Discover Meshaw: Walking Routes, Moorland and Church History

Meshaw can be discovered on several levels: through walking and hiking routes, a distinctive moorland landscape and a long-established church history. For your trip planning, this means an interesting combination of exercise, nature observation and historical insights. Depending on whether you are looking for a circular route with a specific length, a view towards Dartmoor or a view of the village, you can choose different focuses for your stay.

Walking routes with different viewpoints

Meshaw Walk 1 is an approximately 6.5-mile circular route on roads and takes around two hours. Along the route, there are views as well as opportunities to observe wildflowers, butterflies and birds. The information about the length and duration helps you plan this route as a separate part of your day. Those travelling with several generations or wishing to accommodate different interests within the group can give nature observation just as much priority as spending time together on the walk.

Meshaw Walk 2 has a different emphasis and offers views towards Dartmoor. Meshaw Walk 3 leads to a viewpoint overlooking the village. The three options described therefore differ mainly in their respective viewpoints: in one case, the route and observing nature are the focus; in another, the long-distance view towards Dartmoor; and in the third, the view back towards Meshaw. Choose the route according to the landscape impression you would like to experience that day.

Meshaw Moor south of Meshaw

The Meshaw Moor nature reserve lies one mile south of Meshaw. In the surrounding area, it encompasses thirteen fields of wildflower-rich Culm grassland. This distinctive landscape adds another natural area to the routes around Meshaw and fits well into your trip planning as a separate activity. A marked path leads around the nature reserve; this route takes about an hour. This means that, alongside the longer Meshaw Walk 1, you can plan a shorter section around the moor without confusing the two options.

Meshaw’s Church History

St John the Baptist Meshaw provides an entry point into the history of the village. The earliest Christian worship at St John the Baptist Meshaw is documented from 1263. The parish register of St John the Baptist Meshaw begins in 1580, and the church was rebuilt in 1838. The place name also dates back a long way: Meshaw is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the name Mauessart. Together, these dates form a chronological sequence extending from the village’s mention in the Middle Ages through the church records to the rebuilding of the church.

Trip Planning and Suitable Accommodation

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Meshaw, you can first consider which of these experiences should shape your trip. If you mainly want to spend time outdoors, the approximately 6.5-mile circular route, the view towards Dartmoor and the path around Meshaw Moor can be noted as different ideas for individual days. If you are more interested in local history, St John the Baptist Meshaw, the parish register and the historical mention of Mauessart are among the relevant topics.

For scheduling around St John, Meshaw, there are also two monthly services: Holy Communion takes place at 11:15 a.m. on the second Sunday, and Morning Prayer at 11 a.m. on the fourth Sunday. Anyone wishing to include this information in their trip planning can take the relevant Sundays into account when selecting their stay dates.

Discover More Destinations

For further trip planning, you can also view Dawlish, South Molton, Moretonhampstead, Totnes, Chapelton, Lynton, Holsworthy and Torrington.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.