ASHWATER PARISH WALKS GUIDE (No.2)
The Village Green
Ashwater is set on a hill and is one of the last remaining settlements in Devon to have a public house looking directly across the village green.
According to the Domesday Book (1086/7) included in the population there were 40 Villagers and 6 Slaves. The Census of 2001 recorded 651 residents of the parish (none officially declared as slaves).
The benefits of electricity were brought to the village on 22nd March 1958 at a cost of £20,000 when 38 houses and the village hall were connected. The hamlet of Henford was not supplied until 1964.
Originally two cattle fairs were held in Ashwater on the 1st Tuesday in May and 1st Monday in August. There is now an annual well attended Agricultural Show and the 75th Horticultural Show was held in 2007
Ashwater Facts
The land area of Ashwater Parish (the fifth largest in Torridge) comprises 8601 Acres or 3481 Hectares, which is 34.81 square kilometres or 13.44 square miles.
Ashwater Church is dedicated to St
Peter. The full title, "St. Peter ad
Vincula" means St Peter in chains and
shares the unusual title with the Prison
Chapel in the Tower of London.
Inside the church is a tomb thought to
be that of Thomas Carminow who
died in 1442, the effigies are believed
to be of him and his wife.
On the south wall is a large Royal Coat
of Arms in plaster and bearing the incription "C.R. 1638".
Just off the village green note the Red
Telephone Box, which is a ‘listed’
building.
A mysterious explosion in September 2006 destroyed a Victorian Post Box at Quoditch (a hamlet within Ashwater Parish).
Rain keeps the parish green and according to The Rev. Preb. Melhuish (Rector of Ashwater 1897-1935) the annual average for 1923 – 1932 was 49.06 inches.
The current bridge at Ashmill was built in the early part of the 19th Century. Before this stone structure a wooden bridge and ford existed further south.
In 2005, according to BBC Gardeners World the largest pumpkin in the country was grown in Ashwater and weighed in at 97lbs.
WALKS AND FOOTPATHS
Walk Number 2
Ordinance Survey Explorer Map 112
This is a circular walk that begins and ends at the Village Inn, crossing farmland and featuring the small hamlet of Henford. (Distance: 3 miles - allow 1½ hours)
NB. Wear stout shoes or boots, as parts of the route maybe muddy. Keep dogs on a lead asthe fields contain stock. This walk is not suitable for wheel chair users.
The route offers a fine opportunity to appreciate the wild flowers so typical of the area. Look for Aconites, Snowdrops and Hazel Catkins at the turn of the year.
Primroses, Bluebells, Red Campion, Buttercups, Violets, Stitchwort, Cow Parsley, Pignut, Fox Gloves and Eyebright appear in spring.
Summer blooms include Honeysuckle, Dog and Field Roses, Hawksbeard, Scabious, Willowherbs and a host of Meadowsweet, Sorrel and Bramble.
Autumn brings forth the harvest of Blackberries, Elder, Sloes and Hawthorn with various types of Fungi in the fields and woodland.
There are many bird species throughout the year ranging from the ever-present Buzzards to the less common Spotted Flycatchers that visit between May and August with summer migrants such as the Chiff Chaff and Willow Warbler.
Start with your back to the Village Inn swivel left then take the road to the left leading out of the village and signposted to Launceston.
Proceed past all the houses and the last dwelling on the right called ‘Fools Paradise’. Ahead in the far distance are glimpses of Bodmin Moor.
Keeping to the road and just beyond the entrance to Adjistment Farm look for the footpath sign and then turn right through the gate into the field.
With the field boundary on your right pass through a double gate continue ahead to the style then proceed diagonally left down the slope towards the bottom right hand corner of the field.
Look for the entrance style and enter the wooded area prolific in Spring, with bluebells and violets, follow the path and cross the small footbridge and another style into the marsh and reed bed.
In spring and summer this area is abundant with butterflies, dragonflies and broad bodied chasers.
Butterflies include the Brimstone, Orange Tip, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Peacock, Painted Lady, Large White, Green Veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper amongst others.
Watch also for Roe Deer in this secluded spot then go straight ahead keeping left and cross the style into the field.
Proceed up the slope with the boundary on your right to the gate into a small lane. Continue ahead to a metal gate then immediately right following the lane shortly passing through another gate.
Look for the waymark sign to the left on the outbuilding wall. (Ignore the option to go right through Larkworthy Farm and eventually out to the main Holsworthy to Launceston road).
At the next gate bear right and keep to the field edge then through another gate with the hedge on your left. Immediately after the next gate turn right then left and go down the hill looking for the yellow-topped waymark post at the bottom.
Go over the stream by footbridge and cross the style. Continue through a gate and a further style and follow the path negotiating two more gates.
The final gate onto the lane at Henford bears the following memorial inscription, "Pa’s Orchard. Daniel F Rowe 1920 – 1996".
Turn left and follow the lane down hill shaded by trees and across the stone bridge over Henford Water.
Begin the long ascent up Kit Hill passing the Rookery on your left. The verges along this section of the lane are festooned with the white blooms of Cow Parsley during May and June.
Pause during this steady climb to look back at the fine view of the steep slopes on the left that hide the River Carey from view before returning to the village of Ashwater for refreshment at the Village Inn or visit the PO/Shop.
Return to beginning of Walk 2
Website designed by Anthony Williams and Henriette North.
Comments and Submissions to webmaster@ashwaterparish.org.uk
Last modified: Sunday December 18, 2011