WALK 4
FIVEHEAD
Small villages, country lanes and three fine churches
Easy walking in rural Somerset
Distance 9.9 Km/ 6.1 miles
Total ascent/descent 52 m
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Updated August 2023 Comments to [email protected]
1 From the bus stop (GR352 233) walk west (towards Taunton) for 50m and turn L down Ganges Hill. After 500m ignore Silver Street on R and continue round bends to reach the pub and St Martin’s church(1). Beyond the church, go straight ahead for 800m passing cemetery on L to reach a T-junction [1.4Km]
2 (GR352 221) Go straight ahead through a waymarked kissing gate and keep the hedge on R and follow, bearing R then L 450m, to Bristol gate in R corner, then bear 45 degrees R (slightly R of church tower) to a kissing gate and bridge. Continue ahead now with stream on L for 150m to reach a bridge, cross and go ahead through a wide gate and along the track 400m to join road to reach St Mary’s church(2) [1.3Km]
3 (GR352 210) Go R to pass Monks Thatch(3) and after 200m where the road bends L by “Homestill”, turn R for 120m to T-junction by “Weatheroaks”, go L and follow road as it bears L then R. After a further 350m reach T-junction [0.8Km]
4 (GR346 207) Continue ahead through a metal gate SP Park Farm. After 200m of enclosed track just before metal gate turn R over bridge across Fivehead River then turn L to walk alongside it. After 100m where it turns L aim for far R corner of field, through metal gate and immediately turn L through a wooded area. After 80m just before another metal gate, cross river by bridge and turn R along edge of field. Keeping close to hedge on R for 600m pass through two metal gates to reach a large barn at Park Farm. Go ahead along track and when it bears L go ahead through gate and small field to reach St James’ church(4) [1.3Km]
5 (GR334 209) Continue along road 350m to junction by post box. Bear R and after 200m just beyond Manor Farm go L (SP Public Footpath) to pass Curry Mallet school and along pleasant path alongside stream for 400m to reach road. Turn R and after 400m bear R by the fine Manor House(5) and reach T-junction [1.4Km]
6 (GR328 219) Go R (SP Fivehead) and continue along this quiet country lane ignoring any side roads for 2.1Km to where road bears R by “Homeacre” [2.1Km]
7 (GR347 225) Bear L into a track. After 270m go R through waymarked gate along L edge of field to reach a double gate and bridge. Bear slightly R towards electricity pole in far R corner of field to reach another double gate and bridge after which turn L to go along edge of field. Continue to follow the hedge as it bears L round a cottage and after a few metres, turn R along track beside a small stream. Go through a gate ahead and at the end of the field continue ahead along next field with the hedge and gardens on L. Go through a Bristol gate and then aim 45 degrees R towards electricity pole with transformer and continue to Bristol gate to emerge by the church. Continue through the churchyard and exit by the War Memorial. Turn L by the Baptist church and follow Butchers Hill to the main road. To L is bus-stop for Taunton and for Somerton cross the road [1.7Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 4.4Km/2.8miles
At point 2, go R along road 100m to L turn. Go R then L along (maybe wet) track 600m to road. Go R 150m to T-junction. Go R 350m to point 7
For car travellers:
Drive down Butcher’s Hill (the easternmost of the two Fivehead turnings) and park in the large lay-by on the L 400m down the road. Go back up the hill to the bus-stop and follow the route.
Refreshments:
Crown Inn, Fivehead
Stable Cafe, Fivehead
The Bell, Curry Mallet
1 St Martin’s, Fivehead, dates from 13th century with a 1505 tower
2 St Mary’s, Isle Abbotts, Grade I listed, has a fine Perpendicular tower
3 Monks Thatch is a Grade II listed 15th century house with a humorous inscription to the R of the front gate
4 St James, Curry Mallet is part 13th century and has a couple of fine monuments.
5 The Manor House, Grade II* listed, was built 15th century on the site of Mallet’s Castle of the 11th century.
2 (GR352 221) Go straight ahead through a waymarked kissing gate and keep the hedge on R and follow, bearing R then L 450m, to Bristol gate in R corner, then bear 45 degrees R (slightly R of church tower) to a kissing gate and bridge. Continue ahead now with stream on L for 150m to reach a bridge, cross and go ahead through a wide gate and along the track 400m to join road to reach St Mary’s church(2) [1.3Km]
3 (GR352 210) Go R to pass Monks Thatch(3) and after 200m where the road bends L by “Homestill”, turn R for 120m to T-junction by “Weatheroaks”, go L and follow road as it bears L then R. After a further 350m reach T-junction [0.8Km]
4 (GR346 207) Continue ahead through a metal gate SP Park Farm. After 200m of enclosed track just before metal gate turn R over bridge across Fivehead River then turn L to walk alongside it. After 100m where it turns L aim for far R corner of field, through metal gate and immediately turn L through a wooded area. After 80m just before another metal gate, cross river by bridge and turn R along edge of field. Keeping close to hedge on R for 600m pass through two metal gates to reach a large barn at Park Farm. Go ahead along track and when it bears L go ahead through gate and small field to reach St James’ church(4) [1.3Km]
5 (GR334 209) Continue along road 350m to junction by post box. Bear R and after 200m just beyond Manor Farm go L (SP Public Footpath) to pass Curry Mallet school and along pleasant path alongside stream for 400m to reach road. Turn R and after 400m bear R by the fine Manor House(5) and reach T-junction [1.4Km]
6 (GR328 219) Go R (SP Fivehead) and continue along this quiet country lane ignoring any side roads for 2.1Km to where road bears R by “Homeacre” [2.1Km]
7 (GR347 225) Bear L into a track. After 270m go R through waymarked gate along L edge of field to reach a double gate and bridge. Bear slightly R towards electricity pole in far R corner of field to reach another double gate and bridge after which turn L to go along edge of field. Continue to follow the hedge as it bears L round a cottage and after a few metres, turn R along track beside a small stream. Go through a gate ahead and at the end of the field continue ahead along next field with the hedge and gardens on L. Go through a Bristol gate and then aim 45 degrees R towards electricity pole with transformer and continue to Bristol gate to emerge by the church. Continue through the churchyard and exit by the War Memorial. Turn L by the Baptist church and follow Butchers Hill to the main road. To L is bus-stop for Taunton and for Somerton cross the road [1.7Km]
FOR A SHORTER WALK Distance 4.4Km/2.8miles
At point 2, go R along road 100m to L turn. Go R then L along (maybe wet) track 600m to road. Go R 150m to T-junction. Go R 350m to point 7
For car travellers:
Drive down Butcher’s Hill (the easternmost of the two Fivehead turnings) and park in the large lay-by on the L 400m down the road. Go back up the hill to the bus-stop and follow the route.
Refreshments:
Crown Inn, Fivehead
Stable Cafe, Fivehead
The Bell, Curry Mallet
1 St Martin’s, Fivehead, dates from 13th century with a 1505 tower
2 St Mary’s, Isle Abbotts, Grade I listed, has a fine Perpendicular tower
3 Monks Thatch is a Grade II listed 15th century house with a humorous inscription to the R of the front gate
4 St James, Curry Mallet is part 13th century and has a couple of fine monuments.
5 The Manor House, Grade II* listed, was built 15th century on the site of Mallet’s Castle of the 11th century.