North Molton lies on the southwestern edge of Exmoor National Park and about 3 miles from the A361 link road. Churches, bridges, traces of copper mining and several footpaths offer different focuses for a stay. When planning your trip, you can choose between architectural history, industrial heritage and routes of varying lengths and terrain.
Churches: two building periods and a font
On The Square stands the Grade I-listed parish church of Church of All Saints, dating from the late 15th century. All Saints North Molton features an elaborately carved, octagonal font dating from 1490. The church visit therefore brings together its late-medieval building period and a precisely dated furnishing.
North Molton Methodist Church and the adjoining church hall are also listed: together, they form a Grade II-listed building dating from 1891. This date is considerably later than that of All Saints. The two church buildings thus provide a timeline for different periods in the village’s history.
Bridges and mining history
Mole Bridge crosses the River Mole at the end of East Street. The three-arched bridge probably dates from the 17th century. New Bridge also crosses the River Mole, but has a single arch and was probably built in the late 18th or early 19th century. The number of arches and the probable dates of construction make the two bridges an illustrative comparison, without assigning more precise dates than the facts allow.
The area’s industrial heritage includes Bampfylde Mine, the most important copper mine in the area. The remains of a stone-crushing house at the mine are listed as a Grade II building. This mining connection adds another historical focus to the stories of the churches and bridges.
Footpaths by length and terrain
The four footpaths described differ in length, landscape and surface. The Riverside–Marsh Lane–Dure Lane route is 2.59 miles long. The permissive footpath to Bampfylde Clump is 0.19 miles long. Comparing distances first reveals one short option and one considerably longer one.
Other route descriptions draw attention to the surroundings and terrain: Mines Bridge–Barham Bridge runs alongside the river, past fields and woods. The Holdridge Lane–Bicknor Bridge route follows a road and a steep, stony path. These details help distinguish the character of the routes, rather than comparing them by length alone.
Before setting out, check the Parish Council’s notices for temporary path conditions or closures. This keeps your plans focused on the routes mentioned while taking possible changes on the ground into account.
Discover more destinations: Hawkchurch, Budleigh Salterton, Uffculme, Bampton, Upottery, Dartmouth, Woolacombe, Princetown
For the broader travel overview: Devon.
