Note: prime pheasant shooting area Oct to end Jan ). On reaching tarmac again continue past Hunts Farm to village of Bury. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 16

Turn left through wide ford (or over packhorse bridge) and go straight on for approx 50m. Turn left just before red telephone box and old chapel (now a house) on opposite side of road. If you come to a road junction you have gone 50m too far. Follow Haddon Lane back to start. Steep and stony in places. Exmoor on Horseback 4 Waypoint 17

When you get to Haddon Farm, follow blue waymarks through farmyard, turning right on main farm drive. At road turn left into car park through a gate beside a cattle grid.