Walk 1 to Pimple Rock is less than a mile long and suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and people with disabilities. This gives Yealmpton a short, specifically described route option. Like Walk 1, Walk 2 continues as far as Puslinch Bridge; it is just under two miles long and includes gates in the form of stiles. Here, both the extra distance and the stiles are therefore factors to consider when choosing a walk.
Routes, River and Directions
Walk 3 passes over Bowden Hill and Gorlofen along paths or quiet roads and is also just under two miles long. Comparing it with Walk 2 reveals two different routes of similar length: Puslinch Bridge is the destination on Walk 2, and stiles are part of the route; here, Bowden Hill, Gorlofen and the described paths or quiet roads shape the route.
Walk 4 passes through the former fields of the Shire Horse Centre to Yealm Bridge and can be extended as far as Lotherton Bridge. Walk 5 is described as around 4½ miles to Dunstone and Marland Cross. Walk 6 differs from these as an approximately three-mile circular route between Yealmpton and Brixton. The named destinations, approximate lengths and circular route offer different points of reference for choosing a walk.
The River Yealm is also part of Yealmpton’s landscape and offers opportunities for peaceful walks along its banks. In addition to the numbered walks, there are other walks with a riverside setting to choose from. Directions give two starting points: from Plymouth, the route follows the A379 through Elburton and Brixton. From Exeter, take the A38 Devon Expressway to the Smithaleigh Junction; from there, it is about four miles to Yealmpton.
Local History and Places of Remembrance
The Goreus Stone is in Yealmpton churchyard, ten metres west of the church tower. It is a rare surviving example of the approximately 50 early Christian memorial stones known from south-west England. Its inscription suggests that it probably dates from the 6th century AD. Its exact location provides a clear point of reference, while its inscription and probable date also offer a glimpse into the region’s early Christian history.
The Yealmpton War Memorial is a First World War memorial dating from 1921, with later additions commemorating the Second World War. It remembers 18 members of the local community who died in the First World War. The memorial takes the form of a wheel-head cross made of Cornish granite. Its design, date of creation and later additions bring together different chapters in the remembrance of the two world wars.
Kitley House is a large country house set in landscaped parkland. The house also has a literary history: in 1805, Sarah Martin wrote the Mother Hubbard Rhymes there, “The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog”. This is a different historical connection from the early-Christian-dated Goreus Stone or the war memorial: here, the focus is on the connection between a well-known work and a specific place.
Event in July
Yealmpton Agricultural Show takes place in Yealmpton every year on the last Wednesday in July. The exact programme details may vary. If the event is important to your travel plans, check the programme in advance.
Discover more destinations: Halberton, East Portlemouth, Buckland Monachorum, Talaton, Coffinswell, Exebridge, Cove, Noss Mayo
For the regional travel overview: Devon.
