going uphill. When you are about 50 some distance to the left of a house. Route B Route B Corfe to Hatch Beauchamp metres from the wood in front of Turn right (the Herepath goes The East Deane Way Corfe to Hatch Beauchamp straight on) to go over the stile into continued... you, turn to the left and follow this continued... path to go through a gate onto a farm a short drive or track passing Creech Field (or Creechfield) and joining a track. Turn right and before you go road. Cross the road and go over the Part through one of a pair of gates pause B At the end of the bridge go left, and continue down this drove, stile in the hedge in the field corner to look around you and again admire walking a short distance away from ignoring the one on your left, to pass opposite. the views. On the other side of the in front of Fordbridge from where the hedge to go through the squeeze F 5 gate immediately turn left (rejoining the way is surfaced. Continue either Continue with the hedge on stile and then continue to the gate of a 6 part set the Herepath) to follow a path to a through the ford or over the your left over three stiles to a small near the cottage. This track leads to a stile and equestrian gate. Go through adjacent footbridge to turn left orchard. Go straight on to the lane near Heale House. Turn right and to a waymarked post continue opposite the gateway to Seaforde bottom corner of the orchard but do follow this lane for some distance to through two gaps (or gates) to turn Grange. Cross the field heading for a not exit over the stile, but turn right turn right into a lane just before Mill Hatch Beauchamp to Corfe right at another waymarked post to gap in the hedge opposite near a along the field boundary to go over House. As you go through a gate, the large tree. Go through and turn to three closely spaced stiles. Head for turn right as you join a track that surfacing ends and you are on a stone the right to either cross or go round the left-hand end of the trees Length - 16.4 km (10.3 miles) leads to a pair of gates. Go through track, gradually climbing straight up to the field to reach a stile on the right opposite, over a stile and continue and turn left on a path that soon enter Lime Ridge Wood (joining the of the group of trees opposite. Cross with the trees now on your right. widens to a grass track and continues Herepath). Keep straight on along this the road and go over the stile Continue straight on over one stile, as a stoned track turn left at opposite. The former chapel on your then another that takes you into a track as it crosses another stream in a T-junction and climb to the Staple left is now the Neroche Village ditch. Go up and out to turn left with deep cutting until you join a wide Fitzpaine road near a Forestry Hall. Continue going slightly right to the hedge on the left for a short forest track. Turn left, going up hill as Commission sign for Staple Common. pass under the supply cables midway distance and then head for the right far as the next sharp (hairpin) bend between the first and second poles of the trees opposite. Continue to a where you go straight on back into to a stile in the hedge. Go over this gate and go over a stile, across a D Take care as you cross the road the wood along a waymarked path into a newly planted woodland, then track and over the stile opposite. to enter the Neroche Forest. Follow a which you follow until you reach and half-right through the woodland to Cross the field, heading for the right broad gravel track to turn right at the go through a gate into fields. the gap opposite that is virtually a of the hedge opposite. Follow the first junction. The way is signed by the Continue with the hedge on your left tunnel through a wide hedge. Go hedge to enter a copse. When you red marker posts which you follow. to the next gate. Go through and turn over the stile as you exit, then exit, go across the field to pass the There is a short steep descent and straight on through a squeeze stile, post with footpath waymarks and right following the Herepath to turn ascent and a fine viewpoint on your over a footbridge and another stile continue with the stream on the left downhill with the hedge on your left. Continue to near the entrance walking parallel to but some distance right to turn left into a green lane or The walk is written in two directions: right and turn right at the bottom of gates where you go left into a cleared from the hedge or fence on your left. drove. Just before you reach some the field. Continue on through a gate There is a fenced pond to your right barns, go through the gap on your Route A : Hatch Beauchamp to Corfe area with an information board and a to near Staple Lawns Farm where you and you are heading for a metal gate left and then continue more or less Route B : Corfe to Hatch Beauchamp seat to the memory of David Smith turn right at the next gate turn left and stile at the left-hand edge of the in the same direction heading for the Alternatively, to shorten the walk, choose to from which the views are outstanding. onto a path next to some barns. woodland opposite (rejoining the left of the cottage opposite. Go over start or finish at Castle Neroche car park Leave the area through a gap to the Turn left at the end onto the farm Herepath). Go through or over and the stile into the lane, turn right and to shorten walk left of the information board and access and then follow it round to the then either cross or go round this follow this lane to the main road again follow the red forest trail right to turn left at a fingerpost just field to a stile in the opposite hedge near Griffin House. markers until, after a short steep 9681CK08 .08 Terrain - undulating countryside, some steep slopes on the before a large wooden barn/garage. descent you reach a gate. On the right Blackdown Hills, where it can be very muddy in parts. Follow this forest track up through Front Cover photo: View of the Vale of Taunton Deane from Neroche. there is another seat to rest on if you Staple Park Wood. It turns to the left want to admire the views over South Refreshments - The Hatch Inn, Hatch Beauchamp; part way up to emerge at Underhill Somerset. Go through the gate and The White Hart, Corfe; Lane. Turn right going up hill (pause as Devised and written by: Members of the Taunton across the track (a sign for Castle you climb to turn round and admire Deane Ramblers Group, The Heritage and Landscape Farm is to the right) and straight on Buses - 30 for Hatch Beauchamp and the 624 for Corfe. the view), pass the cottage numbered Team at Taunton Deane Borough Council and following waymarks on a path that 229 and then go over the stile on the Somerset County Council Rights of Way. Check timetables for details, soon widens to a track. Go through a left just before Shutes Farm. The www.tauntonramblers.org.uk or call Traveline on 0870 608 2608 gate, then continue straight on when Herepath goes straight on. the track goes left. Follow this path or For comments regarding the condition of the paths, stiles, gates etc, OS map - Explorer 128, Taunton and Blackdown Hills; drove (marked on the map as contact Rights of Way, Somerset County Council 0845 345 9166. If you C Follow this path, after a short Middleroom Lane) and at the end would like to make any comments about the walk, please contact Ian distance there is a two-strand barbed turn left. After about 150 metres turn Clark at: [email protected] or write to him at: right down another drove that will wire fence on your left. Continue Taunton Deane Borough Council, The Deane House, Belvedere Road, bring you to a road. Turn left and after Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1HE. going across a forest track and about 200 metres turn right into The East Deane Way is available through three gates, then there is a More information about various aspects of Curry Mallet Drove. as a series of 6 leaflets published by three-strand barbed wire fence on this walk and other circular walks in the your right which takes you to a right E Follow this drove for about 700 Borough can be obtained from the Taunton Deane Borough Council, turn through a gap and across a metres. Then turn left down another Taunton Deane website Heritage & Landscape Section stream to turn first left then right drove (the Herepath goes straight on) www.tauntondeane.gov.uk or Taunton Tourist Information Centre tel: 01823 336344 Email [email protected] EAST DEANE WAY WALK 5 gate/gap at the right-hand edge of are in need of a rest there is a bench and right through a gate at the end of You are advised to use the OS map Landranger 1:50,000 Series the wood on your left (ignore on the left from which you can enjoy the farm buildings.