Dumpdon Hill Fort near Honiton, East Devon – child-friendly circular walk / picnic spot with great views
Child-friendly circular walk near Honiton
Picnic spot
Views across the Otter Valley
Free Parking
No Facilities
Combine this walk with a visit to Otter Valley Field Kitchen for a post-walk treat
Trying to look on the bright side of the last 12 months, it’s made many of us more active in exploring the countryside on our doorsteps and we’ve all discovered walks we didn’t know were there before!
I found this short circular route on my fellow Devon blogger’s blog – Flip Flops or Wellies – and decided to give it a go for myself.
Dumpdon Hill Fort does what it says on the tin. It was the site of an iron-age hill fort, i.e. a steep hill with a flat top and views for miles across the Otter Valley, providing the perfect stomping ground for children to run off some energy and get some fresh air.
About 10 minutes’ drive from Honiton, East Devon, Dumpdon Hill Fort is best found by sat nav set for Dumpdon Lane (EX14). Once on Dumpdon Lane (which is narrow and single-lane with only a few passing places), look out for the National Trust signs in the two small parking areas that will mark your arrival. Parking is free, but limited.
We parked in the larger of the two parking inlets – a small circular turning space with room for 3 or 4 cars max – and took the steps up hill and through a kissing gate which brought us to the start of the walk. There are numerous routes around and up the hill so take your pick (you can generally see the trodden walkways and follow one) – you can either take the lower path around the circumference of the hill, or climb straight up to the top to explore and take in the views. On top, there’s a little coppice for den building and some great hillside spots for a picnic and tree climbing on a warm day. We found our way back via a different route to the one we’d came, to make it a circular, which was easily managed by our four year old – no more than a mile and a half walking in total.
Access-wise, this walk would be a difficult feat for a buggy due to steps, uneven ground and steep hill sections, so if visiting with an infant a carrier would be the best option. Wellies are a must in winter. There are no facilities (toilets or refreshments) on-site.
If a picnic lunch isn’t doing it for you, or if you’re in the mood for coffee, cake or ice cream, this would be a great walk to combine with the fantastic Otter Valley Field Kitchen café just a short drive away on the outskirts of Monkton – you can read more about Otter Valley Field Kitchen here.
Comentarios