Ilfracombe to Lee Bay circular Walk ~ Griffmonsters Great Walks

Ilfracombe to Lee Bay circular

Circular route from Ilfracombe along the old railway track to Lee Bay, returning along the South West Coast Path

The route follows the old track bed of the former Ilfracombe to Barnstaple section of the Southern Railway. These days it is a paved cycle way that twists through the hills past the Slade Reservoirs. There is some country lane and footpath walking to reach Lee Bay on the coast, this includes a steep descent through woodland to the village of Lee where the Grampus Pub is an ideal place for refreshment. ` Return is along the SWCP, and then taking Langleigh Lane back into town.

NOTE

This is a walk summary intended to provide the user with just the essential information in order to navigate the walk route. Fully detailed information notes, refreshment stops and walk features are not included in this. A full write up will be included in the near future.

Ilfracombe to Lee Bay circular - Essential Information

Walk Statistics (calculated from GPX):

Start location: Ilfracombe
Distance: miles ( km)
Total Gain: ft ( metre)
Total Descent: ft ( metre)
Min Height: ft ( metre)
Max Height: ft ( metre)
Walk Time:
Walk Grade: Medium
Terrain: Footpath, Country Lane, Track

Maps:

The following maps and services can assist in navigating this route. There are links to printed maps and links to downloadable GPX route data for importing into navigational software and apps.

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map: OS Explorer 139 - Bideford, Ilfracombe & Barnstaple
GPX Route File

Route Verification Details

Date of Walk: 29/06/2021
Walk Time: 10:30:00 to 15:00:00
Walkers: Griff, Kat, Dan, Anita
Weather Conditions: warm, blue skies

Walk Notes

This walk navigates out of Ilfracombe to the former town railway station, well the site of the old station which is pretty much unrecognizable these days as it is no more than the site of industrial buildings. Given a hint that a station once stood here will reveal subtle indications of a railway terminus. Once on the paved track that leads along the contours of the hills there is no doubt this was once the trackbed of the Southern Railway line that terminated at Ilfracombe. This specific section between Ilfracombe and Mortehoe is a 1–in–36 gradient and was reputedly one of the steepest sections of double track railway line in the country. Back in the days of steam when the likes of the classic Oliver Bulleid designed Merchant Navy and West Country class Pacific engines plied their trade on the line, it often required a double headed train to heave the load out of Ilfracombe.

These days the track is a designated cycle path that twists through the hills past the Slade Reservoirs and is popular with cyclists and walkers alike. Of course, the gradient to heave a fully loaded passengers train appears quite different for a partially loaded pedestrian and it is easy walking with the picturesque valley to the right where the two Slade reservoirs hold their waters. There is access to the dam between them which is worth taking an excusion away from the track to view. The cycle track continues to Ossaborough but for this walk we depart the track at Bikenbridge to take country lanes down to the village of Lee. There is access into a small car park from where one doubles back and over the bridge that crosses the track to follow the country lanes. Eventually we diverge from the lanes to take a footpath that leads through the Shaftsboro Farm, around Windcutter Hill and down through Vollature Wood. Thie path through this mixed woodland is fairly steep and is rutted from the action of coursing rainwater. Care should be taken but it is a good adventure and is not particularly arduous for the experienced walker.

The village of Lee marks our half way point before returning back to Ilfracombe and is a good place to stop and relax and take some refreshment. The Grampus Inn is the obvious place to take a break and the route passes this 14th century former farmhouse. It was converted to an Inn in the 1970s and these days not only does this offer excellent food and ales, it also contains a brewery and a distillery to serve their own styled Grampus ales and gins. Unfortunately during this visit, with the Covid lockdowns having reduced their business, there was a only limited range of their own ale and the last firkin had just run dry. Nonetheless, they had a good selection of four other ales from local breweries and none of us were disappointed with the selection on offer, from traditional dark Porter to the well hopped bitters and perfect accomplishment to the food.

The route continues along a footpath and emerges at the rocky beach of Lee Bay where the South West Coast Path is picked up to take us back to Ilfracombe. The final section diverges from the national trail to take Langleigh Lane down into the town to the point from where the walk started.

Altogether this is a great and highly recommended walk for anyone visiting Ilfracombe. Although the route is not advertised anywhere, having been put together by Griffmonster Walks, it is a fairly easy route to follow.