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Starts at Ash Priors Common

4 hours 0 minutes | 8.1miles 13.0km | Moderate

ID: 0.4863 | Developed by: Edward Levy | www.ramblersroutes.org

A circular walk through the countryside below the . Passing through some pleasant villages along the way.

© Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 100033886 500 m Scale = 1 : 27K 1000 ft

Main Route Alternative Route Point of Interest Waypoint

Distance: 12.94km Ascent: 263m Descent: 263m Route Profile 204

153

102 Height (m)

51 0.0 0.6 1.2 1.9 2.6 3.4 4.1 4.8 5.4 6.2 7.0 7.7 8.4 9.3 10.0 10.8 11.6 12.5

*move mouse over graph to see points on route The Ramblers is Britain’s walking charity. We work to safeguard the footpaths, countryside and other places where we all go walking. We encourage people to walk for their health and wellbeing. To become a member visit www.ramblers.org.uk Starts at A small signed car park on Ash Priors Common. On the left approximately 1/2 mile after crossing the railway by Station.

Ends at A small signed car park on Ash Priors Common. On the left approximately 1/2 mile after crossing the by Bishops Lydeard Station.

Getting there Ash Priors Common is approximaely 1/2 mile off the main A358 to Minehead Road. Turn left when travelling from Taunton at the signs for the West Somerset railway and follow the road over the railway bridge and onwards to Ash priors Common.

Buses run frequently between taunton and Minehead and stop near the railway station at Bishops Lydeard. From there it is approximately 1/2 a mile to the start.

Route instructions [1] Return to road from car park and cross and then immediately turn right onto minor road signposted: ‘Ash Priors. On reaching Ash Priors walk a short distance up road (houses on right with small brook running in front of them). Watch for finger post indicating a footpath turning off on left.

[2] When path found turn left onto it and pass through field exiting on opposite side though kissing gate into gravelled drive. Turn right along gravelled drive passing under open barn which crosses it and then in a short distance reach a minor road at a ‘T’ junction. Turn right and proceed ahead until white cottage on right is reached. Turn left at cottage passing through a small gate into a field. Follow path through field keeping hedge on left and then bear right and follow broken hedge still on left to reach a gate entering into a wood. Pass though gate and immediately turn left and follow path downhill and alongside a house to cross a stile to reach a minor road. Turn right and follow minor road for approx. 400 meters.

[3] Turn right onto farm track heading towards Kerdon Farm. Keep to track and pass Kerdon Farm on left and proceed onwards to gate ahead. Pass through gate and go straight ahead along track. At point where track heads into a field turn left and follow grassy track between hedges to reach a gate entering a field. Pass through gate and turn left and proceed uphill with hedge on left. Go straight past first gate leading into field on left. Still keeping hedge on left continue upwards watching for point where hedge turns left and goes towards a field gate with steps attached to it for pedestrians to cross. Pass over gate into a lane and follow to junction with another lane where turn right.

[4] Follow lane past a large house on right and then downhill to reach a road junction. At road junction go straight ahead (signposted Lydeard St Lawrence) and continue until reaching junction shortly after passing cottages and a bungalow on right. Turn right at junction and go uphill passing Pyleigh Manor Farm on left at top of hill.

[5] At point where road turns right only just after passing Pyleigh Manor Farm turn left onto footpath that leads past the right of the farm and then goes downhill to reach entrance to a field. Turn left and immediately enter another field which cross diagonally right to reach hedge on opposite side. . Keeping hedge on left go forwards through further fields until reaching stile passing into driveway at side of a house. Cross stile and walk along driveway to reach road ahead.

[6] Cross road into lane opposite and follow forwards and then upwards into a field ahead. On entering field bear left across it heading just to left of a telegraph pole in middle of field and then after passing telegraph pole continue to stile ahead. Cross stile into small field and head up to gate ahead. Pass through gate and then turn left and cross field heading to left end of Parish Church. Pass through kissing gate into churchyard and follow path past front of church and down to double gate leading into road. Pass through gate and turn left and proceed along village street for approx. 300 meters.

[7] Turn right onto footpath which leaves road by a small flight of wooden steps and then passes between houses to reach stile into field. Cross stile and turn left and head down track at side of field (can be very muddy in wet weather). Track turns right and heads down to small wooden footbridge (if very muddy it is best to climb bank on left side and walk down edge of field to bridge). After crossing bridge follow track to stile ahead (again if muddy it is best to keep in woods on left and skirt round edge to reach stile). Cross stile into field and turn right and follow path along right field edge and into next field also following right field edge to reach a further field. After passing into third field follow hedge on left to exit through gate into a lane.

[8] Turn left into lane and follow it. Pass a farm on right and then pass under a railway bridge and after going uphill for a short distance reach a junction where a road turns right. Turn right into road and follow. After crossing railway bridge road descends and passes ‘Famous Farmers Arms’ on right. Immediately after passing pub car park entrance turn right onto footpath following the bank of a stream and follow over a bridge into a lane. Proceed straight ahead down lane to reach a ‘T’ junction in Combe Florey.

[9] Turn right and pass the village hall on left and then in a short distance turn left to pass through a gate flanked between two large stone pillars. Follow short path uphill and through gate into field. Bear slightly right to follow path straight across field to exit over a stile into road. Turn left and go ahead for approx 50 meters and then turn right over stile into further field. Bear slightly left and cross field to reach gate with a stile on it’s left hand side. Cross stile and again bearing slightly left cross field to stile ahead which cross over. Bear slightly left and then go right onto a path leading downwards between hedges. Follow ahead and then onwards into a field and ahead through two gates to reach a stone bungalow on left by side of minor road.

[10] Continue straight ahead passing through village of Ash Priors with church on right. Follow road right through village and back to car park

Acknowledgements Developed by: Edward Levy