Borough Valley and Windcutter hill loop
Devon
This walk takes you through the quiet, shady woods of Borough Valley, which come alive with wildflowers in the spring, before climbing through the woodland to the top of Windcutter Hill. It's a scenic and more sheltered alternative to the coast path, with plenty of interest along the way, and passes the Grampus Inn before returning to the car park.
Near to
Lee BayStart point
Lee Bay National Trust car park EX34 8LRwhat3words
///beaters.engulfing.complainsTrail information
Difficulty
Full trail
DistanceMiles: 2.5 (km: 4)Total stages: 9
Total stages: 9
Start point
Lee Bay National Trust car park EX34 8LR
Stage 1
Park in the NT car park at Lee Bay. Leave via the back of the car park by the toilet block, turn left up the lane, and walk for about 200 m until you cross a bridge. Continue along the footpath between two fields.
Stage 2
When you get to a finger post on your right by a kissing gate, head through the gate following the sign to Borough Valley. Continue on the footpath, marked with way markers across the field
Stage 3
At the end of the field, head through the gate and over a footbridge. Follow the public footpath to the left and continue along the woodland path with the stream on your left for around 1km. In spring the woodland come alive with flowers, including bluebells, wild garlic and red campion.
Stage 4
When you reach a metal gate, pass through it and turn left at the finger post, going slightly downhill to the footbridge. Cross over the footbridge and head up the steps and continue going uphill. When you reach a forest track, cross the track and continue up the steps. Keep following the path up through the woods, the path will then curve around to the right and after this take an immediate left up the steps.
Stage 5
At the finger post cross the track to the steps, following the public footpath. Walk up the track for around 200m and follow way markers to the left and slightly down for 10m until you get to a fork in the path and turn right to a metal gate.
Stage 6
Pass through the gate into the field, following the finger post diagonally across the field when you will meet the corner of a fence line. Follow the fence line (keep it on your right), when you meet a style, cross it and continue along the fence line.
Stage 7
At the end of the fence line there is a finger post, slightly hidden in the hedge on your right. Here pick up the footpath to Lee, going left across the field. At the bottom of the field pass through two gates and continue straightly, gentle downhill to a metal gate.
Stage 8
Pass through the gate and down the track into the woods. Keep following the path, marked by waymarkers, this path is heavily eroded in places so take care while walking down. At the bottom of the hill you will come out onto a little lane.
Stage 9
Turn left down the lane and then right towards the main road. Follow the road to the left and head past the Grampus Inn, continue down the lane a cross a little bridge over the stream and re-join the footpath from the start of the walk and head back down the path to the car park.
End point
Lee Bay National Trust car park EX34 8LR
Trail map
Windcutter Hill loop walking map | © Crown copy and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey
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