
WALK 11
CHILTHORNE DOMER
A rural walk passing Montacute House
An easy going level walk
but the busy A3088 to cross
Distance 9.9 Km/ 6.2 miles
Total ascent/descent 88m
www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/4215564685
Updated December 2024
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1 From the bus stop (GR530 195) walk 50m towards Yeovil, take R fork (SP Chilthorne Domer(1) and immediately R into King’s Hill. Follow past church and through village 1.3Km to T-junction by school [1.5Km]
2 (GR524 186) Go ahead through Bristol gate to a path (SP Thorne) keeping hedge on the R. After 200m by large oak tree go R through gate, cross bridge and go L with hedge on L 130m to road. Turn R for 120m and just beyond a cottage called Devercy take a path on R (SP Ball’s Hill). Bear L and follow fimgerpost diagonally across the first field to a double gate and bridge, then cross four fields following waymarks and if there is a hedge keeping it on the L. At the end of fourth field go R for 30m, cross a bridge on L, then turn R to cross a second bridge. Then go L, keeping hedge on L. After 200m reach the site of Lufton Roman Villa(2) and continue 500m bearing L through hedge gap on L keeping hedge on L to reach a road [2.1Km]
3 (GR514 173) Turn R and after 100m take path on L (SP Lufton) with hedge on R, past allotments then into field with hedge on R. After 200m at large tree go 90 degrees R (SP Permissive Path) keeping hedge on R. At bottom of slope go R for 100m to reach steps to ascend to the A3088. Cross with care to path opposite, descend steps and follow path to go through gate and bear R 250m to go through pedestrian gate in far R corner near electricity pole. Keep hedge on L and when it ends go ahead past large oak tree and trough and after 250m pass through line of beech trees to a wide avenue with a great view of Montacute House(3) [1.2Km]
4 (GR503 170) Proceed towards the house and after 150m just before a dip in the avenue, bear R to pass trough with waymark and continue to hedge and go R with hedge on L. After 150m bear L at wooden gateway, cross stream then turn R 100m to another waymarked gate leading to a woodland track ascending to reach the A3088. Cross with care then go L descending narrow path to a track and turn R 250m to gate and junction [1.0Km]
5 (GR505 176) Continue ahead into Windmill Lane at first a tarmac road and after 400m a grassy track. After 450m go ahead on footpath 400m to rejoin track for 300m to road at Cole Cross. Go R 15m and take track on L between houses (SP Leland Trail). Continue 400m to stile on R with view of Sock Farm(4). Cross, aim for water trough and stile, then ahead to another stile and bridge. Cross and go R keeping stream on R to reach lane. Follow 700m to T-junction then L a few metres [3.0Km]
6 (GR520 195) Go R through metal gate. Follow path with hedge on L to second metal gate and bear slightly R aiming for bell tower. Pass through churchyard to road. Go L and retrace your steps along King’s Hill to bus-stop [1.2Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 6.8Km/ 4.3miles
Follow to the site of Lufton Villa in point 2. Return to the second bridge and go L with hedge on R across 2 fields. Continue across third field with hedge now on L and at gateway by stone trough, go 90 degrees R with hedge on L and at end of field go L and immediately R now with hedge on R. At end of field go 90 degrees L and follow to road. Go L with great care for 250m then R into Chilthorne Hill for 750m to point 6. Continue from there.
For car travellers:
There is a large lay-by on the Shepton Mallet bound side of the A37 (by the bus-stop)
Refreshments:
Halfway House, Chilthorne Domer
1 The quirky name Chilthorne Domer arises from Cilterne (high hill) in the Domesday Book and the Domer family who held one of the manors. The Manor House in Main Street is 17th century and is listed Grade II
2 Lufton Roman Villa dates from the 4th century and was excavated by Leonard Hayward in the 1940s. A suite of stone built rooms was uncovered, many with mosaic or tessellated floors. Although it has been referred to as a villa it may have been a high status farm house.
3 Montacute House was built in the local Ham Hill stone in 1598 by Sir Edward Phelips, whose descendants occupied the house until the early 20th century. Regarded as one of the finest houses from the Elizabethan era, it is Grade I listed. The Long Gallery is the longest in England
4 Sock Farm was built around 1800 probably as a gamekeeper's cottage. It is Grade II listed.
2 (GR524 186) Go ahead through Bristol gate to a path (SP Thorne) keeping hedge on the R. After 200m by large oak tree go R through gate, cross bridge and go L with hedge on L 130m to road. Turn R for 120m and just beyond a cottage called Devercy take a path on R (SP Ball’s Hill). Bear L and follow fimgerpost diagonally across the first field to a double gate and bridge, then cross four fields following waymarks and if there is a hedge keeping it on the L. At the end of fourth field go R for 30m, cross a bridge on L, then turn R to cross a second bridge. Then go L, keeping hedge on L. After 200m reach the site of Lufton Roman Villa(2) and continue 500m bearing L through hedge gap on L keeping hedge on L to reach a road [2.1Km]
3 (GR514 173) Turn R and after 100m take path on L (SP Lufton) with hedge on R, past allotments then into field with hedge on R. After 200m at large tree go 90 degrees R (SP Permissive Path) keeping hedge on R. At bottom of slope go R for 100m to reach steps to ascend to the A3088. Cross with care to path opposite, descend steps and follow path to go through gate and bear R 250m to go through pedestrian gate in far R corner near electricity pole. Keep hedge on L and when it ends go ahead past large oak tree and trough and after 250m pass through line of beech trees to a wide avenue with a great view of Montacute House(3) [1.2Km]
4 (GR503 170) Proceed towards the house and after 150m just before a dip in the avenue, bear R to pass trough with waymark and continue to hedge and go R with hedge on L. After 150m bear L at wooden gateway, cross stream then turn R 100m to another waymarked gate leading to a woodland track ascending to reach the A3088. Cross with care then go L descending narrow path to a track and turn R 250m to gate and junction [1.0Km]
5 (GR505 176) Continue ahead into Windmill Lane at first a tarmac road and after 400m a grassy track. After 450m go ahead on footpath 400m to rejoin track for 300m to road at Cole Cross. Go R 15m and take track on L between houses (SP Leland Trail). Continue 400m to stile on R with view of Sock Farm(4). Cross, aim for water trough and stile, then ahead to another stile and bridge. Cross and go R keeping stream on R to reach lane. Follow 700m to T-junction then L a few metres [3.0Km]
6 (GR520 195) Go R through metal gate. Follow path with hedge on L to second metal gate and bear slightly R aiming for bell tower. Pass through churchyard to road. Go L and retrace your steps along King’s Hill to bus-stop [1.2Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 6.8Km/ 4.3miles
Follow to the site of Lufton Villa in point 2. Return to the second bridge and go L with hedge on R across 2 fields. Continue across third field with hedge now on L and at gateway by stone trough, go 90 degrees R with hedge on L and at end of field go L and immediately R now with hedge on R. At end of field go 90 degrees L and follow to road. Go L with great care for 250m then R into Chilthorne Hill for 750m to point 6. Continue from there.
For car travellers:
There is a large lay-by on the Shepton Mallet bound side of the A37 (by the bus-stop)
Refreshments:
Halfway House, Chilthorne Domer
1 The quirky name Chilthorne Domer arises from Cilterne (high hill) in the Domesday Book and the Domer family who held one of the manors. The Manor House in Main Street is 17th century and is listed Grade II
2 Lufton Roman Villa dates from the 4th century and was excavated by Leonard Hayward in the 1940s. A suite of stone built rooms was uncovered, many with mosaic or tessellated floors. Although it has been referred to as a villa it may have been a high status farm house.
3 Montacute House was built in the local Ham Hill stone in 1598 by Sir Edward Phelips, whose descendants occupied the house until the early 20th century. Regarded as one of the finest houses from the Elizabethan era, it is Grade I listed. The Long Gallery is the longest in England
4 Sock Farm was built around 1800 probably as a gamekeeper's cottage. It is Grade II listed.