Rilla Mill 7.5 miler.

7.5 miles from The Manor House Inn at Rilla Mill mainly off road on footpaths.
Go down over the bridge and take the road Left. Follow this to the junction and turn Right.
Just past the houses spot the footpath going up steps on the Left and though a pedestrian gate.
Continue straight ahead to the gate with stile and straight through the next field. Depending on the time of year there will be crops or stock. At the end of July the corn was shimmering a rainbow of colours.
Caradon Mast is infront of you, Cheesering and Sharp Tor on your right.
The path goes over an old style metal stile and follows the hedge on your right around to a stony track and out onto a road. Turn Left. This group of houses is Sutton.
At the T junction turn Left down to Ley Mill and by the stream, Turn Right onto the Marked footpath, through a metal gate and straight ahead over a stile into the wood.
Follow the marked path keeping up at the 1st fork and then down at the 2nd, until you come to a set of steps leading up to the road leading to Upton Cross. Take care and cross over and see the footpath continuing by a gate.
Follow this path as it goes straight then over a stile, winds right and left, over a footbridge, up steps and brings you to a stile into a field. Head diagonally across the field to the top corner, stopping to admire the views behind you of Kit Hill and more, before hopping over the stile into the road. (Upton Cross to Minions)
Turn Right downhill briefly and turn Left at Dunsley, the footpath sign shows to Burning House.
Follow the concrete drive (a couple fields) until you see a footpath sign directing you on the left.
Follow the hedge on your right to the corner and over a stile into a grass field and straight on to a gate, we climbed over as it was tied up.
There were cows, sheep and a pony here but none paid us much attention.
Keep Right, aim to a gate on the far side. Once through this gate, aim diagonally Right through another gate.
There is well defined path on your right, take this and keep right, following the hedge/wall and keep going down and all the way down to the stream and impressive water wheel pit.
Back track to the main path and go right parallel with the stream, passing buddles and lots of mining remains.
This path emerges onto a stone track. Turn Right, take the footbridge over the stream and continue up onto the road to Henwood. Instead of taking the road, spot the path that goes off to the right and take this through the trees.
You’ll eventually arrive at Henwood whichever route you take and you’ll probably sit on the granite seat and look in the phone box library. Then continue off to the left, signposted Kingbeare, up past the old church and Turn Right.
Follow this lane then track then path. Note the granite post marked CCC. This well defined footpath winds right, through a metal gate and across fields onto a lane, emerging at North Darley.
Take care crossing the road signposted Lower Lake Shooting Grounds. Follow the road past the Caradon Observatory on your right, and take the 1st Left to Treovis (not signposted). ( if you stay on the road you’ll come to a junction, Right will take you directly back to Rilla Mill. Left will take you to Starrabridge)
Coming up into the group of houses at Treovis, turn Right and if you see someone ask permission to take the shortcut to Starrawoods and they’ll hopefully direct you. If no one is about an unofficial route is …. take the right fork through a gate and gravel drive and garage, drop down beside a shed, through a low wall and scramble down the bank onto a well kept path. Follow this down, keeping to the widest path and down to the river Inney and eventually to a spectacular foot bridge.
Cross here, turn Right and follow to Starra Bridge.
Turn Right to go over the bridge, then immediately Left over a stile and follow the river.
Stay on the path, eventually it climbs up some steps to the road.
Turn Left and follow the road back to Rilla Mill, left over the bridge and the The Manor is on the Right.
They serve great food (meals and snacks) and drinks here.

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