6.8 miles, 2 hours 40 mins, Elevation gain 287 m
From Murchington head towards Chagford passing the chapel on your left and heading straight on (right) at the fork. As the Chagford road begins to drop steeply downhill take the footpath on your right into the field and follow the path downhill to Warcleave Wood. Walk through the wood - in May there are massed bluebells on both sides for much of its length. When you come to the road turn right and cross the ancient Chagford bridge. Follow the road past the kennels of the Mid Devon Hunt to the cross roads. Turn right and follow the road for about a mile towards Gidleigh Park. At first you walk alongside the leat for the old Chagford Wollen mills, later you will pass the magnificent Holystreet Manor and the sweeping gardens of Puggiestone (named after a large granite outcrop close by the river once thought to have Druid connections). Just after you have crossed Leigh Bridge, at the confluence of the south and north Teign rivers, leave the road and take the rough bridleway to the left which runs steeply up hill toTeigncombe.
Alternative - when the river is low this first section of the walk can be varied (and shortened) by leaving Murchington in the opposite (Gidleigh) direction and taking the bridleway on the left as you leave the hamlet. This drops down to a ford and a set of ancient stepping stones across the Teign. These can be slippy even in summer, but if you are feeling brave they give you quick access to the brideway to Teigncombe. After crossing the river follow the path up to the road. Turn left and walk along the road towards Chagford until you see the bridleway on your right at a sharp bend.
The ancient bridleway from Leigh Bridge to Teigncombe
The footpath at Teigncombe which takes you cross country to Frenchbeer.
The path to Teigncombe rises almost continuously for about a mile, offering attractive views back towards Gidleigh at various points. The track becomes metalled when you come to the entrance to North Hill. When you come to the road proper turn right and follow the road up to the attractive settlement of Teigncombe. When the road turns sharply right keep straight on for a about twenty metres past Teigncombe Manor. Here there is a narrow path to the right, besides a house, which heads up to the open moor and Kestor Rock, but ignore this and instead take the Two Moors Way to your left through two small gates. This is an unprepossessing start to a wonderful section of the walk heading towards Frenchbeer.
Follow the path through a field, keeping to the hedge line. In the far corner the path crosses a small water course and heads into a dense wood of conifers and young birch. When you emerge at the top, cross the track and head into a large pasture field. This can be very muddy, especially as you exit into another wooded area. Sections of the path now follow a boardwalk across boggy ground. At Boldventure you need to look out for footpath signs which take you to the left of a newly fenced paddock. As you pass close by Ford, a Duchy property, you will see large banks of bamboo and in summer other invasive species including Himalayan Balsam. As you get closer to Frencbeer the views open up to the east across rich farmland to the hills of Meldon and Easdon. At Frencbeer, with its locally famous Turkey farm, you rejoin the road and turn left heading down to Yeo Farm. (At Frenchbeer the walk can be extended by instead crossing the road and continuing on the Two Moors Way to Teignworthy and Yardworthy and returning via Cullaton and Thorn). Pass Yeo Farm and follow the road right, crossing the South Teign river and rising uphill past the impressive Outer Down till you come to the settlement of Thorn. Here ignore the road to your right (to Cullaton) and head gently up hill to Waye Barton. At the main road turn left and then almost immediately keep left rather than heading down into Chagford on Manor Road (unless you fancy a pint in town). The road now offers magnificent views across Chagford to Drogo looking North-East, while if you look west you see the wooded Teign valley at Holystreet and Milfordleigh. You also get clear views back to St Olaves, with the granite walls standing out clearly on the hillside. Follow this road back down to Chagford Bridge and retrace your route through Warcleave Wood to Murhcington.