Amesbury Walkers

TWO CHAPELS TRAIL

BWF PT No 148 - 15km

Walk Organiser: Brian Cole, Greenbank, Station Rd, Willand, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 2PR. Tel: 01884-821850.

Email: trailwalkerbjc@gmail.com

Walk fee:£1.00, Embroidered badge available £2.00. Cheques made payable to Amesbury Walkers.

Start: Killerton House Car Park (National Trust property), Nr Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon [GR 192/977002]

Route Directions

Exit car park to road, turn right and in 70m turn left through gate, follow main track through park to double set of gates, cross road and turn right, ahead over motorway bridge and in 50m turn left down steps. Ahead with fence on right to kissing gate, follow path uphill between fences, through three gates to road.

Q1. Makers name on garden gate?

Cross road, ahead up lane, through first gate on right and immediately turn left and follow path uphill with fence on right. (Sprydoncott House in view on right was once a flourishing country hotel). At top of path turn right, follow NT markers through three kissing gates. Ahead on path, through gate, over footbridge to reach gate in far right hand corner of orchard, through gate and descend steps to cross footbridge and turn left, follow path through woods to kissing gate, cross track to kissing gate and ahead through trees for 500m to reach kissing gate in fence on right, through gate, and diagonally left across field to left hand edge of trees, descend to gate directly below to reach road.

Turn left and follow pavement for 230m, cross road and ahead on pavement for 100m, now ahead on cycle path for approx 250m. Turn right on lane and ignoring track on right carry on, passing pink cottage on right. At top of hill, by thatch cottage, turn right into farm track.

Q2. Name of Farm?

Continue ahead on track to farm, turn right at cross tracks to gate. Turn left down track, in 30m turn right through gate, over footbridge turn left to footbridge and gate.  Turn right around edge of field to footbridge and stile, ahead uphill and at top corner of wall by cottage through gate then over stile. Follow between hedge and fence to stile, ahead across field to stile, stream on right, cross field by fence, through kissing gates and over motorway bridge. Through kissing gate with fence on left, ignore stile on right, carry on through two more gates. Up slope, through coppice, (Killerton House and gardens on right). Follow main track through trees keeping fence on right, then ignoring track to right, to reach kissing gate and road after 600m.

Q3. How far to Poltimore?

Turn left uphill (SP Poltimore) to reach car park on right in woods, bear left up slope skirting around left hand side of woods keeping field edge on left. Pass through rhododendrons bearing left to pass oak tree on right, 10m at fork bear right for 20m to reach large holly bush with sawn off stump in front. Turn right on path for 100m to cross paths and turn left on wider grassy track. Continue for 200m to reach fork, turn right and ahead for 200m to bridleway sign.

Q4. Type of Bridleway?

Turn immediately down narrow track on left to reach road. Turn left on road and follow to Columbjohn Cross, turn right, passing cottages on right, take bridleway on right and in approx 100m turn left through kissing gate. Ahead across field to reach Chapel, enter grounds through green kissing gate to approach main door. (Stop and observe beauty of epitaph plate on top of raised burial place of Sir Thomas and Lydia Acland).

Q5. How many grandchildren and great grandchildren were there?

Retrace steps to kissing gate. Turn left then through kissing gate and continue in direction of footpath sign keeping fence on right to reach top right hand corner of field, through kissing gate and turn left on track. At fork keep left on main track, after 100m turn right through kissing gate uphill passing old quarries on right then ahead through wooden barrier.

Q6. What is marked on rear of barrier?

After 20m take right hand fork uphill for approx 220m to reach gate and stone wall on right hand side, through gate and ahead uphill for 120m to reach kissing gate.

Q7. Name on main gate?

Through kissing gate. Turn right in 5m through kissing gate, ahead on path for 150m passing seat on left. Ahead for 200m passing 2 Stone Pillars on left.

Q8. Name of Hillfort?

Ahead 100m then turn left up track for 100m at two large beech trees turn left up track.  Ahead approx 200m to cross tracks, turn left. Ahead for 60m to reach Pillars, turn right and retrace steps to seat on left.  200m ahead passing between two large trees, ahead for 180m to gate on left, turn left through kissing gate into Deodar Glen. Downhill 30m and turn right, ahead on track for 220m to T-junction, ahead passing bench on left.  Continue ahead ignoring another left fork for approx 400m then turn right on track and cross over narrow wooden footbridge.  Ahead slightly left uphill passing large enclosed clump of fir trees on left to reach gates in left hand corner.  Through gates downhill on stoney track to go ahead through gates towards car park, through small gate on right into Chapel grounds, follow path around right hand side of Chapel, down steps and ahead to cross track.  Turn right, through large kissing gate ahead over cross tracks to reach small wooden ‘Way Out’ marker on left.

Q9. What year was Oak Tree planted?

Descend parkland to main drive (Killerton House on right). Turn left to drive gates, turn left on road and then left to return to car park.

[Cafe and toilets available from top left hand side of car park.]

Route updated 12 February 2022