Horrabridge to Sampford Spiney and back.

We've done most of this walk before and it was one that was a pleasure to repeat. It took us over the border into Devon (shock, horror!) and gave us just a touch of Dartmoor plus fields, green lanes, muddy footpaths and views. A still, clear day and a delight to be out and about.

We started and ended in Horrabridge, just outside of Tavistock. We headed north east to Sampford Spiney and then returned near the river that gives the Walkham Valley its name. Around 6 1/2 miles and a good stretch of the legs. Sampford Spiney? Odd name. Where did that come from? Let me tell you. The first documented record of the settlement appears in the Domesday Book when it appears as Sanford. Simply meaning in modern terms; ‘the sandy ford’ which was on the nearby River Walkham.  The second element was added later on, being Spinne which referred to Gerard Spineto who held the manor, Over time the spelling slowly changed to that of Sampford Spiney. Obvious, innit?

Just a couple of bare trees in the autumnal sunshine.

The over-arching branches along green lanes, like this one, always form attractive verdant tunnels. Leafy in season and skeletal in winter.

.The church of St Mary at Sampford Spiney. In front is what used to be the Poor House and which was also used, variously, as the church rooms, the community hall and the primary school. The school closed in the 1920's, when it was deemed that the local children should walk the 5 mile round trip Walkhampton School each day. It was eventually sold and is now a private dwelling.

The tower of Sampford Spiney church with the corner pinnacles that are so characteristic of churches in this part of the world.

Here's a test of your eyesight. One of our group is a specialist in old churches and he was able to point out something unusual about these pinnacles. In most churches, the various pieces of the columns are held together by dowels. But in this case, they are bound together with external metal straps, which you should be able to make out. It's little facts like these that give a greater understanding of what you are looking at. Well, that's what they do for me. Others might think "so what?".

In the nave is a stone marking the vault of the Manadon families which, according to the inscription, measures fourteen feet by nine feet. I've never seen anything like this before and wonder why it was considered to be so noteworthy. Perhaps someone ought to tell the Manadons that size doesn't matter.

The small community of Sampford Spiney has a reputation of being very generous towards and hugely supportive of its church. The church itself is thought to have been originally built as a chapel to the local manor house and was first mentioned in 1257. Until the Reformation it belonged to Plympton Priory and services were performed by a monk sent out by the Abbot.

Until recently, there were some substantial stepping stones across this, the Black Brook. They were washed away in a recent storm and a little paddling was necessary to get across today. Walker's Tip: be very wary of standing on wet, moss-covered stone.

Just a roadside bank with, if you look very closely, the flat leaves of navelwort glistening in the sunlight. Rather attractive to my eye. I think I've mentioned on previous occasions that navelwort is called 'pig's bum'? And it does.

I've no idea what the H stands for but we were near Huckworthy. Perhaps it was something to do with that?

The Parlby Arms, which closed in the 1930s, was a typical roadside drinking house serving those travelling along the road from Walkhampton to Tavistock. And Parlby? A one-time vicar of the Parish.

The bridge at Huckworthy, a cluster of some 11 houses on the Walkham. It's present day tranquillity belies the fact that once-upon-a-time when the silver and cobalt mines in the vicinity were in full swing, it would have been quite a buzzy place.