Walking in the Blackdown Hills

Aerial view from dumpdon hill
Walking in the Blackdown Hills

The Blackdown Hills are the inland landscape around your stay near Upottery. Exploring them can mean a village circuit, a woodland path or a longer route onto open higher ground. Culmstock Beacon offers the last of these, with a historic stone structure giving the walk a clear destination.

A walk to the beacon

The National Landscape’s published route links Culm Davy, Blackdown Common and Culmstock Beacon. It offers a seven-mile option and a shorter 4.5-mile alternative from a different starting point. The route is graded moderate and includes climbing and stony tracks.

This suits walkers who are comfortable with uneven ground and want more than a brief stroll. The route information does not recommend it for buggies. It also identifies an absence of toilets and refreshments on the route, so bring what you need from your cottage.

Choosing your day in the hills

Use the official map for the start point that matches your chosen distance. On open ground, suitable clothing matters even when the valley feels sheltered. Our circular walks guide compares Broadhembury and Dalwood alternatives. For a short outing beneath the trees, Combe Wood provides a different pace during a stay at Primrose Cottages.