A stay in Brixton can be shaped around two interests: riverside walks and architectural history dating from around the 13th to the late 17th century. The village is in the South Devon National Landscape. When planning, you can first decide whether to focus on outdoor activities or historic buildings.

Walks and Waterways

Brixton has a network of public rights of way, including walks along the River Yealm. Check the condition of the paths locally before setting out. One recommended walk leads to Cofflete Creek, where there is a tidal ford and an old double-arched footbridge. Another recommended route crosses the Silver Stream and a bridge. The route descriptions let you compare the water crossings: at Cofflete Creek, the ford and old footbridge are the notable features, while a bridge is mentioned at the Silver Stream.

The Silverbridge Way connects Brixton with Yealmpton and is a permitted footpath. This status distinguishes it from the network of public rights of way; check the local access arrangements for the Silverbridge Way before setting out. This lets you choose between route descriptions with different focuses: a network of walks, named water crossings, and a route connecting two places.

A free leaflet with recommended walks is available at The Foxhound Pub, the Fish & Chip Shop, the Shop/Post Office and the church. As the distribution points may change, it is best to ask locally whether the leaflet is currently available there.

Architectural History Across Several Eras

The Church of St Mary shows two clearly distinct building phases: its west tower dates from around the 13th century, while the rest of the building dates from the late 15th century. The dating of the tower therefore does not apply to the entire church. Comparing the west tower with the rest of the building makes the different periods of construction tangible.

Brixton House is a Grade II listed building. West Sherford Farm House, including the outbuilding adjoining it to the northeast, is a farmhouse dating from around the 16th century; alterations and additions were made in the 17th century. Its architectural history therefore also includes later interventions, not just its original date.

The Wicket is a building dating from the late 17th century, with 115 pigeon holes below the eaves. The eaves are the lower edge of the roof; the precise number and position of the pigeon holes give the building a specific architectural feature. Together, these examples from Brixton illustrate different aspects of architectural history: building phases within a church, alterations to an older farmhouse, and a precisely identified detail at The Wicket.

Discover more destinations: Buckfastleigh, Holsworthy, Hemyock, Devonport, Liverton, Chittlehamholt, Ottery Saint Mary, Torrington

For the regional travel overview: Devon.