Walk This way!

Spring has come to Colyton and with it those much-cherished moments of natural wonder. Trees burst into bud, daffodils bloom in a riot of yellow and new born lambs gambol in lush green fields once again.

But alongside these seasonal highlights comes another common visitor. Wearers of windcheaters and sturdy boots, with hiking canes in hand, walkers are once again returning in number to this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

These human herds are a welcome and timely reminder of all the fantastic opportunities there are to explore on foot the beautiful Axe Valley and fabulous Jurassic coastline. We’ve put together a few of our favourite walks to help you plan some days out.

Route 1 - Colyton loop: A pleasant way to spend an hour circumnavigating Colyton and enjoy spectacular views of the country and coastline via Hill Head, the Old Sidmouth Road and then through farmland taking you back down into Colyton again via Ridgeway Lane and The Butts. If walking your dog, beware the fields are sometimes used for sheep, so pets need to be kept on leads and under control.

Route 2 - Colyton River Walk: This six-mile circular walk starts in our historic town, where you can follow the River Coly west passing a weir and ford before reaching Heathayne and Barritshayes. Then take country lanes north to Rockerhayne, before climbing to Parehayne Hill where you can enjoy fine views over the East Devon AONB towards Dorset and the coast. Then come back down through lanes to Carswells Moor, eventually hitting the river again and returning to Colyton.

Route 3 - Seaton to Beer: This two-mile walk follows a stunning section of the South West Coast Path. Starting on the seafront in Seaton, the walk will take you along the pebble beach and then climbs the cliff offering gorgeous views of the bay as you make your way to picturesque Beer. There are cafes and pubs at your destination, so plenty of opportunity to refresh before the walk back. You can extend the walk by a further three miles by taking a scenic stroll from Colyton to Seaton via Hill Head and Stafford Lane, then down through Seaton to the beach. Buses are also available.

Route 4 - Seaton Wetlands: This is an enjoyable walk along the Coly River (about five minutes from The Old Bakehouse), through the Axe Estuary Wetlands to Seaton and the sea. The wetlands is characterised by a large intertidal lagoon and reed beds, home to a range of birds including Kestrels, Oystercatchers and kingfishers. Look out too for the once-threatened water vole, which are now common to these marshes.

Route 5 - The East Devon Way: We thought we’d throw in something for the most ambitious hikers, this 40-mile footpath starts in nearby Exmouth and runs through eight villages and crosses five rivers on the way to Lyme Regis in the neighbouring county of Dorset. There are so many historic sites and breathtaking vistas along the way, it can take between two to six days to complete. You can find the best places to visit at the comprehensive eastdevonway.org.uk

Spectacular view above Colyton back across the Axe Valley