(third in our series on local footpaths)

The footpath starts on the public road at Wagmuggle just past the cottage which is on the road from Kerney Bridge towards Mornick. There is a sign on the left hand side of the road. The path goes down a short incline and then crosses a stream by means of a granite footbridge, which as shown in the winter can be quite swollen so you need to be steady on your feet if you are to avoid a soaking.

Granite bridge at start of walk

At the other side of the stream you go through a wooden gate and into an open large field with a hill on your right hand side with a couple iconic trees.   There are often sheep in this field so, if like me, you walk with a dog you’ll need to be careful to use a lead.

The field is very large with sometimes sheep hidden at the top of the slope, so perhaps at this point its best to use a lead straight away.

Large field with fence on left

Walk straight on keeping the fence on your left hand side. At the far side of the field you’ll see a stile which has no apparent way to get a dog through except carrying it across so again this path definitely not for you if you have a large dog or difficulty getting over the stile. Just before this if you look to the left you’ll get a good view of the Lynher flowing at the bottom of the field.

Stile between fields

From here you need to go straight across the field with no obvious track except you should stay on the slope and not in the bog, where water fowl can be seen. The stream is on your left hand side. A short way on you should notice 2 granite foot bridges to cross to a wooden gate, with a chain looped over the granite gatepost.

Lynher in flood last winter

Follow the track, through another gate and into Stockaton Wood, the path runs along its northward boundary and is often muddy even in summer.

On a few occasions I have tried to explore the wood trying to reach the Lynher which forms the southward boundary of the wood but even in the driest of spells the wood Rosie crossing granite bridge over stream is very wet with deep mud and pools in many places. Through another gate and onwards and you’ll reach a lane that turns right from the path. This goes up to Browda Farm and the end of the track at the public highway. The path has been diverted straight on on and skirts through more wood and reaches the public highway a little along the road from Browda to Plushabridge.

Rosie crossing granite bridge over stream

Of note if you are like me and headed back via Linkinhorne and a possible drink in the Church House Inn (now closed) you might notice that about half way between Browda Farm and Linkinhorne in a field on the right hand side is the remains of an ancient settlement marked on my map as Roundbury. The settlement can be located by three beech trees on the left of the road. I know no more about the settlement except that it appears to be well preserved with on obvious ditch and mound surrounding it.

Pete Tunnicliffe

Beech trees indicating location of Roundbury ancient settlement