Withypool's River and Common

1 A small gate marked 'Picnic Place' leads out of the car park to the River Barle. Turn left, following the river bank upstream. Withycombe, with its wooded brook, lies below long grass slopes and the bare moorland plateau. The walk makes its way up the River Barle for about 1½ miles (2.4km), gradually working up through fields away from the stream. At the edge of moorland it turns back to return along the top of the enclosed lands.

2 The waymarked path crosses stiles and footbridges, then passes through a gate into a short, hedged way. After a stile it follows the left edge of a long field, below Waterhouse Farm, to a double stile. Now bear slightly left to a stile with a hedged track going uphill beyond. This track will be our return route. At the track foot turn right to a stile. Cross a field next to a railed fence on the right, with a narrow strip of wild meadowsweet along the river bank beyond. At the corner cross a stone footbridge to a wooden one, and continue on the riverbank. Ignore two kissing gates on the left, but cross a stile ahead into an open field.

3 At the end of this field turn uphill at a signpost on a boggy path with a hedge on the right, to a gateway. Here another sign points towards Brightworthy Farm. Pass through gates immediately to the right of the buildings, into a fenced-off path around a field edge. A bridge on the left leads to steps down into a earth track. Turn right and, as the track fades out, pass a concrete shed to follow the bottom edges of two fields. The moorland is one field above, and the river now about two fields below. The trench of a little-used trackway descends gently to a gate leading on to the open moor.

4 From here you could extend your walk to the medieval Landacre Bridge, visible ½ mile (800m) ahead - a suitable spot for your picnic (assuming you have remembered to put it in your rucksack). Otherwise turn left, following a sign for Withypool Common. A faint, rutted path follows the hedge that forms the upper boundary of the enclosed ground. The way slants uphill, then bends left and levels off.

5 The path gets clearer, and follows the hedge bank just below. It crosses a tarred driveway running down into the fields. Soon afterwards you encounter the steep-sided stream valley of Knighton Combe. The path slants down to the right, crosses the stream at a shallow ford, and disappears.

6 Head downstream for about 100yds (91m) between rowans, then slant up the combe side to rejoin the field-top hedge. The path is now clear, running towards the road that runs down into Withypool. About 220yds (201m) before the road turn down left to a gate in a corner of the hedge. A lane runs downhill to a stile. Cross this and the stile ahead to rejoin the outward route. Turn right to a double stile and continue downstream to Withypool Bridge.