Discover Broadhembury: Village History and Paths Through the Countryside

Broadhembury combines an impressive village history with varied paths through the countryside. Anyone planning a trip with culture, walks and active days will find a range of options here: St Andrew’s Church is open daily, several paths begin in the village or run through the parish, and historic houses also form part of the village character. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus your stay primarily on village culture, hiking, bridleways or a longer cycle ride.

Village history waiting to be discovered

St Andrew’s Church was consecrated in 1259. Its south aisle and west tower date from the 15th century, and it also has an ornate early 16th-century porch. The church, which is open daily, therefore offers a direct way to engage with Broadhembury’s history without having to plan your visit around a special date.

The Drewe Arms also contributes to the village’s historic character. The building has late-medieval origins, and a rare, unaltered pub interior has been preserved inside. Newcott and Virginia Cottage belong to a group of eight surviving medieval houses standing close together in the village. Anyone who wants to experience not only the countryside but also architectural history and established village landscapes during a trip can include these interests in their daily plans.

Walking routes with varied impressions

The Broadhembury and North Hill circular walk begins in the centre of the village. Along the way, it offers a view of Hembury Fort; at another point, the sea is visible near Sidmouth. One section of the circular walk is also a public bridleway. This provides different perspectives on the same landscape, with the specific choice of route depending on your own interests and planned activities for the day.

Broadhembury Parish Council provides maps and guides for six walks in the parish. This includes a walk from Broadhembury village centre that crosses the River Tale by a bridge. Long-go is designated and suitable as a public bridleway for horse riders. Those travelling with several generations or differing preferences can therefore choose between village walks focused on culture, walks with countryside views and bridleways, without having to fit all the experiences into a single outing.

Cycle route and trip to the hill fort

For a more sporting itinerary, there is a 22-mile cycle route connecting Hemyock, Blackborough, Broadhembury and Sheldon. Its difficulty ranges from moderate to challenging; the route also offers two optional shorter variations. This information can help you decide whether accommodation in Broadhembury should be the starting point for a full day of cycling or whether you would prefer to combine shorter outings with other village and cultural experiences.

Hembury Fort is also located nearby, a small multivallate Iron Age hill fort. Together with St Andrew’s Church, the Drewe Arms and the medieval houses, it creates a travel experience that combines historical discoveries with outdoor activity.

Choose Broadhembury as your base

When choosing your accommodation, it is worth deciding on your preferred pace of travel: a holiday apartment or holiday house in Broadhembury suits an itinerary in which village history and routes through the parish play an important role. If, on the other hand, you want to include longer cycle rides or trips to other places, you can base your choice more closely on your overall plans for each day. The key factor is less a predetermined list of activities than whether you want to combine peaceful cultural discoveries, walking routes, bridleways or more demanding days of cycling.

Other places for planning your trip

For further orientation, you can also look at Honiton, Bottreaux Mill, Lapford, Tiverton, Croyde, Bampton, Sampford Peverell and Chapelton.

For the overarching travel overview: Devon.