Location
We are roughly midway between Widecombe and Postbridge on the road to Grimspound.
For Sat Navs, our Pode Code is PL20 6TD
Click here for a mapping website showing where we are.
Walking
Most of the land at Challacombe is ‘open access' land, meaning you are welcome to walk off the main paths. The exceptions are the enclosed fields of grass next to the barns and to the south and east of the road, where the only access is a permissive footpath from the road up towards the summit of Hamble Down. Details of these are shown on the Ordnance Survey 1: 25,000 scale Explorer map and the interpretation boards located at the main entry points to the farm.
If you do walk off the main paths, please use the stiles and gates provided to get over the fences and walls.
Easy Going Walks
There is a level easy to use path, with regular seats between Challacombe Farm and the adjacent Headland Warren Farm, and a more challenging route suitable for more powerful mobility scooters, and off-road baby buggies, along old mining tracks to the famous Warren House Inn. You are welcome to park your car by the house.
For a Google Map and images of the easy going walk click here. It is best viewed by clicking on the 'satellite' button on the map and then clicking on each photo.
Cycling & Horseriding
In addition to the main bridleway going through the farm between Headland Warren Farm and Soussons Farm, cyclist and horseriders are welcome to ride on any of the tracks on the farm. This includes the public footpath from Challacombe Farm through Soussons Forest to Golden Dagger Mine, which we and the Forestry Commission have given permission for riders to use.
This path is a much easier and quicker way of getting to and from the farm to the Warren House Inn and Bennetts Cross.
To avoid damaging the archaeology, riders are asked not to go off these tracks. Horse riders should also take care if they ride up the main farm entrance drive, as the concrete surface is quite smooth and so can be slippery for shod horses.
Dogs
Well behaved and wormed dogs are welcome at Challacombe.
There are many sheep on the farm, and they do not enjoy being chased. Even if they're not bitten by dogs, they can still be injured by running into fences, or can end up drowning after being chased into streams or bogs. Lambs are particularly vulnerable, as they can easily be separated from their mothers. If you are unsure if your dog is safe with sheep, please keep it on a lead.
In the spring and early summer, we have many birds that nest on the ground. These are easily disturbed by dogs, causing the adults to fly off, and the eggs and young will soon die without their protection. For this reason, dog owners are asked to keep their dogs on a lead between the 1 st of March and the 31 st of July on the open moor, particularly when going through areas of long grass, bracken and heather where birds are most likely to be nesting – it is less of a problem on areas of short grass where there is little cover for birds to nest in, or within a few metres of a path.
Providing your dog is wormed, we are not overly concerned if you dog craps on the farm, as it will wash away in a few weeks. If it does it on the path, please kick or flick it off, as nobody likes getting it on their shoes. Whatever you do, don't put it in a plastic bag and then leave the bag hanging up somewhere, as then neither the bag or the poo will degrade, and people who do this give dog owners a bad name. Keeping your dog regularly wormed is important for your dogs health and unwormed dogs can cause infections to livestock and people.
The cattle at Challacombe are used to people and dogs, and as far as we're aware they've never harmed anyone. However occasionally cows, particularly if they have young, will chase dogs, and if this happens, it is safer to let your dog off the lead, as the cow will go after it, and your dog will be able to get out of its way much easier than you can.
For more information about dogs in the countryside, check out the Countryside Access website
If you are carrying a plastic bag the cows, and our sheep may start following you, as they will think you are going to feed them. Raising your arms and yelling at them will make them keep their distance.
Organised Events
In recent years groups such as the Devon Moth Group, the Disabled Ramblers, Exeter Air Training Corp, EGB and others have held events at Challacombe. If your group would like to hold an event here, please contact us - phone 01822 880236 or email, and we'll try and help.