In the spring you may see lambs in the fields of Thorn farm - March 2020
Frog Mill and Throwleigh
5.5 miles, 2 hours 15 mins, Elevation gain 425 ft
Footpath to Thorn and Frog Mill - easily missed
Directions
From Murchington take the narrow lane up the hill past St Johns to Way Down. Take the foot path across the field and cross the style onto the lane that heads north to Waye farm. A few hundred metres past Waye farm, at the bottom of the hill, take the footpath on the left across the fields to Thorn.
At the farm follow the footpath signs which lead you right down the track for about 100 metres. Then follow the path as it bears left across the fields again across a small footbridge and up to Frog Mill. Just past the mill, at the road turn left over the small bridge and then right up the lane past Throwleigh Manor and into Throwleigh. In Throwleigh keep the church on your right and walk a short distance up Shilstone Lane before taking the Bridlepath on your left. This is Deave Lane an ancient track with some good views through the trees across the valley. Follow Deave lane for about a mile. When you reach the road at Forder turn left and follow the road for a few hundred metres to the chapel at Providence Place.
Just past the chapel take the foot path to the right through a gate. In the summer there are often eggs and vegetables for sale in a small kiosk here. Follow the footpath down hill through the trees for a few hundred meters, and when you reach the road turn left.
Follow this very narrow lane to cross a small bridge, and then take the footpath through Blackaton Copse. The path follows Blackaton Brook through the wood and at the far end of the wood turn left onto the road again. Follow the road for about three quarters of a mile back up the hill to Murchington.
Frog Mill
Frog mill (SX 67933 90546) is now completely ruined and overgrown, but the remains of the building are easy to see. It was also known as Froggy mill and apparently dates back to Saxon times as a site for milling. It was a corn mill that was abandoned in 1900. A local history of Throwleigh records that William Madders lived there with his wife Mary before moving to Forder and then to Shilstone.
Shilstone Lane
Shilstone lane is about half a mile long, and runs from the centre of Throwleigh to Higher Shilstone farm, just below Shilstone Tor. It was developed by Father Gambier Lowe in around 1900 with the aim of providing houses for high church anglicans who would attend Throwleigh church. It was apparently known as Petticoat Lane in the 1930s because many of the inhabitants were single older women.
Providence Place
The Methodist Chapel at Providence Place is a fine building on the side of the hill with a granite boundary wall (and note the lamp holder in the gate). It was built in 1839 by the Bible Christians.
Mild Peril
This is a very pleasant easy walk with no steep hills or difficult footpaths. The path across the field at Way Down can get very muddy and it is easy to miss the footpath across the fields to Thorn and Frog Mill.