Ashwater: Walks, Nature and Local History

Ashwater appeals to travellers who want to combine their stay with walks, architecture and local history. Several distinct themes can help you find your way around: a six-mile circular walk, designated public footpaths, a medieval church, a memorial cross and Quoditch Moor Nature Reserve in the Parish of Ashwater. If you are looking for hotels in Ashwater, these features can help you choose what interests you about the area. The key is deciding what kind of outing you want to shape your stay: a circular route, seasonal nature watching or historic buildings.

Walking Routes and Seasonal Nature

Ashwater Parish Walk No. 1 is a six-mile circular route. It starts at the Village Inn, crosses the River Carey and ends back at the Village Inn. This gives you clear points to plan around: the distance, a named river crossing, and the start and finish. You can factor the length into your day’s plans, and the return to the starting point identifies it as a circular route.

Ashwater Parish Walk No. 2 passes a marsh and reedbed. Butterflies and dragonflies can be found there in spring and summer. In contrast to the landmarks of the first walk, the seasonal natural features are what define No. 2. If you want to plan your trip around possible wildlife sightings, this distinction matters: butterflies and dragonflies can be found in spring and summer, while Parish Walk No. 1 is characterised by its length, circular route and river crossing.

Other public routes include the Church Walk, public Footpath No. 11. Footpath No. 13 runs from Ashwater via Lower Larkworthy to the A388. Unlike Parish Walk No. 1, which starts and ends at the Village Inn, Footpath No. 13 is described by its route from Ashwater via Lower Larkworthy to the A388. This lets you distinguish between a circular walk with a named start and finish and other designated footpaths.

Church and Memorials

St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains) is a medieval church in Ashwater and is listed as a Grade I building. The church has a 12th-century font. It also has a Beerstone monument dating from around the late 15th century. It is probably dedicated to Thomas Carminow, who died in 1442. The two furnishings offer different historical points of interest: the font dates from the 12th century, while the monument is dated considerably later, and its dedication is uncertain.

Ashwater War Memorial Cross also brings design and remembrance together. The intricately decorated granite cross is in the Celtic style. It commemorates twelve local soldiers who died in the First World War; four names from the Second World War were added later. Unlike the church furnishings, the cross brings the memory of two wars together in a single memorial.

Building History and Village Character

Bell Tower Cottage adds a former farmhouse to the historical themes. It dates from between 1420 and 1540; its two-room plan is laid out as a through-passage plan. Later alterations are also part of its building history. Here, former use, layout and architectural development take centre stage, while the church and its furnishings, and the War Memorial Cross and its commemoration, reveal other aspects of local history.

Ashwater’s landscape also includes Quoditch Moor Nature Reserve, which lies in the Parish of Ashwater. The marsh and reedbed beside Parish Walk No. 2, with butterflies and dragonflies found there in spring and summer, offer a specific seasonal point of interest. Nature watching thus complements the themes of walking, architecture and remembrance. When planning your trip, consider which of these themes you would most like to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Black Torrington, Exebridge, Woolacombe, Cheriton Bishop, Virginstowe, Croyde, Ashreigney, Talaton

For the wider travel guide: Devon.