This is a delightful walk in late spring through woods carpeted with bluebells and the added bonus of a pub lunch or dinner at the end! Taking in the impressive Burrator Dam and interesting church of St. Leonard, it’s a relatively easy walk of 4 miles, with a few steep parts in places and stiles to navigate. 

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Park in the village centre by the Green. Take the road out of the village past the village hall. At the houses at the end of the lane there is a footpath straight ahead across fields signed Burrator Dam. Bear left as you pass through oak woods until you reach the Drake’s Leat, built to carry water to Plymouth. Follow the leat then bear left to a lane that will take you to Burrator Dam.

 

Cross the dam and follow the road to the village of Sheepstor. It’s worth visiting the 15th-century St Leonard’s Church to learn the history of the white Rajah’s of Sarawak.

 

Turn back on yourself slightly to cross a stream. Take a track through a gate, bearing left then right to follow the hedge of a field. You will soon come to the edge of the wood. Keep going over a number of stiles. Once in the wood, you will turn left, bearing downhill. Follow the well-trodden path down through the woods, keeping the wall close to your left. Climb over a large stile over a tree/hedge and bear right.

 

The path now skirts around Yeo Farm and brings you out over a small bridge to a road by the old farmhouse. Turn left and follow the road to a junction by medieval Marchant’s Cross. Turn right and cross the river at the stepping stones (or the bridge if you prefer). Then it’s left and you are back at the pub!