Little Comfort Farm sits astride the parish boundary between West Down and Braunton Parishes. The parish boundary stone is on the bridge over the River Caen. From the farm to Braunton is quite a long walk, but from here to West Down is a mile and a half along a footpath, through beautiful quiet country side. As you leave the farm through the orchard you can hear the River Caen running beside you, the path opens out into the bottom of bank field, one of the most beautiful wildflower areas on the farm. It’s covered in violets and primroses in spring, then throughout the summer by a succession of gorgeous flowers that provide the food source for a large number of butterflies, including the silver-washed fritillary.
At the far side of the bank field you leave Little Comfort land and follow the bottom of the oak wood, still with the sound of the river on your right. At the end of the wood the path goes steeply uphill through an avenue of wild cherries; the path is very steep at this point, but only for one field’s length – you can always stop to catch your breath and have a chat to Claude the Clydesdale horse who lives beside the path. At the top of the hill the path follows a stony track for a mile that gently meanders its way to the village. At the top where you meet the tarmac road turn right then after 100m take the footpath on the left which leads you towards the Church.
Once in the village The Crown offers a good place to rest and enjoy some good pub food beside a cosy, wood-burning stove. The Crown is only open at lunch times and in the evenings so if you arrive at any other time West Down Community shop not only offers you a range of tempting pies and cakes, but also a good cup of coffee which you can enjoy sitting outside.
Sam, our smiling Community Shop manager, is always pleased to help and you can pre-order bread, fresh veg, the papers and much more at any time during your stay, then park outside and take them with you for your day out or collect them on your way home to the farm after a busy day on the beach.
To return home you can either retrace your steps or, from the shop turn left down to the village square then turn left towards the school and left again just before it, following the road up past Foxhill Farm on your right. As the lane goes gently uphill, ignore the first turning on your left and take the second left at Little Comfort Cross. You can then follow the road back down hill to the farm. It’s a really pleasant walk in any season.