Eggesford
Eggesford Forest in the Taw Valley was the site of the first trees planted on December 8th 1919 at Flashdown Wood (on the old Eggesford Estate) by the newly created Forestry Commission. By 1956 the Commission had planted one million acres of woodland. A granite stone (still visible at the Hilltown Picnic area) was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate this occasion.
"I arrived at Eggesford Station a little after four, and found there Lord Portsmouth's Brougham waiting to take me up to the house, so there was not trouble at all. The scenery here is lovely and the house very handsome."
So wrote Thomas Hardy in 1885. All trains must stop at Eggesford Station as the local landowner made it a condition of releasing the land to build the railway in 1854.
How to get there:
Crediton is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: SS 694106
There are two main woods at Eggesford Forest.
Hilltown Wood - By road, via A377 between Exeter and Barnstaple. The forest entrance is on the A377, 1 mile to the east of Eggesford Station - look for the Forest threshold signs.
By rail, via Wessex Trains - the Tarka Line between Exeter and Barnstaple. The train stops at Eggesford Station. Follow signs to the Eggesford Gardens and Country Centre and take the Public Footpath past All Saints Church and into Hilltown Wood.
Heywood - By road, via A377 between Exeter and Barnstaple. At Eggesford Station turn off the main A377 to Wembworthy/Winkleigh, turn right at the next junction and at the top of the hill take another right and follow this narrow road to Heywood - look for the Heywood threshold sign.
Start your visit from:
Hilltown Car Park Heywood Car Park