Joanna

Twitching in the Woods

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

How did I end up looking like a geriatric Girl Guide with no friends (or extreme social distancing as I like to call it) by a campfire? Well, it was actually a bit of exploring in the RSPB Nature Reserve at Chapel Wood. The site has been closed since we arrived a few months ago but it is now open to the public again operating a one way system and we are so pleased we got to see it.

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

Spreacombe Estate

Some of the cycle tracks, footpaths and bridleways right on our doorstop go through this large Estate which seems to have pockets of woodland all around the Knowle and Georgeham area of North Devon. The hamlet of Spreacombe itself is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 with a total of 5 households. So proper old. But today we were heading for the RSPB reserve to see if would see or hear some of the residents. We took a route the long way around just to get a good dose of Devon views, cottages and houses nestled in the rolling hills and the light was just perfect for Jonno to get this photo of this tree. Pretty impressive for a phone photo.

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

Spreacombe Chapel and Well

As you enter the reserve, on the right is the remains of a chapel dedicated to St John the Baptist which was licensed for worship in 1385 (although attending a service would be an al fresco experience now). The ruins show the layout of the chapel and the two room living area for the priest although the rooms are also referred to as the home of a hermit. Maybe it was a house share?

The River Caen bubbles alongside these ruins and there is a holy well. In the 1920s the land owner Arthur Barker excavated the ruins and both his and his wives ashes were buried on the site and there is a small memorial stone.

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

We followed the signage of the one way system which took us up some steps to the top of the woods to the site of an Iron Age hill fort. It was hard to work out it’s location and tell it apart from some of the overgrown man-made World War II trenches that the Americans based in Saunton used for training purposes. 

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

As we wandered along, we saw lots of the nesting boxes but didn’t see many feathered friends around. After being peaceful and quiet for so long, the arrival of visitors again must have kept them all at a distance. It only took around 20 minutes to walk around the designated footpath but even if we couldn’t do much twitching, the added bonus of a bit of local history more than compensated.

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

Chapel Wood RSPB Spreacombe

Heddon Bridge Signal Box

Just a little further on down at the end of this lane we crossed what was part of the, now closed, Ilfracombe Branch Line of the London and South West Railway. After almost a hundred years of ferrying holiday makers to the coast, it finally closed in 1970 but some of the tracks are still visible in places. Here at Heddon Bridge, the home owners next to what was the level crossing have added a mural to what we presume was the signal box. It was a great nod to it’s former days.

Heddon Mill Railway

Heddon Mill Mural

Devon – Open for Business!

This first week of serious easing of the lockdown has seen most local retailers up and running and the sight of motorhomes and caravans along the roads has resumed. It feels like an awakening after a pleasant slumber and it is great to know that people can get away for a break and enjoy this beautiful part of the country after what has been a fairly anxious and stressful time for most people.

There are mixed views on this influx, of course, but personally we feel that we were fortunate enough to come to Devon on family holidays both as children and with children of our own so it is as it has ever been. If anything the numbers may be down a little this year due to those still cautious of travelling and with capacity down, due to social distancing on camping and caravan sites and in bars a restaurants, takings for businesses is likely to be substantially down.

All good reasons for us to have a bit of a spend up supporting local businesses before we move on. Where is that takeaway menu? Can I strap a boogie board to my backpack?

Devon Glamping

05/07/2020

30 comments

    • Used that expression without realising it! It was a lovely walk and still finding new things even after 3 months in the same place.

      Like

      Reply

  7. Gosh I really had to reread the section of your post explaining about the mural because I could’ve sworn that was an actual window on the side of the home near the signal box! Happy to see that you can explore Devon without too much anxiety about crowds. Wishing you well.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Clever mural isn’t it? Not anxious really just being sensible, taking recommended precautions and staying switched on to risks. The majority are doing the same.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. Another walk in a beautiful area Jo. Accompanied as always with interesting, historical information and facts. Very sad about the tractor tragedy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks Liz. Places like this have been off limits so it is lovely to get explore some local history. A beautiful walk along the way as always.

      Like

      Reply

  14. The accident was 12 years ago in October, not 20. And unsure why you’d need to give out such details about a local tragedy. Some things are better left off the internet and that event is one.

    Like

    Reply

Please leave us a comment, it always makes our day.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.