North of Chapelton, a milestone stands on the A377; a described walk, by contrast, starts at the station and crosses the River Taw. In Chapelton and its immediate surroundings, road and building history meet a route with specific details about its course and terrain. The station’s special instructions for boarding and alighting are important when planning your journey. You should also check that the described paths are accessible before setting out.
Milestone on the A377
The milestone stands north of Chapelton on the west side of the A377 between Exeter and Barnstaple. Its inscription reads “5/Barum/”; it dates from around 1879. Its location, lettering and approximate date give this roadside landmark a clear historical context. Including the stone in your plans makes it possible to locate it more precisely than simply associating it with Chapelton: it stands north of the village, not at the station.
Station and the “Herner and Hall” walk
Chapelton station is a request stop. If you want to get off there, tell the train crew in good time. To board, give the approaching train driver a clear signal. Check these operating instructions again before travelling. This is especially relevant for anyone planning to start the described walk at the station.
The “Herner and Hall” walk, described in 2013, starts at Chapelton station. It crosses the River Taw via a footbridge with broad stone piers. The route to the driveway to Herner runs for about half a mile across fields on firm, level ground. This section is therefore described with both an approximate length and details of the terrain.
According to the 2013 route description, the public footpath to Hall passes Herner Bridge and a small weir, then follows a steep driveway through a bluebell wood. On the route to Herner described in 2013, there is a disused chapel with a large bell on its roof. The bell bears the date 1817. Rights of way and conditions can change; check current access and conditions before setting out.
Building history in the immediate surroundings
In the immediate surroundings of Chapelton, Hall View is on the west side of the A377. The former toll house was built in 1832 and has one storey. Its location and former use as a toll house give it a different historical context from the milestone, which stands north of the village on the same road.
Hall is a Grade II listed house and was rebuilt in the Neo-Tudor style around 1850. A “baronial hall” arranged at right angles was designed by Philip Hardwick together with Gould of Barnstaple. The approximate date and style identify a later building phase; the design attribution adds specific names to this context. Access to the house is not assumed.
What suits your travel plans?
The milestone and Hall View are individual historical features tied to specific locations. The “Herner and Hall” walk, by contrast, offers a described route with a river crossing, a field path and an approximate distance for one section. If you are mainly interested in building history, you can focus on the dated buildings and the milestone; if you want to explore on foot, the walk provides more information about the route. This lets you choose topics according to your interests without combining them into a single route.
Discover more destinations: Broadhembury, Hawkchurch, Berrynarbor, Otterton, Two Bridges, Sampford Spiney, Bridgerule, Kings Nympton.
For the broader travel guide: Devon.
