Holmbush wood loop 6 miles

Part of this route can only be walked in dry weather, so ideal now.

As always we start at Golberdon crossroads, laminated copies of this and other walks are available at the parish hall porch. This walk is a nearly 6 mile walk.

Take the road opposite the war memorial sign posted to South Hill.

Continue pass Keadeen B&B, down to the bridge at Coombe and Phil Cole the butcher and Coombe Small Animal Hotel.

Up the slope pass Trewassick around the bend and look for the double metal gates on your right hand side. The footpath sign is missing. The gate opens easily and please carefully close it behind you. There was young cattle here yesterday and an electric fence which is easy to duck under, I advice you not to touch it. Plus if you run the cattle will run, if you stop they will stop.

Keep the hedge on your left all the way to the gate in the bottom corner. Again an easy gate to open,  close putting the rope over the post.

On the road turn RIGHT, past Tregate and the bridge. Can you spot the marker stone, on your left? Pass Higher Ford and the wide sweeping verge (the road was widen here some years ago)

At MANATON  take the narrow track to the right of the entrance. This brings you onto the Jericho Rd, straight ahead you’ll pass The Chutney Shed. Just before Jericho there is a field planted with Lavender, and just after the narrow point where the pot holes always are, there is a marker stone on your right.

And onto Camelot Kennels and the dangerous main road, taking care, cross over.

A short way on your right you’ll see a gate into the woods at Holmbush. Take the track and if you have time, explore some of the paths, otherwise, at the junctions take a left, right, left, right, left, until eventually you’ll come to the old mine buildings.

Take the path through the buildings and around to the right following a steepish path dropping down into the road. This is Stoke Rd at Kelly Bray, go RIGHT and pick up the pavement , look for painted stones here.

At the Swingle Tree pub, cut through the car park and cross the main road again and keep RIGHT.

Pass Appleby Lodge and at the next track off to your LEFT take the sign posted Bridlepath. Following the track you’ll come to a metal gate, it’s off it’s hinges, so take care opening and closing. On your right, you’ll see a lovely dated granite marker stone.

Keep following this stoney track, taking in the views of Callington on your left. Eventually you’ll come to a track that joins from the left from Maders, that’s another walk, today stay straight on. Just before the  track narrows, there are 2 gateways opposite eachother, on your right is another marker stone.

Continuing, the track become grassy and muddy, fine in dry weather but unadvisable on foot when wet, At the end of the track turn LEFT and soon you’ll see The Chutney Shed again. Keep to the road.

At the junction turn RIGHT then immediately LEFT this junction is known as Beech tree locally. The road is narrow for a short distance , then widens out. From here to Golberdon this area was GOLBER DOWN all open common land, until divided and enclosed in the 1800’s.

Follow the road straight back to the crossroads where you started.