(1) From the car park at Kentisbeare Village Hall, take the path through the well-maintained churchyard and out of the gate on the other side into the village centre. Turn left from here and walk down through the village, admiring a quaint model train setup in one resident’s garden as you go by. (2) Take the first turning on the right, just after the thatched cottages. 

Soon after, on your left you’ll see a wooden gateway signed Silver Wood. (3) Enter in through this gate.

Silver Wood is managed by the Woodland Trust, created as part of their community woodland creation project in the late 90s. Today it is becoming an established wet woodland with a variety of native broadleave trees.

Continue on the path through Silver Wood, keeping the River Ken and its’ tranquil soundtrack to your right as you go. (4) Use the wooden bridge to cross over so you now have the river to your left as you continue along this path, over a stile and then to the left towards Goodiford Mill Fishery.

Here you will pass a number of small fishing lakes that are home to plenty of wildlife. The first few you’ll pass alongside a fence, but as you go through the small car park and over the footbridge, (5) you’ll then go through another gate and get a much nicer view of the two lakes on this next stretch.

(6) Head out of the gate and to the lane where you’ll turn left. From here it’s a steady climb between the orchards on this quiet lane. (7) Take the turning on the right at the next junction, (8) then immediately take the next turning on the right. You’ll start to descend down another quiet lane. (9) Look out for the public footpath sign on the left, through the gate, which you’ll need to follow.

From here you’ll follow the path through the fields keeping the hedge to your left. But you’ll likely be looking right as you look out across rolling Mid Devon countryside.

You’ll exit through a gate onto a lane, (10) which you’ll cross straight over following the lane/track ahead which narrows to a footpath. Follow this path through three more fields, again keeping the hedge to your left, before reaching another gate with spectacular views out to the Blackdown Hills. 

(11) Exit out to the left and down the lane which will return you to the road entrance to Kentisbeare Village Hall.