Devon members enjoyed a 5 1/2 mile ramble in the undulating countryside around the village of Yealmpton. A shady riverside path covered with autumn leaves led us away from the village towards Yealmbridge. Here we passed an old toll house, but there was no toll keeper around to collect the fee of one old penny so we carried on regardless and crossed the busy main road. A narrow footpath past ruins of 19th century workmen's cottages brought us to a stile which was a bit of a scramble to get through, perhaps the most awkward of the many stiles on our route. We paused briefly seeking shelter under the trees from the one and only passing shower of the day. Our route took us along quiet country lanes then a bridlepath to a wooden footbridge across the river (very slippery). Next was a steep climb across fields to a lane high above the valley which opened up distant views of Dartmoor.

The lane descended into dense woodland at Lotherton bridge where we stopped for our lunchbreak. The parapet of the bridge was completely covered in a carpet of moss. The sun came out and the dappled sunlight playing on the river (swollen by recent rain) was a lovely sight. After lunch we had to negotiate a rather muddy and uneven path through the woods before emerging into pasture with grazing horses. We passed a cottage with a blue plaque proclaiming " nothing of any note happened here". Soon we reached the busy road by the toll house and retraced our steps back to the village. Afterwards the local garden centre offered a fine selection of cakes and a much needed cuppa.

Did anyone count all the stiles?

Mike