Day 2 of a walk through Devon - From Lewdown to Bridestowe. The entire set of " A Walk through ..." walks currently covering the south-west of England from Lands End up into the Cotswolds could be used as a route guide by Lands End-John O'Groats (LEJOG) walkers

1. A WALK THROUGH DEVON
Launceston to Skilgate, in easy
8- to 10-mile stages, on minor roads and footpaths
John Downs with Indie
Day 2 of 8 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – 5.95 miles (9.6 km)
OS Explorer Maps 112 and 113
Devon - Day 2 1
Elevation gain 225 metres (738 ft)
Max elevation 251 metres (823 ft)
On Galford Down
above Lewtrenchard,
looking back
westwards towards
Cornwall

2. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe
A short ( 6 mile) walk on minor roads through Lewtrenchard to Galford, followed by a pleasant footpath section on the Two
Castles Trail climbing up across Galford Down (251 metres altitude), and then a road walk down to Bridestowe. A dog-
hostile stile at the far end of the Galford Down footpath caused us some trouble – I eventually had to lift my 30 kg dog over
it. This is a common hazard walking in Cornwall and Devon – and one of the reasons why I tended to walk mostly on minor
road rather than footpaths in these counties. Note: I should have taken a right on Station Road and finished at Lake on the
A368, but I had arranged to meet my transport at Bridestowe.
Devon - Day 2 2

3. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe - Overview of route
A quiet walk through lovely Devon countryside. Starting with a gentle 1.6 mile descent from an altitude of 189 meters at
Lewdown to cross the river Lew at Lew Mill (106 metres) . Then a climb over Galford Down (max altitude 249 metres) to
Hedge Cross and another gentle descent past Lydford Forest, followed by a climb over Beara Down to reach Bridestowe .
Great views west from Galford Down and south/east towards Dartmoor on the stretch of road just after Hedge Cross .
General Directions : 1st leg – 3 miles Head south and then east on minor roads through Lewtrenchard and Lew Mill and
climb up to Galford Down to join minor road south to Hedge Cross. 2nd leg - 3 miles – Take the minor road north east down
past Lydford Forest to the cross roads at Watergate. Go straight ahead and follow the minor road north east over Beara
Down and turn north (left) on Station Road down to Bridestowe . A turn right would have been better, taking me to Lake on
the A368 - better positioned for the next day’s walk.
Devon - Day 2 3

4. Set off from Lewdown at 10.45 on a dry and sunny day, 11oC. Starting altitude: 187metres. Head south initially on minor road from
middle of Lewdown, signposted to Lewtrenchard (3/4 miles) and Chillaton (4 miles). A steady descent down to minor road on left
@ 0.63 miles (18 minutes elapsed walking time), by St Peter’s Church, signposted Lew Mill. Now on the Two Castles Trail. Alt: 136
metres. Take the left turn, passing Lewetrenchard Manor hotel on the right, and continue east down to Lew Mill . Total mileage so
far 1.42 miles, elapsed time 43 minutes, Alt 109 metres. Carry on through Lew Mill, over the Lew River, and take a right up a track
at Galford Cottage and Galford Springs Farm. Mileage 1.62 miles in 50 minutes. Climb steep track and as it bears right take a faint
path to the left heading over Galford Down towards a gap in the hedge with a gate. Go through and continue straight ahead to
another gate in the hedge over the brow of the hill. Climb over stile, turn right on road (Altitude 251 metres @ 2.71 miles in 1
hour 41 ins) and bear left at T- junction (signposted Lydford). The turn left again at Hedge Cross junction (Altitude 223 metres @
2.97 miles in 1 hour 47 mins) – signposted Bridestowe.
Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – First leg from
Lewdown to Hedge Cross – 3 miles
Devon - Day 2 4

5. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – First leg from Lewdown to
Hedge Cross – 3 miles
My route from Lewdown to Galford Springs
Devon - Day 2 5

6. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – First leg from Lewdown to
Hedge Cross – 3 miles
Clockwise from bottom left : The entrance to the road to Lew Mill, passing Lewtrenchard Manor. St Peter’s church at
Lewtrenchard. The road from Lewtrenchard to Lew Mill. Lew Mill hamlet with the Standing Stone and Dower
House in the background.
Devon - Day 2 6

7. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – First leg from Lewdown to
Hedge Cross – 3 miles
Clockwise from bottom left : Galford Springs, with the entrance to the trackway over Galford Down. The trackway up
Galford Down. Looking back along the grass track over Galford Down. The dog-proof stile and locked gate at the end
of the trackway over Galford Down (Google picture).
Devon - Day 2 7

8. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – First leg from Lewdown to
Hedge Cross – 3 miles
My route across Galford Down from Galford Springs
Devon - Day 2 8

9. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – First leg from Lewdown to
Hedge Cross – 3 miles
Some Google pictures - Clockwise from bottom left : The road south after Galford Down. T-junction before Hedge
Cross (turn left signed to Lydford). Hedge Cross crossroads (turn left signed Bridestowe)
Devon - Day 2 9

10. The minor road from Hedge Cross to Bridestowe starts with a gentle 1 mile slope down, with woodland on the left, from altitude
223 meters to 155 meters at Watergate crossroads. Mileage so far 4.12 miles and elapsed time 2 Hours 24 minutes. Continue for
another mile , straight over at the crossroads through Watergate and over Beara Down, again through pleasant woodland. Turn
left at T-Junction onto Station Road. Altitude at Station Road junction : 219 metres. Distance travelled since start: 5.12 miles in 2
hours 53 minutes. Continue down Station Road for just under a mile into centre of Bridestowe village. 5.95 miles walked in 3
hours 16 minutes. Final altitude 164 metres.
Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – Second leg from
Hedge Cross to Bridestowe – 3 miles
Devon - Day 2 10

11. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – Second leg from Hedge
Cross to Bridestowe – 3 miles
Some Google photos of this leg, clockwise from bottom left: The road from Hedge Cross down to Watergate, with woodland
on left and view of edge of Dartmoor to the front/right. The Watergate crossroads. The road over Beara Down. The T-
junction with Station Road, a mile outside of Bridestowe
Devon - Day 2 11

12. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – Second leg from Hedge Cross
to Bridestowe – 3 miles
My route from Watergate to Bridestowe
Devon - Day 2 12

13. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – Second leg from Hedge Cross
to Bridestowe – 3 miles
My route from Hedge Cross to Station Road. Taking a right at Station Road would have taken me to the hamlet of
Lake on the A368 – a good starting point for the next day’s walk to Bridestowe.
Devon - Day 2 13

14. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe – Second leg from Hedge Cross
to Bridestowe – 3 miles
From left to right: Outskirts of Bridestowe. Rhona and Indie at the White Hart pub, Bridestowe. Produce on display
outside the Bridestowe village stores
Devon - Day 2 14

15. Day 2 – Lewdown to Bridestowe
Walk statistics (Garmin)
Devon - Day 2 15