Parish Walks

Welcome to the parish walks. With the exception of Walk 15 they have been taken from two booklets produced for the Parish Council by Anne Hunt. Copies are available for sale from the village Post Office.   With the exception of Walk 15 each walk shows a thumbnail map that you can click on to enlarge. Please note that for ordinary computer dial up it will take about 45 to 60 seconds to show the map.

A group of Volunteers maintain the footpaths and liaise with the Parish Clerk on the work required. Expenses on smaller items, for example, petrol for strimmers, are met by the Parish Council. Larger items such as timber and wire for stiles are provided by South Somerset District Council. For further information contact Tony Fathers on 01460 63346.  

When taking these walks we would ask you to observe a few country codes please. Most of the footpaths shown are over private property, so keep to the path. Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone. Keep dogs under control when crossing fields and preferably on leads. You may not see any livestock, particularly sheep, but they may be in an adjoining field. Please take a plastic bag to remove any dog mess. Farmers and cows, also other walkers, do not like it either. Please shut all gates, protect wildlife, flowers and trees. Last but not least take your litter home. Enjoy the walks. They are over lovely countryside at the edge of the Blackdown Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so help protect it. Many thanks.

Click on the walk listed below for a route and description of your journey................

Walk I
 

Around Stoney Down

From the centre of Combe St.Nicholas proceed up Stoopers Hill, past the Post Office and Methodist Church until you reach the right hand turn, just before the 30 mph signs. At this junction turn right, then immediately left up the small lane following the long garden wall on the left hand side (Church Path). At the far end of Church Path cross the road to the rails, over into the field, skirting the old pit and keeping the hedge on your left down to the gate and on to the Sticklepath Road. Turn right and continue for approx.500 yards to the 2nd footpath on the left by two gates (If you wish you can made a slight detour here by taking the 1st footpath to Sticklepath Bottom and then turn left and left again).Through left-hand gate (or over stile)    signpost to Chilworthy and keep hedge on right to the gate. Marvelous views to the Mendips and Glastonbury. Through gate/stile and follow contour of hill some yards away from the right hand hedge. When the hedge turns uphill right, carry straight on towards the copse ahead. Through gate/stile beside copse and into the field. Through the field, keeping copse on left hand side to the corner, then bear slightly diagonally left through middle of long field on track towards the left hand corner. Through gate/stile and straight on the track, passing cottages and Chilworthy House on the left hand side. (Dogs must be on leads through here, kept off the grass and any mess cleared up. Thank you) Keep straight on the track ignoring any left turns and continue for approximately 400 yards to the road.Turn right on road for short way, then take left turn at next junction to Clayhanger. At next junction, Clayhanger Cross, turn right and walk past the lovely houses of Clayhanger. At the left hand bend in the road, just past these houses, turn right at the five bar gate and head straight up the field, heading for the tree with the wooden guards. Carry straight on to the hedge and through the gate on your left. Immediately through the gate turn right and with the hedge now on your right continue straight up the field. When the hedge turns sharp right, you continue straight on, bearing very slightly left heading for the gate and stile facing you. At the road (Whiteway) turn left, and continue along the road back to Combe St.Nicholas, passing the Village Hall back to the centre.

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From Combe St. Nicholas take the llminster road (Whiteway) after passing the Village Hall. Continue along Whiteway for approx.400 yards, past Whiteway Farm on your right, and the public seat until you reach the 2nd footpath gate and stile. (Signpost to Clayhanger). Cross the field bearing very slightly left, towards the corner hedge Continue down the field with the hedge now on your left until you reach the gate. Through the gate and continue with the hedge now on your right, but when the hedge turns right you carry straight on down the hill towards the gate.At the Clayhanger road turn right and then left at the next field gate/stile. (Signpost to Pudleigh). Ahead of you will be seen the stile in the corner of the next field, and after crossing this, you will find a sleeper-type bridge crossing the stream. Carry on bearing very slightly right towards the corner of the woods, where you cross the stream, over the stiles and continue until reaching the gate at Woolhayes Lane. Turn left here and at the junction with Pudleigh Lane in 25 yards turn left again until reaching the 2nd entrance into Pudleigh Fish Farm. Over the entrance bridge, and then turn left follow the track until it bears right and then left. Climb up the bank and follow the path along the river (permissive path). At the far end of the riverbank there is a sluice gate to cross followed by a stile.Cross the bottom of the field to another stile. In a few yards turn left and then right down the graveled drive to Court Mill Lane. Turn right and follow the road round to your left, over the Mill Stream and up to Willhayne triangle. At this point you choose to either:

(a) Keep right and after passing the farm buildings on your left turn left at the next field gate (stile), head up the field, through the usually open gate and ahead again, up the hill to the stile in the right hand corner. On the Whiteway road, turn left and continue back to Combe St.Nicholas,

(b) Alternatively, at Willhayne triangle, turn left down the road until you reach the next signpost on your right. On entering the field, the correct path is slightly right heading for the gateway over in the far left, and then carry on ahead to the small gate adjacent to the cottage in the left hand corner. On the Whiteway road, turn left and continue back to Combe St.Nicholas

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From Combe St.Nicholas centre take the narrow road (Stantway) to the left of the Green, up the hill, and then take the footpath off to your left, along an enclosed lane, over the stile, along the edge of the 2 fields (keeping any dogs under strict control or on leads during hay growing time or if sheep in the field please). Over the stile into another short enclosed lane. Turn right into the road called Combe Wood, past all the houses until just after "Caerhayes” you will find a track branching off the road on both sides. Take the one on your left. Up the track, into the fields (shutting all gates) carry straight on, and when the hedges goes away to your right, keep very slightly left over the brow of the hill and you will see a gate ahead. Pass through and turn right, keeping the hedge on your right and head for the trees ahead. At this point you can choose:

(a) Over the stile into the woods, which is a bed of blue in late spring - try not to tread on too many! - At the Scrapton Lane end, turn left continuing down the lane for approximately 1/4 mile. Just before the road bends right you should see a signpost on your left. Through the field, over the stile at the top right corner and turn right into Brocole Lane.

(b) Turn left, following the edge of the field with the small hedge on your right. When the land rises follow it up, as it is rather hard keeping near the hedge at this point. Keep straight ahead through all the gates/stiles into Brocole Lane (enclosed track).When you come to the stile on your left, cross the field to the gateway/stile over to your right and follow the stiles/yellow arrows and eventually walk up the track/lane to Combe Wood Lane. Turn left, and after 100 yards turn right along the short footpath and gate and then turn right back to Combe St.Nicholas centre.(Instead of walking across the fields, you can keep on along Brocole Lane, over the cattle grid and into Bench Lane, up the hill back to the centre)

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Hollands Wash and Allotment Drove

From Combe St.Nicholas centre take the narrow road (Stantway) to the left of the Green, up the hill, and then take the footpath off to your left, along an enclosed lane, over the stile, along the edge of the two fields (keeping any dogs under strict control or on leads during hay growing time or if sheep in the field please). Over the stile into another short enclosed lane. Turn right into the road called Combe Wood, past all the houses until just after 'Caerhayes' you will find a track branching off the road on both sides. Take the one on your left. Up the track, into the fields (shutting all gates) carry straight on, and when the hedges goes away to your right, keep very slightly left over the brow of the hill and you will see a gate ahead. Pass through and turn right, keeping the hedge on your right and head for the trees ahead. Over the stile into the woods, which is a bed of blue in late spring - try not to tread on too many!At the Scrapton Road end, turn right and continue up the hill for approximately 200 yards, until you see two stiles on your left. This will lead you across a field and out onto Gipsy Drove. Here you could cross the road and into the field opposite, then across the A.30 and down into Wambrook, but for our walk we will turn right along Gipsy Drove. At the next junction with Scrapton Lane turn right and continue to the corner where the second track branches off to your left (Hollands Wash Drove). You can either walk the entire length of Hollands Wash Drove, turning right at the end and back along Stantway to Combe St.Nicholas or approximately two-thirds along Hollands Wash Drove you will find a stile/gateway to your right, cross 2 fields/2 stiles and down the enclosed track (Allotment Drove). When reaching the road at the bottom (Combe Wood) turn left back to Combe St.Nicholas.

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From the Haymaker public house in Wadeford, go up the hill towards Chard and take the first lane on your left (Bonds Hill, No through road). This lane gradually narrows to a footpath and when you meet the graveled path to the left, take this, which leads you down to Court Mill Lane. Turn left at the bottom and walk along Court Mill Lane until you reach the main road. Carefully cross and take the road opposite. After approximately 200 yards you should see a signpost and gate on your left. Cross the field, keeping the hedge on your right, until you reach the stile, and then carry on up the enclosed lane to the road (Rackstile).Turn right and continue up the hill where there is a marvelous view. On the top turn left by the signpost at the entrance to the gateway/stile. Continue through the field and over the next stile. Turn left and follow the edge of the field to the stile and then along the enclosed lane to Catchgate Lane. Turn left and continue along the road until you reach the crossroads. Turn left and continue until you reach the signpost and gateway on your right. Cross the fields diagonally down to the left corner where there is a stile on the corner of the road at Chardleigh Green. Take care and turn left along the main road until you reach Pudleigh Lane on the right hand side. Continue down Pudleigh Lane until you reach the Trout farm, where you turn left (signposted). Cross the bridge and turn left along the track when it bends right and left, climb up the bank and follow the river until you come to the sluice bridge and stile. Keep along the bottom of the field, and cross another stile. Straight ahead for 10 yards, and then sharp left following the footpath back up (Bonds Hill) to the Haymaker public house.

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From the Haymaker public house in Wadeford turn left up the hill towards Chard and continue until you reach the Pudleigh Lane turning on your left (signed to Trout Farm), Continue down the lane, past the houses until you reach the gateway/stile on the right (if you get to the Trout farm you have gone too far). Continue along the enclosed lane, and across the fields and stiles until you come to another enclosed lane. Beware, this part can be rather wet and unfortunately the vegetation grows very quickly too. When you reach the Nimmer road turn left and continue down the road until you reach the track on your left (signposted). Turn left and pass the old Nimmer Mills, famous in the past for handmade shaving and toothbrushes. Up the steps and carefully along the millstream and over the sluices. Follow the riverbank and cross the sleeper bridges until you reach Pudleigh Lane again. Turn left and continue along Pudleigh Lane until you reach the 2nd entrance into the Trout Farm. Turn right, over the bridge, and turn left along the track. When it bends right and then left climb up the bank and walk along the riverbank until you cross the sluice bridge and following stile. Keep to the bottom of the field, and cross the next stile. Onwards for approximately 10 yards, and then sharp left up the footpath (Bonds Hill) back to the Haymaker.

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Walk 7

From Clayhanger Common (just before Hornsbury Mill by the double bends taking the road to Nimmer, where you can park on the verge) take the footpath off to the right, over the sleeper ditch bridge and stile, and diagonally cross the field to the left. Across two stiles and turn right to the gate. Cross the field diagonally left (or round the edge if in crop) to the sleeper ditch bridge and stile. Again cross the field at a slight diagonal to the gate, turn left and through the gate just a few yards on, and then turn right following the tracks through the fields up to the main gate at Clayhanger Cross.At this crossroads turn left and follow the road down to the next junction. Keep right past the sewage works and take the footpath across the concrete bridge over the river and then back over the next sleeper bridge. Follow the path along the river, over the sluice gate and down the steps past Nimmer Mills (former old famous toothbrush/shaving brush factory by appointment to the Queen Mother) and along the track to the road. Turn left for a few yards and take the footpath to the right, along the enclosed lane for about half-a-mile. At New England, keep straight on (past the road off to the right) to the end of the track. Over the stile and keep straight on. At the next stile, keep the hedge on your right and follow across the rather wet area to the stile. Keeping slightly right you will see another stile and from then go straight ahead across the field (heading for a tail conifer tree on the horizon). The stile brings you to the main A.358. Turn left and keep the wide verge to Hornsbury Mill. Turn left at the junction and left again at the next road, back to where you started.

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From Combe St.Nicholas Post Office take the (middle) road away from the village - Combe Head (by the telephone box on The Green. Continue past the houses and take the lane on the right to Pole Rue Farm. Continue past the farm to the end of the track. Through the gate and on to the next field, keeping the hedge on your left. Through the gate and up the hill towards the gate in the top corner. Through the gate and head for the main road, keeping the hedge on your immediate right. Once on the main road, cross over and go down the track nearly opposite (Belcombe Drove). Follow the track right to the bottom and turn left. Here you can chose either(a) Follow the track right to the end. Through the gate keeping the hedge on your right. You can either keep straight on through the next two fields and back to the road, or turn right when you come to the first stile, and carry on through those two fields to the road. Either path brings you to the same road, but just further apart. In both cases turn left and follow the road back to Combe St.Nicholas, crossing straight across the main road at the top.

Or

(b) After a few yards there is a post with 3 yellow arrows on it by the second gateway on your right. Go through this gateway and straight on keeping the hedge on your right, until you come down to the stream. Depending on how much rain there has been, cross the stream using the stones available! And carry straight up the other side until you come to the gate out on to the road. Cross the road and opposite there is a sleeper bridge across the ditch and stile. Carry straight up the field with the hedge on your left to the gate. Straight through the next field (which is a S.S.S.I - Site of Special Scientific Interest) known as Freshmoor and it can be very
wet in places. Up to the gate/stile and straight ahead up the slight hill. When you get near the corner of the hedge that comes towards you turn left (crossroads of footpaths are in the middle of the field) and walk towards and through the gate. Keep the new hedge on your right down to the next gate, and again through the next field. When you see the barn over to the left head for this and then towards the stile and subsequent steps, which lead down to the road. Turn left and keep straight along the road back to Combe going straight across the cross road on the top.

Or

When you get to the next footpath sign on your left, follow that keeping the hedge on your left, through the next gate and still keeping the hedge on your left until you reach the stile. Over this, turn left and through the gate into the enclosed lane. Follow this lane, round the sharp right hand corner, and follow right up to the end (about half a mile) to the main road. Straight across, and follow the footpaths back to Pole Rue and Combe.

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From Combe St.Nicholas Post Office take the (middle) road away from the village - Combe Head (by the telephone box on The Green) Continue past the houses and take the lane on the right to Pole Rue Farm. Continue past the farm to the end of the track. Through the gate and on to the next field, keeping the hedge on your left. Through the gate and up the hill towards the gate in the top corner. Through the gate and head for the main road, keeping the hedge on your immediate right. Once on the main road, cross over and go down the track nearly opposite (Belcombe Drove).Follow the track and take the 3rd gateway on your right. Keep the hedge on your left and then cross the field on the right diagonal to the enclosed lane. (If hay or crops please keep around the edge) The enclosed lane comes out on to a busy road. Please take extreme care as you cross over and turn left following the wide verge to the gateway with the footpath sign (about 100 metres). Straight on with the hedge on your right for 2 fields and then bear round to the left. Over the stile and then bear right round the field edge to the enclosed lane and out on to the road. Ham Chapel is very close-by Turn right and follow this lane up the hill eventually coming out at Sticklepath - or turn right, but then take the first turning left and then right after 40 yards and again follow the lane up the hill eventually coming out at Sticklepath. Past the off-set cross roads and then take the footpath on your right after the wall, straight across the field and stile and then straight across following the lane (Church Path) back to Combe.

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From Combe Village Centre proceed up Stoopers Hill, (Taunton Road) past the Post Office and Methodist Church until you reach the first turning on the right. At this turning, take the angled small lane off to the left and at the top of the lane turn right. Past the Football Club and straight across the crossroads. Continue for approximately half a mile until you come to a footpath post and stile on your right (near the big oak tree). Over the stile and straight on to the second gate. Through this and head at a left diagonal over the brow of the hill. Take the second gateway on your left and keeping the hedge on your left walk down the hill, taking in the view. At the bottom bear left, though the gate and out on to Whiteway. Turn left and when you meet the junction with Greenway Lane turn left again. Walk up the lane until you come to the stile on your left that you originally crossed earlier.Again, over the stile and straight on to the second gate, but this time head straight across the field where once over the brow you will see a gateway straight ahead. Follow the marked path at the slight right diagonal, through the gate and turn right. Another good view over the “Combe”. Keep the hedge on your right to the gate straight ahead. Turn left into the enclosed lane and follow to the end. Turn right at the road and this will bring you back to Combe Village centre.

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From Combe St.Nicholas village centre take the narrow road (Stantway) to the left of The Green Up the hill, and then take the footpath off to your left, along an enclosed lane, over the stile, along the edge of the 2 fields (keeping any dogs under strict control or on leads during hay growing time or if sheep in the field please) Over the stile into another short enclosed lane. Turn right into the road Combe Wood, past all the houses, until just after "Caerhayes" you will find a track branching off the road on both sides. Take the one on your left.Up the track, into the field carry straight on, and when the hedge goes away to your right, keep very slightly left over the brow of the hill, and you will see a gate ahead. Pass through and turn right, keeping the hedge on your right and head for the trees ahead. Over the stile into the woods, and straight on the enclosed track out to the road (Scrapton Lane). Turn left for approx.100 metres, and take the footpath on your right, just passed Scrapton Farm.At the second gate go straight heading for the single tree, and then straight on again to the corner of the wood. Go on the left diagonal through the wood and carry on until you reach an open clearing with a marvellous view over the Valley, and a small gate in the top hedge. Through this gate, and turn left along the hedge until you come to the stile on to Higher Wadeford Lane.Turn left, and follow the lane down until you reach the first lane on your left (Scrapton Lane). Follow this for approx.400 yards, past Ridgeway Farm, to the footpath on your right. Straight up this narrow field to the stile at the top. Out on to Brocole Lane and turn right. When you get to the stile on your left you can either -

(a) Cross the stile, keeping diagonally right to the next gateway stile and then diagonally left to the next gateway/stile. Then right to the stile and left to the gate. Through the gate and then the adjoining gate on your right, up the enclosed lane back to Combe Wood Lane. Turn left and then right back to Combe centre.

Or

(b) Stay on Brocole Lane until you reach Bench Lane and then up Combe Hill to Combe centre.

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From Combe Village Centre proceed up Stoopers Hill, past the Post Office and Methodist Church until you reach the first turning on the right. At this turning, take the angled small lane off to the left and at the top of the lane go straight across the road to the stile opposite. Keep the hedge on your left and go straight on down to the gate and out on to the road.Turn right and then turn left at the stile after 100 yards or so. Go down keeping the hedge on your left to the stile at the bottom, then cross the green area to the lane. Turn right, up the hill to the next junction, and turn right again. Follow this lane until you reach an enclosed lane going off at an angle on your left. This enclosed lane will bend after a while so just keep along past various fields until near the end there is a gateway into the long-shaped field. Into the field, but continue in the same direction as before, and at the end go down to the stream and cross it and then over the stile. (This donates our Parish boundary).Walk through the small wood, across the field with the hedge on your right, and into the enclosed lane. Follow this along right to the end, which comes out beside the A.303 at Whitney Bottom bridge. Turn right and continue along the road up to the crossroads. Straight across here, following the signpost to Combe St.Nicholas. Continue along the road until you come to the crossroad junction with a lane to the left and driveway to the right. Turn right into the driveway and at the far end of the straight section follow round to the left and then turn left again following the lane down to the junction at Four Lanes.Turn right until you reach the fork (left fork signed up to Combe St.Nicholas). Keep to the right fork and follow the road up the hill to the oak tree by the stile on your left. Over the stile and straight on to the second gate. Through this and straight ahead across the field where once over the brow you will see a gateway straight ahead. Follow the marked path at a slight diagonal to the next gateway and then turn sharp right and follow the hedge to the next gate. Down the enclosed lane until you reach the road at the bottom. Turn right and back to Combe centre.

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Moormans

As this walk is on the other side of the A.303 it is suggested you park your car on the North side of the A.303 on the lane near Gilberts Milk (Ham Farm) or near Burnt House Farm, on the wide verges on Hole Well Lane. Head for Burnt House Farm and pass this and the other houses on this lane until you reach the stile and footpath off to your left. Cross 2 fields to the corner gate. Turn sharp left for a few yards to the little gate into the woods, known as The Moormans.There are way marks on various trees but if you miss any gradually head for the bottom of the wood. This is ancient woodland, with lots of interesting flora and fauna, and it is very wet in places so please take care.There is a stile at the bottom which will take you on out to Hare Lane, Dommett, but as there is no circular walk that can be safely made due to the A.303 I suggest you turn around and retrace your steps back to the start. The scenery is far-reaching and always looks different from another angle.

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This walk starts in Cuttifords Door just past the Garden Centre. Take the footpath on the left before Cuttifords Door Farm, which comes out on to Langham Lane. Turn left and around the corner take the footpath on the right at the gate. Head for the stile straight ahead, but please go round the edge of the field to get there. Head slightly diagonally left to the brow of the hill to a gateway on the crest of the hill. Turn right and you will comes to a stile at the top of an enclosed lane. Go down this, (Whitney Lane) but it can be wet in places, out to the road. Turn left and walk down the lane until you reach the footpath off to the right. This enclosed lane winds about and eventually comes out in New England. Turn right at the road junction and walk up the lane out to the Cuttifords Door road. Turn right and take the lane off to the left in aprox.30 metres.This enclosed lane takes you into Chard Parish. After the field the path runs alongside the Bodycote Factory. Cross the road and continue alongside the field edge to the houses and out on to Crib Close. Turn left and then right when you reach Thorndun Park Road after a short stretch. Turn right and continue along Thorndun Park Road until you come to Brittania Way. Turn into this road and go right to the end where you meet a footpath. Turn to the right and go alongside the other side of the field you originally walked down. You will eventually come to another stile and track between a few houses back to Cuttifords Door Farmhouse.

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Start at the Church gate, take the path toward the church and bear right at the tower into the Sunday School Wood. Take the steps at the end into Green Lane and on reaching Combe Wood at the entrance to CME keep right. On reaching the first footpath by the side of “Sylvandown” turn right up the path until you reach Stant Way. Turn right back to the village.

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