Milton Abbot: Church Architecture and Walking Routes

Milton Abbot brings together historic buildings and several walking routes. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these two topics separately: the architectural history ranges from the medieval church to dated roof timbers; the routes offer different distances and landscapes.

Church architecture and historic traces

The parish church of St Constantine dates mainly from the 15th century and was extensively restored in the late 19th century. Timbers in the roof of the nave at St Constantine and St Aegidius provide another point of reference: they were felled in the first half of the 16th century. The felling date adds a specific dating point to the general picture of the church’s architectural history. Thus, the fabric dating mainly from the 15th century, the later restoration, and the dating of the roof timbers stand alongside one another as distinct historical clues.

Nearby, the Well House in Dairy Dell is medieval, as is part of the masonry of the rustic seat. Around Milton Abbot, the boundaries of medieval field systems are also visible as curved earthwork banks. These field boundaries are a different kind of historical trace from the church and masonry: their shape can be seen in the banks. The view of the past therefore includes both buildings and traces that describe the shape of the landscape.

Walking routes and their distances

The Tamara Coast to Coast Way passes through the village of Milton Abbot. The 87-mile long-distance trail is divided into seven stages, each 10 to 17 miles long. This gives you both an overview of the total distance and a practical framework for planning the stages. The route through Milton Abbot is part of a much longer trail.

The 31-mile Discovery Trail heads towards Milton Abbot along its Mid Tamar Valley section. Signs marked with apples lead along quiet lanes, through villages and woods, and across steep valleys and green pastures. The landscape changes on the way to Milton Abbot: steep wooded valleys give way to gentler, rolling fields. The route’s length, its waymarkers, and this change in landscape offer different clues to help you understand the trail’s course.

The St Cuthbert Mayne Way can also be understood by looking at its routes and destinations. A 3-mile section runs from Horsebridge to Milton Abbot, mostly along quiet minor roads. The trail also runs for 9.9 miles from Milton Abbot to the Church & Shrine of St Cuthbert Mayne in Launceston, crossing farmland and following quiet minor roads. In terms of length, the section from Horsebridge is the shorter one; the longer route has its own destination in Launceston and also crosses farmland. Access conditions on the St Cuthbert Mayne Way may change, so check them before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Luppitt, Kingsbridge, Bradninch, South Pool, Cornwood, Hollacombe, Whimple, Yarcombe.

For the broader travel guide: Devon.