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Hemyock Castle
Ancient Heart of the Blackdowns

How To Find Us

The Postcode of Hemyock Castle is: EX15 3RJ.

The M5 motorway passes North of the Blackdown Hills and Hemyock. The A303 / A30 pass to the South.

The Blackdown Hills are criss-crossed by a fascinating network of lanes, but our suggested routes from the M5 and A303 should be easy to follow.

Map of Hemyock Village

Route from the M5 Motorway

Hemyock Castle is easy to reach, especially from the M5 Motorway. This route leaves the M5 near Wellington for the parallel A38 road. The route then passes back under the M5, through Ford Street and over the hill to Hemyock. The route is about 6 miles. Some stretches are steep or narrow. Deer or livestock may be loose on the roads.

Detail: Leave the M5 at Exit 26 (Wellington) pass under the motorway and leave the M5 roundabout heading West for Wellington. After a few hundred yards, at the next roundabout, turn left (Exeter A38). Continue South along the A38 for about a mile, take 3rd turning left (sign posted Hemyock).

Continue East on this main route under the M5, through Ford Street and up to the top of the Blackdown Hills. Turn right at the crossroads (sign posted Hemyock), along the top of the hill.

After almost 1 mile, at the bend near Simonsburrow, turn left (sign-posted Hemyock). Follow this road south along the ridge, down the hill, across the River Culm and up through the village.

Turn right at the Baptist Church, past the ornate Parish Pump, and right into Culmstock Road, leaving St Mary's Church on your left. The Castle entrance, through the gates in the stone walls, is on your left soon after the bridge.

Eastern Route from the A303 Trunk Road

This route leaves the A303 near Buckland St Mary. It then follows mostly ridge roads along the top of the Blackdown Hills, around to the north of Hemyock and then down to the village. The route is about 12 miles. Some stretches are steep or narrow. Deer or livestock may be loose on the roads.

Detail: Travel south-west along the A303 past the Ilminster and A358 roundabout. Continue on the A303 for about 4 miles. The A303 climbs a hill, there is a bend to the right followed by a garage on the right. Soon there is a bend to the left. After about ½ mile, turn right just past the public house, sign-posted Buckland St Mary. Keep on this road as it curves gently west around the top of the Blackdown Hills. (Do not turn left to Buckland St Mary!). At each junction, keep straight on.

Castle Neroche (iron age) and Staple Hill Forest will pass on your right.

After about 4½ miles, near Holman Clavel, follow the right fork to the junction and then right, past the inn on the left.

After about ½ mile, near Culmhead, cross straight over the major road, near the telephone box. Follow the ridge road west between the magnificent beech trees.

After about 5 miles, at the bend near Simonsburrow, turn left (sign-posted Hemyock). Follow this road south along the ridge, down the hill, across the River Culm and up through the village.

Turn right at the Baptist Church, past the ornate Parish Pump, and right into Culmstock Road, leaving St Mary's Church on your left. The Castle entrance, through the gates in the stone walls, is on your left soon after the bridge.

Route from the A303 at Honiton

This route leaves the A303 east of Honiton. It then passes via Dunkeswell, over the hills to Hemyock. The route is about 10 miles. Some stretches are steep or narrow. Deer or livestock may be loose on the roads.

Detail: Leave the A303 at the eastern Honiton exit. Follow the signs (north) to Dunkeswell.

After about 3 miles, follow the left fork to Dunkeswell

Follow this main road for about 3 miles (past the small turning to Wolford Chapel), down through the edge of Dunkeswell village and then up past Dunkeswell airfield.

After the airfield, continue for about 3 miles on this main road to Hemyock, arriving via Cornhill, by St. Mary's Church and the Catherine Wheel public house. Turn north into Culmstock Road, around the corner and over the bridge.

The Castle entrance, through the gates in the stone walls, is on your left soon after the bridge.

Postal Address:

Hemyock Castle, Culmstock Road, Hemyock, CULLOMPTON, Devon, EX15 3RJ UK

(Note: Although Cullompton is in the postal address, it is several miles away)

Useful Map Links:

Ordnance Survey Map Reference: ST 135 133; OS Grid: x=313555, y=113300.

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Hemyock Castle is a privately owned, scheduled ancient monument;
Normally only open for public tours on Bank Holiday Mondays
(2 to 5 pm) between Easter and September.

To contact us: Click here

Hemyock Castle, Hemyock, CULLOMPTON, Devon, EX15 3RJ, UK.
© 2001–2021. Prepared and published by Curlew Communications Ltd