Longtimber Woods near Ivybridge was the perfect walk for the ‘spirited’ weather we experienced yesterday. Undeterred by the forecast (heavy rain showers, strong south westerly winds, thunder, hail etc) I enjoyed a wonderful two hour potter beside the fast-flowing waters of the River Erme. The walk took me through remarkably sheltered woodlands, dripping with moss and peppered with fungi and ferns.
I particularly like this walk because it is easily accessible and offers a variety of adventures. I walked, splashed in puddles, watched the birds, followed animal tracks, looked down holes, investigated this, poked at that and stopped for a cuppa. Another day I might be tempted to take a quick dip too…
I was able to park close to the footpath which is wide and manageable for most abilities. From the impressive viaduct at the start of the walk (SX 635,569) you can simply follow the path alongside the river for a while, enjoy the peace and the wildlife and return the way you came.
Or, after about 2.5km, you can choose to make a full day of it and head out onto the moor. Pack a picnic and make your way through the village of Harford, up toward Glasscombe Ball where you can join the Two Moors Way that will eventually bring you back to Ivybridge. Due to the poor weather and my lack of enthusiasm to get blown off my feet I decided to give it a miss yesterday, but I will definitely go back.
Instead I took the steps up to a path that runs along the top of the woods back to the start of the walk. This path is quite uneven in places, but from here you can enter the world of the birds and witness their lives high in the treetops. Nuthatches, thrushes, woodpeckers, treecreepers, long-tailed tits, blue tits, great tits, ferns, fungi, flowers and more.