The 617 acres of common land in Luppitt are spread across Luppitt Common, Hartridge Common, Hense Moor and Dumpdon Hill. This brings together a variety of habitats and distinctive historic sites in the landscape. Visitors planning a stay can combine nature and cultural interests without treating them as a single outing: moorland and pasture shape the landscape, while the church, memorial and historic buildings offer their own insights into local history.
Landscape and habitats
Hense Moor lies at the upper end of Luppitt Valley. The area includes marshy pasture, heath and moorland; the headwaters of the River Love are also located here. Since 1983, Hense Moor has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The designation recognises the unusually large extent of habitats that have become rare elsewhere in the Blackdown Hills.
The variety is also reflected in the habitats found in some of the most wildlife-rich areas of Luppitt Valley. These include mires along the spring line, the river corridor and broadleaf woodland, as well as unimproved common land and unimproved, drier meadows on the valley slopes. This distinction makes the character of the landscape easier to appreciate than a single view of the open moorland. Dumpdon Hill also brings together natural and cultural history: the hill is one of the four areas of common land and is crowned by an Iron Age hillfort.
Church and local history
The Church of St Mary is a Grade I listed parish church. It was rebuilt in the late 13th to early 14th century and renovated in the 15th century with a new tower and a south porch. Of the four bells reported at the church in 1553, three remain. The building’s history and its bells offer two distinct historical points of interest: a church altered over several centuries and a collection dating back to an early record.
Other buildings and memorials also point to different periods in local history. Luppitt’s war memorial records the names of ten soldiers who died in the First World War. The Hawker chest tomb commemorates James Hawker, who died in 1727. Antelope Cottage originally consisted of two cottages and was later used as an inn. Taken together, these are a place of remembrance, a tomb and a building formerly used as an inn—different traces of history, each to be understood in its own right.
Cycling routes and riding route
The “Honiton, Luppitt, and Combe Raleigh” cycle route is 11 miles long and rated moderate. Its profile includes challenging climbs and descents. When planning, both the stated distance and the described climbs and descents are relevant; no journey time is given. As route details may be updated, it is advisable to check the route description again before setting out.
The “Luppitt and Upottery” route offers views across the tributaries of the Otter and is one of five riding routes in the Blackdown Hills National Landscape. It starts and ends at Hartridge Common. While the cycle route specifies its length and difficulty, the views and start and end points provide useful reference points for this riding route. The two routes therefore differ in activity and in the planning information available; route details should also be checked before travelling.
Local pub
The Luppitt Inn is a traditional farmhouse pub in the village of Luppitt and serves locally brewed beer. If you are planning a visit, it is best to check the latest information about what is on offer in advance, as pub services and availability may change.
Discover more destinations: Dunkeswell, Holsworthy, Shaldon, Wotter, Abbotsham, Dawlish, Parracombe, Ottery Saint Mary
For the main travel overview: Devon.
