
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 November 2024 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, curving L then 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 50m through 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 look carefully and turn R over bridge across Fivehead River then turn L to walk alongside it. After 100m where river turns L follow trees on R to far R corner of field, through metal gate on R then immediately L through a wooded area. After 80m just before a metal gate, cross river by bridge and turn R along edge of field. Keeping close to hedge on R 600m pass through two metal gates to reach 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) past Curry Mallet school and along pleasant path alongside stream for 400m to reach road. Go 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 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 large hedge gap 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, curving L then 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 50m through 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 look carefully and turn R over bridge across Fivehead River then turn L to walk alongside it. After 100m where river turns L follow trees on R to far R corner of field, through metal gate on R then immediately L through a wooded area. After 80m just before a metal gate, cross river by bridge and turn R along edge of field. Keeping close to hedge on R 600m pass through two metal gates to reach 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) past Curry Mallet school and along pleasant path alongside stream for 400m to reach road. Go 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 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 large hedge gap 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.