Challacombe Walks
This small Devon village sits on the edge of the Exmoor National Park. The peaceful area includes pleasant country trails, an old mill and a noteworthy pub dating back to the 1500s.
This circular walk from the village takes you to Barton Town and Challacombe Mill which lies just to the south west. The final section runs along a B road so you may prefer to return along the same footpaths.
Head east onto Exmoor and you can pick up the popular Tarka Trail and the Two Moors Way. These waymarked, long distance trails are a great way of further exploring the area.
To the west there's Wistlandpound Reservoir where you can enjoy some peaceful waterside trails. Near here is the National Trust's Arlington Court. There's a fascinating old carriage museum and some lovely trails through the gardens and parkland of this 19th century house.
Postcode
EX31 4TT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsChallacombe Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Challacombe Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Challacombe OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Challacombe Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Challacombe
- Wistlandpound Reservoir - This pretty reservoir on the edge of Exmoor has a nice walking trail running around the perimeter.
- Lynton and Lynmouth - The town of Lynton and village of Lynmouth sit side by side on the Exmoor coast in north Devon
- Foreland Point - This walk visits Foreland Point Lighthouse before exploring Countisbury Common on the Exmoor coast.
- Porlock and Porlock Weir - This circular walk from the town of Porlock uses sections of the South West Coast Path and the Coleridge Way to take you on a tour of the coast and woods surrounding the town
- Valley of the Rocks - This walk visits the amazing Valley of the Rocks in the Exmoor National Park
- Woody Bay - Explore this peaceful wooded cove and enjoy waterfalls, woodland trails and splendid views of the Bristol Channel
- Heddon Valley - Enjoy an easy waterside walk through the beautiful Heddon Valley in Exmoor
- Watersmeet - Follow a series of super trails through 2000 acres of river gorge and woodland on this lovely circular walk from Lynmouth to Watersmeet in Exmoor.
- Tarka Trail - This wonderful walk through Devon follows the path taken by Tarka the Otter in the book of that name
- Two Moors Way - Travel from Ivybridge to Lynmouth through the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks on this splendid walk through Devon and Somerset
- Arlington Court - This walk explores the grounds of the National Trust's Arlington Court on the edge of Exmoor in north Devon.
- Simonsbath - This small village sits in a remote spot high in the centre of Exmoor.
- Pinkery Pond - This circular walk visits Pinkery Pond in the Barle Valley area of the Exmoor National Park.
Pubs/Cafes
The Black Venus Inn is an attractive stone pub dating to the 16th century. There's a car park, good food and a nice garden area to sit out in. They are dog friendly with treats available.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To the east is the village of Simonsbath, a popular starting point for a number of walks on Exmoor. Our circular walk visits the River Barle and the source of the River Exe at Exe Head.
Also to the east is Pinkery Pond, a remote beauty spot with a picturesque pond popular with wild swimmers. You'll also find the 487m high Chains Barrow Hill in this area.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Exmoor Walks page.
Photos
Footbridge at Challacombe. This bridge leads to Moles Chamber and Woodbarrow
Challacombe, near Barton Gate
Challacombe Mill with Barton Town above
.jpg)
Lych gate, Challacombe Church
Challacombe: Challacombe Mill site. The miller’s house survives on the right of the lane and a barn to the left. The mill appears to have been demolished
Challacombe: Simonsbath road at the Black Venus. The Black Venus Inn is on the B3358 which links Simonsbath with Blackmoor Gate. The pub was earlier named the Ring of Bells, although it is nowhere near Challacombe church. Here the drayman from St Austell Brewery takes empty kegs back to his lorry. The Black Venus was called that originally because of a sheep in the area that had black wool and was specific to Challacombe. It was named The ring O Bells in the 1950's when new church bells were hung but John Green (The Landlord) changed it to Black Venus in 1965 after he took over the pub.