Discover South Brent: History and Paths along the River Avon

South Brent combines impressive reminders of times gone by with paths through the countryside along the River Avon. Anyone looking for a mix of culture, history and walks on holiday will find a range of options here: from a medieval bridge and a hillfort to a route to Brent Island designated “For All”. This allows your travel plans to be shaped around your preferred focus, without limiting South Brent to just one type of experience.

Historic places with their own character

One notable landmark is Lydia Bridge, a packhorse bridge dating from the 17th or 18th century over the River Avon. Its historic function makes it a tangible example of how former routes and connections remain visible in the landscape. The Hillfort on Brent Hill is also one of the defining historic sites. It is comparatively well preserved and points to the hill’s continuing strategic importance throughout history. Brent Hill is both a point of orientation and a gathering place.

The Parish Church of St Petrock in South Brent features several clearly distinguishable elements from different periods. The west tower dates from the 12th century. The church was rebuilt in the 14th century, and side aisles were added in the 15th century. The Parish Church of St Petrock also belonged to Buckfast Abbey. Anyone interested in church architecture and regional history can observe different stages of development in a single building here.

The remains of the Chapel of St Michael offer a different historical perspective. Only the lower courses of the walls and the foundations survive from the medieval ruin. The remains are designated as Scheduled Ancient Monument 823 and are also listed as a Grade II listed building. This classification forms part of the site’s history and should be taken into account when examining the surviving remains.

Paths between Brent Hill and the River Avon

For active day planning, there is a clearly described route to Brent Island. The route designated “For All” begins on a tarmac lane south of St Petrock’s Church in South Brent at grid reference SX 696 601. The Brent Island route is a linear out-and-back route. This is important for your planning because the path is not designed as a circular walk but returns along the same route.

In addition, the path along the River Avon near South Brent offers a gentle walk through the surrounding countryside. There are opportunities to observe wildlife along this path. Anyone wishing to include nature experiences without the particular historical focus of a hillfort or church can incorporate this path into their itinerary as an independent option.

Choosing accommodation to suit your travel plans

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in South Brent, you can first decide whether historic discoveries or paths through the countryside should set the pace of your trip.

Discover more places

If you would like to compare other places for your travel plans in addition to South Brent, you can also visit Hemyock, Shaugh Prior, Chittlehamholt, Exminster, Kingsbridge, Kingskerswell, Dartmouth and Buckland Monachorum.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.